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  She enjoyed the warmth radiating from the fire. Flames danced and flickered as she watched. It crackled and hissed as it died down. Justin had a bucket of water ready to put out the fire when they decided to go to bed.

  For a long time, they sat in silence and watched the fire. She wondered what Justin was thinking. She believed him when he said he wouldn’t push her, and she appreciated that. But she wanted more, that much she had admitted to herself.

  Was now the time to tell him? Everything was so nice, so right. Telling Justin was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.

  The comfort of the evening relaxed her fully. She started to nod off, lulled by the fire.

  “Why don’t we get you into your sleeping bag,” Justin said softly, bringing her out of her sleepy trance.”

  “Bed does sound good.” She smiled at him. As he put out the fire and soaked the coals, she added to herself, It sounds great in more ways than one.

  But he’d said they could sleep separately, so that’s what they’d have to do since she’d never gotten around to what she’d needed to say.

  Chapter 9

  Miranda found herself wide awake by the time she crawled into the tent, not a single remnant of sleepiness remaining. She rested on one of the sleeping bags on her haunches and watched as Justin eased into the reasonably spacious tent and hung the LED lantern from a hook at the top and he dimmed it. It lit up the place comfortably.

  “This has more room in it than I expected.” She gestured to a side of the tent and gave him a teasing look. “I don’t suppose it’s soundproof?”

  Justin laughed and zipped down the tent flap, closing them inside. “Not even a little.”

  Butterflies tickled her belly and she lightly bit her lower lip as her gaze met his. “I want to be close to you when we sleep. Can we zip them together?”

  Sure, that was it. That was all she wanted tonight.

  “Not a problem at all.” He gave her a sexy little grin. “A single bed coming right up.”

  She watched him as he unzipped the two sleeping bags, then zipped them together to make one large bag.

  “I don’t suppose you could help me undress?” She said the words low, her voice husky. Why was she doing this? She wanted him so badly, she couldn’t think straight. “I need help in this small space.”

  Hunger flared in his gaze and he eased closer to her. “I think I can manage that.”

  Her heart beat faster as he slowly raised his hands.

  “You need help with your hair.” He grasped her braid and pulled off the band holding it together. He unwound the strands, then ran his fingers through her hair so that it fell in long, luxurious strands around her shoulders. “There. Perfect.”

  Stop this now, she told herself.

  But there was no going back. She was too far gone.

  He cupped her face in his hands and lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her long, slow, deep. Desire curled in her belly and she ached for him. He broke the kiss but held her gaze as he slid his palms down then back up her arms, feeling her through the overshirt.

  His touch set her on fire. Her breathing came slow and ragged as he reached for the buttons on her overshirt. He unbuttoned it, his big hands brushing her breasts, causing her nipples to tighten.

  She swallowed as he finished unbuttoning her shirt and pushed it from her shoulders. Her skin tingled as his fingers slid down her arms with the shirt, leaving her in her T-shirt and bra. She didn’t help him, instead letting him take his time undressing her.

  Miranda had never experienced such a slow and sensual moment like this. He palmed her breasts and she gasped as he skimmed her nipples through her T-shirt with his thumbs, circling them and causing them to tighten even more.

  He stared at her breasts as he stroked them, then eased his palms down her sides and over her belly. He gripped the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it up, keeping his movements slow. His knuckles skimmed her bra as he pushed the shirt up. He pulled the T-shirt over her head. Instead of taking it completely off, he stopped so that her upper arms where held back and she could barely move them.

  “That’s to keep you still while I take my time.”

  She breathed faster as he pulled her bra down, releasing her breasts. The bra kept them pushed up and he stared at them, as if admiring them. He reached up and dimmed the light even more, so that she had to blink in the near darkness.

  He cupped both her breasts as he lowered his head and skimmed his tongue over first one nipple, then the other.

  She whimpered, wanting to cry out but unable to thanks to the proximity of their neighbors and the relative thinness of the tent walls. She tried to move her arms, wanting to grasp his hair and hold him to her as he licked and sucked her nipples.

  “Justin.” His name came out in a hoarse whisper. “I want to touch you.”

  “Nope.” He gave a low laugh. “I aim to enjoy myself.”

  She groaned. “Please.”

  “Please what?” he asked.

  “I don’t know.” She couldn’t think. “I need you.”

  “You’ll have me.” He laughed again. “Hold on, honey.”

  “I can’t hold on.” She shivered. “You have my arms trapped.”

  “That’s right, I do.” He teased her with his words. “I guess you’ll just have to wait for me to finish.”

  She was so ready for him, but he drove her crazy with more attention to her breasts. She had to clench her teeth to keep from moaning too loud and crying out with every lick, every suck, every torturous thing his warm mouth did to her.

  He reached for the button on her jeans and flicked it open. The way she was sitting, he wouldn’t be able to take her jeans off, and she wondered what he would do next. She got her answer as he grasped her T-shirt and pulled it the rest of the way off, freeing her arms.

  Justin unfastened her bra and slid if off her arms, completely baring her from the waist up.

  “So beautiful.” He skimmed the back of his hand over her nipples.

  “You’re driving me crazy.” She tried to say something else, but then found she couldn’t get anything out as he pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. She gasped at the light pain that morphed into intense pleasure.

  He pushed her back, so that she lay on top of the sleeping bags, with the thin foam mattress beneath them.

  Her entire body felt alive and she craved his touch.

  Justin unzipped her jeans, then tugged them over her hips. She tried to help him, but he shook his head. “Nope. I’m enjoying this.”

  She was, too. Everything he did to her was amazing. The only thing that drove her crazy, other than his touch, was the fact she couldn’t do more than whimper.

  He removed her jeans, skimming his knuckles along her legs, before he tossed her jeans in a corner of the tent, near her shirt and bra. When she only wore panties, he gave her a predatory grin.

  “You’re mine, sweetheart.” He said it like his words were fact and not only for the moment. As if she always would be.

  Crazy thinking, she told herself.

  “Oh, you might not agree right now,” he said, softer now. “But you are.”

  He tugged her panties down as his words bent her brain.

  Justin braced his hands to either side of her shoulders as he knelt between her bare legs. His jeans scraped the insides of her thighs and her belly as he shifted over her. “You are more than I could have dreamed.” He lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her long, his lips lingering over hers even as he drew away.

  He kissed a path from her lips to her ear and nibbled at her earlobe, causing her to shiver. He moved his lips to the curve of her throat, pausing in the dip between her neck and shoulder.

  She wanted to let out sounds of pleasure as he progressed, but all she could do was moan softly. At least she hoped she managed not to be heard by their neighbors. She didn’t know how much longer she would last, though. Could she keep it up? She felt herself slipping into the incredible pleasure, wondering if
she might forget the place and time as she fell into the sensations.

  He darted out his tongue as he moved down, tasting her skin as he made his way up the curve of her breast. He paused to suckle her nipple and a louder moan escaped her throat before she could stop it. She squirmed as he kissed a path from one nipple, down her breast to the valley between, and slid his lips up to capture her other nipple. He sucked hard enough to make her gasp from the slight pain to exquisite pleasure.

  She writhed as he made his way down, pausing to trace a path around her belly button with his tongue. Her heart rate ramped up as he made his way down further, scooting his body so that his broad shoulders pressed her thighs apart.

  Would her heart explode the way it pounded as he place soft kisses over her mound to the soft flesh below? He kissed the juncture of her thigh before moving to the opposite side and kissing it, too. He always made sure to give equal treatment to every part of her body he kissed, which she appreciated at the same time she wanted him to concentrate on one area in particular.

  “Please.” She let out the word in one low moan and couldn’t help but beg again. “Please, Justin.”

  “Hmmm?” He nuzzled her curls, drawing in an audible breath. He made a low growling sound, which made a thrill roll through her. “What do you want, Miranda?”

  “I need you,” she whimpered.

  “You have me.” A note of teasing was in his voice.

  “You know what I mean.” She almost grumbled the words, but it came out in another moan.

  “Say it.” He stated it in a gentle demand. “Tell me what you want.”

  Miranda never told a man what she’d wanted. Never said the words out loud before. “I want you to lick me.”

  Justin let out a rumbling purr. “Good girl.”

  He lowered his head and flicked his tongue over her taut nub.

  She cried out, completely forgetting to be quiet. She slapped her hand over her mouth, then nearly let out another sound equally as loud when he began licking and sucking in earnest.

  Miranda’s mind whirled, her skin flushing with heat as she felt an orgasm coming on. She held back, wanting the feelings to go on, not wanting to climax too fast. She enjoyed the sensations too much to rush it.

  She squirmed, biting her tongue behind her hand to keep her moans and cries from tearing from her. The orgasm was going to be a big one and she had to keep herself from screaming.

  What he did amazed her at the same time it drove her crazy.

  He slid his fingers inside her, moving them at the same time he licked and sucked her. She needed more, more, more. She needed him so much she could hardly handle it.

  Closer to the peak. Closer. She couldn’t hold herself back anymore. She reached the pinnacle and toppled over.

  Miranda bit her hand hard, screaming from her throat, but not letting it out. Her mind whirled, the orgasm sending explosions that rocked her body. Justin continued, her body jerking and rocking with every swipe of his tongue. Tears wet her eyes as he continued, and she nearly cried from relief when he stopped. It was strange, not wanting the pleasure to end at the same time it was nearly more than she could bear.

  A fine sheen of perspiration coated her skin and her mind still spun. She gradually came back to herself to see Justin above her, his hands braced to either side of her head, a sensual grin on his gorgeous face. “Ready for more?”

  She couldn’t think straight. “I don’t think I can handle it.”

  “Let’s find out.” He lowered himself and started all over again.

  Miranda twisted and turned as he pressed his face against her, as if trying to escape the sensual assault. It was too much to bear, yet she wanted it more than anything. He gripped her hips in his big hands, holding her still until she climaxed again, so intensely sparks popped in her mind.

  She bit the inside of her cheek so hard she was amazed she didn’t taste blood. More tears wet her eyes. “Stop, stop, stop.” She whimpered as she begged him, trying to keep her voice low. How much more of this could she handle?

  Justin rose from between her thighs. “You are so damned beautiful when you come.”

  Warmth flowed through her at the satisfaction in his gaze.

  He rested on his haunches as he shrugged out of his shirt. His muscles flexed in the low lighting. Damn, he was so defined, so sexy. From the cocky grin on his face to his taut abs. Likely every bit of his body was fine-tuned from hard work on his ranch.

  She pushed herself to a sitting position, feeling so lightheaded she swayed a bit. He never looked away from her as he shifted so that he could remove his shoes and socks. He pulled his wallet from his pocket and set it aside before shucking off his jeans. The outline of his hard ridge was mesmerizing before he removed his boxer briefs.

  Holy crap, he’s big.

  She moved closer to him and pushed his hands away as she went for her prize. He sucked in his breath as she grasped his length in her hand and slid her fingers up and down the soft skin that covered such hardness.

  * * *

  Justin’s gut tightened as moved onto his knees. Miranda slid to her belly and raised herself just enough lips brushed the tip of his erection, sending tremors throughout him. He groaned and speared her silky hair with his fingers and gripped her head as she slid her mouth over him.

  Her hot and warm mouth was heaven. He fell into the rhythmic motions as she slowly bobbed her up head, making small sounds of pleasure as she sucked him. damn. He felt like she’d looked as he’d brought her to orgasm. Completely off this planet and in a world of his own. A world filled with pleasure and desire that was almost too much to bear.

  Now he knew why she’d begged him not to go on. He wasn’t sure he could hold back as hard as he knew he would come.

  He held her head and stopped her. “I need to be inside you, Miranda.”

  Her eyes were heavy-lidded and sultry as she looked up at him. She slid on the sleeping bag and rested on her back, her legs parted. “What are you waiting for, cowboy?”

  Damn, but she looked so sexy lying there, watching him.

  He felt almost feverish as he grabbed the wallet he’d set aside and pulled out a condom. After he’d covered himself, he moved between her thighs and knelt as he took her in. She was so incredibly beautiful from her small nose and parted lips to her full breasts and slender form. He leaned forward and traced one of her large nipples and she caught her breath. Her breasts rose and fell with her quickened breathing.

  She stared up at him. “You are beautiful, Justin.”

  He gave a slow grin. “That’s my line, gorgeous.”

  She smiled and held out her arms, and he gratefully went into them. He held himself just high enough above her that he wasn’t pressing his full weight against her.

  He positioned himself at her entrance and sank into her warmth.

  Her eyes widened and a small gasp escaped her. She clung to his biceps as of holding onto him for dear life. He closed his eyes for a moment, reveling in her heat and the way she fit him.

  “Please.” She wriggled beneath him, the sensation of her movements setting off reverberations through him. “I can’t wait.”

  Justin opened his eyes and saw the pleading in her gaze. He eased in and out of her wetness and she let out a small moan. He kept a slow pace, clenching his jaw from the strength of his restraint.

  Hard and fast would mean this moment would end too soon, and he wanted to be inside her as long as he could. “You feel perfect.” The words came out of him on a groan, not steady like he’d intended.

  He increased his pace, unable to hold back like he’d wanted to.

  She raised her hips, meeting his every thrust. His breathing quickened and his restraint became more and more difficult to hold onto.

  “Justin.” It sounded like she could barely get his name out. “I’m so close.”

  He moved faster, watching her, waiting to see the beauty of her orgasm.

  She met his gaze as her lips parted. He could see how close she
was in the way she looked at him.

  And then she bit her lower lip as she climaxed, holding in what he knew would have been a scream. What he would have given to hear her yell out his name in that moment. Her channel gripped him, throbbing around him.

  His own climax slammed into him and his eyes nearly crossed from the power of it. A shout almost escaped him as he came. He clenched his teeth tight enough his jaw ached as he pulsed inside her.

  For a long moment, he remained still as he held himself above her, waiting for the pulsing to stop. His mind swam and he wanted to fall into a satisfied heap on the sleeping bag.

  With what little strength he felt like he had, he slid from within her. He paused long enough to remove the condom and set it aside.

  He shifted and took her into his arms as he rested on the sleeping bag. A sheen of perspiration covered her skin as well as his. They’d managed to heat up the tent—if it had windows they would have been fogged.

  Her gaze locked with his before he lowered his head and brushed her lips with his own. She snuggled against him and he enjoyed how she seemed to fully give herself to him.

  Yes, this was a woman to keep in his life forever. In that moment, he knew it was exactly what he intended to do.

  Chapter 10

  Miranda opened her eyes and blinked from the muted sunlight sliding in through the tent’s small window flap. She smiled as she snuggled in deeper into the sleeping bag, feeling warm and thoroughly pleasured.

  Her smile faded a little as she realized no male form was close to her. She rolled over to see that Justin wasn’t in the tent. She sat up and yawned as she stretched her arms. Her body felt so good.

  Yet, her frown lingered. Would it be awkward facing Justin after their night of pleasure?

  Another thought nudged her brain and her belly twisted. Should she have gone to bed with him when she didn’t have that final piece of paper? Or was it just a technicality that didn’t matter?