Hunter’s words made Mackenzie’s heart sing. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. She was wearing pajamas, no makeup, sitting in the middle of his kitchen, and she felt happy, desirable and more like a woman than she ever had.
“You’re pretty incredible yourself, Hunter Sullivan.”
She leaned forward, meeting him halfway. Their lips touched, soft kisses that led to more intense kisses. Lips meeting, sliding, testing, tasting.
He got up from the bar stool to pull her up. She went gladly, wanting to laugh with joy as his arms wrapped around her.
“I want you,” he whispered in her ear. “Stay with me tonight?”
She nodded, and he led her to his bedroom.
She hadn’t been in his room yet. Like her room, the walls were wood paneled, with a wall of windows looking out to the mountains. It was masculine, like he was. Heavy wood furniture, a bed as big as the lake outside, and dark green and navy accents furnished the space.
What a coincidence. Two of her clan tartan colors.
Then she spied a giant squishy chair shaped like a cherry pie sitting in front of the window. Several smaller pillows that looked like cherries were thrown in the middle.
And she started laughing. She laughed so hard she had to clutch her stomach.
“What are you laughing at?”
She pointed at the chair.
“What’s wrong with my pie chair? It was a Christmas present from the boys. I’ll have you know it’s very comfortable. See for yourself.” He picked her up and dumped her in the middle of the pie chair.
She sank into cloud-like softness. “I must admit, it is very comfortable—for a pie chair,” she said.
He stood over her, hands on hips. “Although there’s one thing I’ve wondered about that chair.”
“What’s that?”
“If it’s big enough for two.”
And he turned around and tumbled backward into the chair next to her. His added weight made her side rise up, and she rolled over on top of him.
“Aha! Right where I wanted you, my pretty Scottish miss.” And he cupped her cheeks, pulling her head down to meet his lips.
He devastated her with that kiss. His hands roamed over her back, molding her to fit against him.
Sparks followed wherever he touched her, igniting her blood, sending her spinning out of control.
She craved him—his touch, his kisses, his body.
All of him.
Straddling him, she untied her belt, then took her robe off. He watched her, his eyes gleaming in the soft lamplight.
She slid her hands up to the buttons on her pajama top and flicked the first one open.
“Let me,” he said, his voice low and husky in that way that made her insides flip. He brushed her hands away and unbuttoned the second button on her tartan plaid flannels.
With each button he opened, his fingers trailed fire down her skin. Then he slid the top off and stared at her.
“Man, you’re beautiful.”
Liquid heat pooled in her belly even as her face warmed from his blatant admiration.
“Maybe you should take your shirt off so I can see you,” she said saucily.
He sat up so fast, she almost fell backward. This time, he didn’t play around as he took his thermal off.
“You’re pretty beautiful yourself, cowboy,” she said, tracing the line of muscles on his chest and stomach.
“Not handsome?”
“Oh, aye, handsome, too. Beautiful. Like a Greek god.” She hadn’t meant for the words to be spoken, but they’d tumbled from her lips before she could stop them.
He grinned. “Awesome.” Then he looked down. “We need to lose the bottoms, don’t you think?”
“Why yes indeed. They’re covering the best part.”
He looked back at her and burst out laughing.
She stood and put her hand out for him, helping him up. But as soon as he was on his feet, he swooped her into his arms and carried her to the bed.
Instead of setting her on the floor, he encouraged her to stand on the bed. He pressed a kiss to her belly and hooked his fingers into her pajama bottoms, sliding them down, taking her panties with them. He kissed her belly again, then shucked his own bottoms.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, resting his head against her.
She threaded her fingers through his hair. “Is something wrong?”
“No, just savoring this moment.” He lifted her to the floor, then kissed her.
She slid her hands down his back, feeling the muscles shift beneath her fingers. She’d never wanted anyone the way she wanted him.
Somehow he maneuvered them to the side of the bed and pulled the covers down. He followed her onto the bed with continuous kisses.
As they made love, she felt a bone-deep connection with him. This was the first time she’d ever felt this way.
Who would have thought she’d have to leave Scotland, move to Los Angeles, then go to Montana to fall in love?
Love? She rolled the word around in her head, realized that yes, indeed, she’d gone and fallen in love with this Montana cowboy. Her heart galloped even faster.
She’d have to proceed with caution. Her mum’s words of warning ran through her head, albeit a bit quieter this time.
But still, best to be careful for now.
Hunter woke the next morning under a heavy weight. He glanced down and realized it was Mackenzie, sprawled halfway on top of him.
He grinned. She didn’t hold back. She was comfortable being herself.
She was the perfect woman for him.
He glanced at the clock. Ten minutes before his alarm was due to ring. Maybe he could wake her up and they could—
No, he should let her sleep. She’d had a rough day and could use the rest. She’d told him during the night she wasn’t needed on set till this afternoon. Besides, they’d woken each other up several times during the night—not that he was complaining.
Their lovemaking had been phenomenal. Earth-shattering. He’d never used words like that before, in bed or out.
He needed to get up now, or he would end up staying in bed with her all day. He tried sliding out, but she was pretty much deadweight on top of him. He rolled slightly toward her, until he could slide her off him. She grunted something, then rolled back onto her stomach.
He hurried through his shower and shaving. With a towel slung around his hips, he walked back into the bedroom. Mackenzie was sitting up in the middle of his bed wearing his thermal shirt. Her red curls were wild, and he decided he liked her hair best that way. Completely natural and free.
He walked to the bed and pressed one knee on it, leaned over and kissed the top of her head. “Morning, sunshine.”
“Hmmph,” she said, and rubbed a hand over her face. She did not look quite awake yet.
“My shirt definitely looks better on you than me,” he said.
She glanced down at herself, as if surprised at what she was wearing. “It was the first thing I came across.” Then she looked up at him. “I like that towel on you.” She smiled.
He struck a pose. “It’s from the Bathroom Collection.”
“You should take it off and come back to bed,” she said, running a finger along the edge of the towel. Her touch jump-started his libido, and he was tempted to do just that.
He glanced at the clock. “As much as I’d love to get wrapped up in you again, I have to go to work. But why don’t you stay here and get a few more hours’ sleep?”
The words surprised him, but he found he meant them. He liked seeing her in his bed. And wanted to keep seeing her there.
But he shouldn’t want that with the boys at home. He had to be a role model, a responsible dad. She could maybe take some vacation time, live up at the lodge, and they could date. But he’d miss her being in his cabin all the time, laughing with his boys, looking at him with those pretty green eyes.
Then maybe he should think about marrying her.
He blinked.
Marriage?
They’d just met a short time ago.
“Hey, Hunter? Where’d you go?” she asked.
“Huh? What’d you say?”
“I said, I think you need to play hooky this morning and get back in here with me.” She tugged on the towel, and it started slipping from his hips.
He backed away. “Tell you what,” he said, yanking the towel off. “How about this stays with you?” He flung it at her, then walked to the closet, buck naked.
She wolf-whistled behind him, and he shook his butt a little.
Her laughter followed him all the way into the closet.
And he realized it was just one more thing he wanted to hear every day for the rest of his life.