Chapter Seven

Lost in his kiss, Olivia slid her fingers into his wet, swim-tousled hair, needing him closer—

Daisy’s chortling gurgle broke them apart, sharply reminding Olivia of their audience. Flustered, she snapped her hands behind her back. Lloyd was paying sharp attention to stirring his coffee, but the rest of the folks were openly watching them while continuing drowsy conversation and friendly teasing. The kiss had been short. Maybe. But…oh, my, how something technically chaste could cause near spontaneous combustion.

Dave recovered faster, clearing his throat, giving Olivia a roguish, conspiratorial grin. “Thanks for fixing my coffee.” He took a long swallow from his mug.

“Hey, all! What’s for breakfast?” Nate waved as he and Kay walked hand in hand down the trail.

“So far, coffee. What do you feel like cooking?” Patti teased.

“He’s a pro at granola bars,” Kay teased.

“Hey, low blow, babe. I distinctly recall you saying my omelets were awesome.”

“I think what I really said was—” Kay rose on tiptoe and whispered in Nate’s ear.

Laughter broke from Nate. “Oh, no, not going there.”

JoAnn chuckled as she emerged from her sleeping bag. “Today’s official menu says your choice of cereal or PB and J’s.” She kissed her daughter and husband, her ruffling Lloyd’s hair radiating deep love.

Dave slid into the empty seat beside Lloyd with his coffee and tickled Daisy’s cherub cheek. Good humor sparked in his eyes as he joked and bantered with the guys.

Still bemused by his morning kiss, Olivia joined JoAnn and the others in setting out the easy breakfast. She loved these quiet, family-like mornings around the table, drinking coffee and chatting.

After breakfast, Dave joined Scott, Mark, Terry, and the twins for some raucous splashing play in the water. He looked different today, more than just the clean shave leaving his strong jaw and carved features sharply revealed. Happiness, he was happy.

She curled her hands in her lap. Oh, and yes, so tempting, and how that excited her more than worried her was a worry in itself.

Olivia caught Kay watching them, her blue eyes misty.

Kay smiled. “It’s so good seeing Dave smiling.”

Her friends’ concerns rushed in. He’s not a serious guy. They knew him, and she should trust their concern, but last night—no, last night was tipping beyond curious flirtation.

Now, seeing him in the boisterous boyish play, being the fun-loving man of last year…She wanted that. Him.

You’re not a casual gal…

True enough, but today she longed to be, just a little.

…enjoy your time together. Life is too uncertain.

“I think that’s it.” Kay gave the damp dishtowel a snap and hung it neatly on the drying line. “I’m off to paint. See you at lunch or so.”

Olivia double-checked the tidied kitchen area. “Have fun.”

“Oh, I will. You, too.” Kay looked past Olivia, winked, and strode briskly off toward her camp.

Olivia’s heart took a light leap, certain Dave stood behind her.

He wrapped wet arms around her waist, his cool bare chest brushing against the bare skin of her back, the rasp of hair and hard muscles intimate and intriguing. He rubbed his freshly shaved cheek against hers, and murmured cheerfully in her ear, “Want to go fishing?”

She leaned into his hands, her body on sensual alert and mind far off fishing. “Sure.”

Yes. Margie was right. Life was far too uncertain, and Dave’s every touch was rich wine after a lifetime of water. Today, she’d be that casual girl. Today, she’d ignore the cautionary talk of last night and her own annoying anxieties and focus on enjoying one moment at a time.

“I’ll show you my favorite fishing holes. We’ll pack a picnic lunch. There’s an easy hike you might like for pictures.”

The first stop, like their Black Canyon day, was the marina for fuel and ice, and he bought her a fishing license good for Nevada and Arizona.

His first spot was beautiful, but occupied. They waved and moved on to another reedy nook, sheltered by a spur of rock, peaceful and wild. Red-winged blackbirds sang and swayed on cattails, and small brown birds flitted in the willows.

After walking her through a brief lesson on using the child-sized spincaster reel and rod he’d borrowed from Scott, Dave helped her bait the small hooks with mealworms. Casting proved harder than Dave made it look. She snarled the line and hooked her clothes and the boat, but Dave just genially untangled her each time, and she stopped cringing at her mistakes. She enjoyed using the pushbutton to let the line whiz out and the sinker and bobber’s soft plunk into the water. R.J. had never invited her to participate in the saltwater fishing excursions she’d endured, and she’d never desired to learn to use those heavy rods.

On her next cast, the bobber jiggled and dunked, and the line zigzagged for the reeds.

“You got one. Now, give a clean jerk and set the hook.”

The fish tugged and fought the line, bending the slender rod tip. She reeled the scrappy creature toward the boat, and raised a glistening, wriggling bluegill smaller than her hand.

She laughed. “All that fight from such a little thing?”

“Yep. Fun fish to catch.”

Dave gently clasped the struggling fish in his big hand and showed her how to gently extract the hook. Gold, deep blue, olive green, and pearly silver scales shimmered in the sunlight, with deeper tiger stripes marking its side, and the dark blue gill patch that gave the fish its name.

“And this guy will live to fight another day.” He slipped the tiny fighter into the water. The fish flicked its fins and zipped into the depths toward the reeds.

Dave opened the boat’s awning against the baking sun. They fished the spot for a while longer, catching and releasing a number of undersized bluegill. Dave caught one he declared a keeper, but released that one too.

“I think we’re catching the same ones over and over.”

Dave laughed. “I wouldn’t be surprised.”

The heat and peace wrapped her in soothing comfort, the shifting shadows marked the passing morning, with distant watercraft on the lake the only interruption. She loved seeing the ease filling Dave’s face. He loved speed, and he was perfectly content anchored in this quiet cove catching fish he couldn’t keep. He was proving himself a man of many opposites and far more complex than his friends credited him, perhaps more than he credited himself.

Dave released his last bluegill and stowed his fishing rod. “Ready to find a beach and have lunch?”

“Sure.” Olivia reeled in her line and found an empty hook. “Hah, that’s why I haven’t gotten a bite! They stole my bait.”

“They may not be glamorous, but they’re a fun fish.”

After leisurely cruising the shoreline for a couple miles, Dave slowed the boat, steering into a small hidden cove. “Here’s the place I wanted for our picnic.”

The sheltered beach resembled Skunk Beach: a tiny patch of clear shallows, sand, and gravel nestled into the hillside, fringed with scrawny tangled brush, and barely visible to anyone boating by. She helped secure the boat and arrange the pop up sun shelter, beach blanket, and picnic things on the beach.

Dave stripped to his swim trunks, waded out, and dunked himself. He surfaced, shaking the water from his dripping hair. “Ah, feels good.”

Grinning, she slipped off her T-shirt and shorts, revealing her simple black bikini.

Dave half-floated, waiting with hungry eyes and warm smile, his muscular arms outstretched, gently fanning to keep his balance. Oh, my, he was a feast for the eyes.

“Hmm, is it safe to come in the water?” She stepped into the clear shallows. Tiny fish darted by her feet.

“Why not come here and find out?”

Olivia waded forward until the water lapped deliciously around her waist, then dropped into a gliding stroke to reach him. He caught her with one arm, studying her with a smile.

“What?” Looking into his brown eyes gleaming like gold in the sunlight was as addictive as his kisses. Her heartbeat skipped. Would he kiss her?

“Just enjoying the moment.” He gathered her into a hungry, smoldering kiss.

Enjoying the moment. Exactly. She cupped her hand to his cheek, sinking into him and the delicious pleasure—

Until they lost focus on floating, and an abrupt dunking had them surfacing with spluttering laughter.

At Dave’s full-on laughter, a sweet sharp twist caught her heart. He needed to laugh like that more often.

****

Still chuckling, Dave wiped the water from his face, loving the joy sparkling in Livie’s soft eyes. Fighting his body’s demand to pull her into his arms, he pushed to his feet. He needed to be smart and slow things down.

“Come on, let’s eat.” He caught her hand, and led her onshore. The hot wrap of midday air pulled in drying licks at his wet skin.

They lounged on the beach blanket in the shade of the shelter, eating tuna sandwiches and chips as he rambled on with only half his mind on their safe and innocent conversation of fishing and boating. Slowing down was best, for a multitude of reasons.

First, he owed her big time for manhandling and mishandling her last year and his suck-ass attitude.

Second, he strongly suspected he was the first man she’d hooked up with since the asshole, so that meant no rushing her and extra caution.

Third, and selfishly, he hadn’t been with a woman since the crash and, frankly, he had some concerns. The system worked fine—hell, the hard-ons just thinking about Livie incited were proof enough—and the doc had given thumbs-up months ago to put sex back on the approved activity list—but, as with walking and running, some moves weren’t happening without planning and some weren’t happening ever.

Fourth, and most important, he cared about Livie. They were in rebound phases of life and that was tricky enough. Livie firmly belonged to the group, and if he screwed up, that meant consequences.

Fifth, they should have the talk. Livie had suffered a husband who couldn’t keep it zipped. He figured he owed her honesty about his past, and while he’d never been the man slut Nate had accused him of in their slanging match last year, he hadn’t exactly walked the straight and narrow either.

If you’re gonna to do a job, you might as well do it right the first damn time. Dad had been talking about carpentry at the time, but Dave had learned over the years that simple rule applied to everything in life, whether skydiving, fighting a forest fire, or sex.

Right, but how to open that awkward conversation? Dave took a long swallow of water. Hell, another apology couldn’t hurt. “Sorry for being such a jerk this week.”

She gave him a smile brimming with forgiveness he didn’t deserve. “Not so terrible.”

“Thanks. Just, stuff’s all knotted up inside lately…You were the last person I meant to take any of it out on.”

“I’d say you were an equal-opportunity grouch with everyone.” She winked.

“Sometimes I think I’ll crawl out of my skin if I don’t move. I sleep like crap—I used to run,” he blurted. “When stuff got heavy. Before. I ran.”

Dave set down his half-eaten sandwich. The need to run ate at him like acid. He loved the burn of running, pushing with the loaded pack, beating the clock in training. He loved the pure, simple exercise of pounding along the lanes around his trailer. Running left his mind clear and body at ease in a way lifting weights or beating on a punching bag never could. Running until he was empty, mind and body, had kept his anger at his parents manageable and gotten him through their neglect and their deaths.

The understanding in her eyes made continuing easier. “I miss running. Damn, I loved to run.” He rubbed a hand over his face. “They did a hell of a great job to save my leg and let me walk again. I try to be grateful. I am grateful.” He gulped a mouthful of water.

“I’ve kinda grown attached to it over the years, you know? But it’s wrecked and always will be, and there are days when I wish to hell they’d taken it. I’m nuts, being jealous of amputees, right? But I’d be able to run again.” His voice cracked, and his water bottle crackled in his grip. “Sorry. I’m running my mouth.”

“You need to give yourself time. You’re still healing. Look how far you’ve come in nine months. You’ve made remarkable progress.”

“Yeah, but the plain fact remains the leg will never be right. Can’t even walk right some days. Run? Isn’t happening.” Not with this anchor of a left leg. “After all the medical mumbo-jumbo: they put me back together, but they can’t fix everything. I know they made good decisions—they saved my life, and did a damn fine job to let me keep the leg and walk again. I tell myself I’m in great shape considering the crash. The alternatives…” He shrugged casually against the chill shudder. Yeah, the alternatives sucked. “Doesn’t help I don’t know how to slow down.”

He dragged in a breath. “Anyhow, I wanted to talk over…some other stuff.” Talk. They had to. Should, no matter how awkward.

“Yes?”

“First, what I wanted to say. Last year, in Vegas, I was drunk, I was an ass, and I was wrong. I only meant to say goodnight. I don’t hit on married women, and I didn’t mean to force you or make you cry. I screwed up, and I’m real sorry.”

A rosy flush flooded her cheeks, and she ducked her head. “Ah…You didn’t force me. Well, you did catch me off guard and, honestly, I don’t ever do that sort of thing, in a hallway—anywhere, and we shouldn’t have, but you definitely didn’t force me. I could have said no, but I didn’t. It…The truth is…” Her stammer trailed off and she bit her lip.

****

Could she really tell him all? Olivia sipped in a breath, her face scorching, and glanced up to find his beautiful eyes locked on her, serious and deep. Tenderness mixed with her embarrassment. Tense, honest concern had rung in Dave’s apology, so unlike R.J.’s juvenile denials. Truth time.

“The truth…It felt so good and those weren’t scared tears. I, uh…”

His brows wrinkled with his growing frown.

Stop babbling. Be brave, bold, and honest with yourself, isn’t that your new mantra?

Blushing hotter, she raised her chin. “I, uh, cried because…” Why were some words always incredibly awkward to say out loud? “Because I came.”

His eyes snapped wide open, and his stunned expression would have been comical if she wasn’t dying here of embarrassment.

She pushed out the rest of her confession. “I cried because it was beautiful and a surprise and I never… come, easily, ever, and…I did. I was overwhelmed.”

He cleared his throat and took a sharp swallow of water.

Seeing the brash Dave at a loss for words was fascinating. She leaned forward and kissed him. “So, ah, apology accepted and, ah…Thank you?”

His warm laughter wrapped her in pleasure. “You’re just full of surprises, aren’t you?” He cupped her cheek, his expression growing serious again, and he took a deep breath. “One more thing. Ah, in case this goes, well, further, you need to know I have a past, but I’m clean. I’m not hooked up with anyone and haven’t been for a long time.”

Cheeks flaming once more, she nodded, uncertain how to reply or assure Dave that R.J.’s infidelity had luckily left her only heartbreak. So not a situation covered in Mama’s etiquette books. “Ah…same. I think we take it one moment at a time. Okay?”

“Okay. So, to be clear, no means no. Promise?”

“Deal.”

They finished their sandwiches and munched on cookies and the apples he cut with his pocketknife and fed her slice by slice.

His honesty was embarrassing and refreshing. Yes, Dave flirted in fun with Kay and the others, but he’d always been respectful of them. She’d seen he wasn’t like R.J. when he’d shut down April with one dismissive scan, when accepting that woman’s sexual advances would have been easy. He was single, April was pretty, willing, and undoubtedly talented at sex.

While he ate a second apple, Olivia reapplied her sunscreen. Her tan skin was the gift of her Benedetti genes, not sunbathing, and she had no intention of turning into a leathery skin-cancer candidate. She smoothed the cream over her arms and legs, twisting to get the backs of her legs and where her bikini bottoms rode up, stroking along her inner thigh and the edge of her bikini line.

Her blush rose. Fully mindful of Dave’s sharp attention on her every move, she shifted as if unaware, smoothing the new dollop of lotion across her belly and hips, to her ribs, catching a finger under the band of her top to brush that sometimes-exposed skin. More lotion, now gliding from her shoulder to her breast, beneath the cup, over her sternum and sliding under the low lip of fabric again to brush against her tight nipple.

Dave cleared his throat. “Come here.”

She glanced over her shoulder and met his hungry eyes. A thrill of anxiety and longing prickled through her as she caressed along her collarbone and drifted her hand to her breast, deliberately dragging her fingertips over her nipple. Truth was, she hungered for the pleasures he’d made her feel in that hallway, under the stars on their walk, and last night. Her marriage had imploded in sorrow, pain, and regret. If only her intimate life with R.J. had been more, more…intimate. In the beginning, when her innocence and optimism colored everything, she’d hoped, dreamed of the pleasures that should have been, but she’d never made him happy in bed. He’d definitely not made her happy, but he’d convinced her she was the problem.

“Come here.” Dave held out his hand. “You’ll need your back done.”

Olivia handed him the sunscreen bottle and knelt. He lightly kissed her nape before drizzling the lotion over her back. He smoothed both hands along her spine to the cleft of her bottom and to her hips, gliding, sliding, over waist, ribs, shoulders, and neck, turning the simple lotion application into a sensual massage. Her sigh escaped as a dreamy groan.

“Turn around.” His low husky voice drew a deep shiver through her core.

She shifted around, and her mouth dried at his simmering gaze.

He squeezed more lotion onto his fingertips. “Shut your eyes.”

Bright sunlight glowed through her closed eyelids. Cool touches of lotion brushed her face and throat, and she shivered under Dave’s delicate touch.

“Keep your eyes shut.”

She heard him shift on the blanket. His fingertips traced her face, trailed down her throat, and his breath whispered over her face, the scent of apple warning how close his lips were to hers. More gentle sweeps followed, ever lower, to the curves of her breasts.

His lips brushed hers, and he dusted kisses across her cheek and jaw, and the tip of her nose, which made her giggle. His warm hand cupped her breast, and she shivered under the rough graze of his thumb, nervous, yet greedy for more. As he teased lazy kisses lower, his thumb played a mesmerizing rhythm, setting her pulse to anxious dancing.

Stop. Let him play. Just enjoy. This is what you’ve craved: to play, to be wanted, to feel.

Carefully following the rules had brought her heartbreak. Breaking the rules couldn’t be any worse. Right?

The world spun for a second as Dave rolled her under him.

She gasped and blinked, startled, but intrigued. Yes, she trusted he’d honor a no, but all she thought was oh, yes.

Dave chuckled and propped himself over her, heat filling his intense eyes, his smile shifting between playful and wistful. He played his fingers over her skin, the meandering caress driving sweet shivers through her, until he reached her breast, cupping and massaging, his deft touch spinning her mind. He smiled and dipped his mouth to nip and cover hers and gently pinched her nipple. She gasped at the sensual zing, opening her mouth to his mouth’s playful, erotic assault of lips and tongue and teeth.

Then he slipped his hand under the bikini top, the brush of his calloused fingers over her bare, taut nipple rough and wonderful. Olivia arched into his hand, chasing the shivery warm and cool thrills from his touch and his kisses.

“Yes! Oh, that’s so wonderful.” If only she was fuller than an awkward not-quite-B.

Enough, stop worrying what you aren’t. Just enjoy.

****

Dave stroked his thumb over her nipple, loving how she lifted into his touch, her eyes hazy with desire. Her small, sensitive breast fit his hand, a soft and warm perfect handful, and the tightly pearled nipple begged to be tasted. He needed to see. He needed to taste.

He lifted away, smiling at her protesting gasp, and drew his fingers along the bikini strap to the bow at her neck. He waited. “May I?”

Livie swallowed tensely, but her lips curved into a soft smile and decision filled her wide eyes. “Yes.”

He tugged the bow free. A quick foray beneath her loosened the other tie and he drew the bikini top away, baring her to his gaze. As beautiful as they’d felt, her graceful breasts were flushed, her nipples taut, deep-rose points.

Her blushed deepened, and she glanced shyly away.

“Don’t look away. You’re beautiful.” He cupped her breast. “Just perfect to do this.” He closed his mouth on her nipple, drawing the firm bud into his mouth, leisurely plumping and caressing her breasts as he suckled. She jolted with a pleasured gasp.

Her admission blew him away. Because I came…I don’t…come easily…

So R.J. had been an idiot as well. As Dave savored Livie’s softness, her every shiver, he imagined every possible wrong move the jerk could have done and determined to do the opposite.

On the other hand, thanks to the idiot’s poor judgment, he was here exploring and savoring Livie’s lovely, responsive body and satiny, sun-kissed tan skin. He shifted his attention to her other breast. Her new gentle curves pleased his hands and eyes, and he loved how receptive she was to his touches. How trusting…She soaked up his play like the desert soaked up rain, and he enjoyed every moment of pleasuring her.

Despite his love of the rush of lust and sex, he’d never been a slam-bam-thank-you-ma’am lover like some guys liked to brag, but he’d also never felt as much urge to be gentle as he did with Livie. So, whether this moment with her was a first and only, or first of many, he’d make sure neither of them headed home with regrets.

Livie stroked the dark hairs on his forearms thoughtfully, as if judging the texture, before her hands danced over his biceps, shoulders, and neck, and then inched closer to his chest.

He leaned forward and kissed her mouth, and she sighed and softened. The afternoon heat encouraged their easy, lazy pace. Although partial nudity left her uneasy, her sighs and sweet shivers encouraged him to continue his play with her breasts. Her mouth was soft and hot on his as their tongues tangled, and she seemed comfortable with his cock hard against her thigh. He rocked, his body right with the program here. Yeah, that felt good. He continued caressing her breasts, teasing his thumb over her nipple, stroking her belly, tracing her every curve.

“Dave…”

“Right here.”

She sighed into his mouth, and he deepened their kiss, making love to her mouth, stroking her tensing belly, loving her little throaty sounds. Her hips lifted. He wanted to answer her body’s invitation with the slide of his hand, to explore her lush, wet heat.

“I want…”

He wanted, too, but the confusion in her voice was as good as a no. He wanted her mind and desire to catch up with her body. He wanted her as he hadn’t wanted a woman in a long time. Wanted to be buried deep within her and wrapped in her arms, her silky heat tight around him, give her all his body could please her with, and take everything he could find with her that would make him complete again.

However, until she was ready for more, that meant slow and easy on his part, make her comfortable, and let her enjoy what her body was telling them both. She needed to decide what she wanted.

Patience.

Today would be all for Livie. As for himself, well, a steady hand and a good imagination solved many a problem.

****

Olivia had imagined surrendering to Dave’s lovemaking would be like a thunderstorm, a wild, intense rush. She’d counted on him to sweep her away, give her no time to change her mind, think of the past, or remember her inadequacies. However, he’d surprised her again, channeled his crackling energy into passionate slow focus. All on her.

He traced those strong hands delicately over her body, and she recalled how light and swift he’d played his guitar strings last year, and how well he played her now, finding all her sensitive places. The hot breeze teased across her wet nipples, and her hands bit into his shoulders.

Never had so much attention been paid to her breasts. They ached from the pleasure of his licks and bites and slow, sweet suckling. Her body hummed and clenched, straining tighter. Her breath quickened.

A hitch caught in Dave’s breath, but without breaking his attentions, he shifted his left leg to lie across hers. A relieved exhale confirmed this was a more comfortable position. She liked the warm weight of him, an interesting sensation of restraint with comfort.

He brought his mouth down on her breast once more, sucking and abrading with his tongue as he grazed her other nipple with his thumb and…

The soft jolt of heat and light sang through her, and she gasped, shivering through the lovely surprise.

He chuckled and kissed her, murmuring sweet and low as he petted her and she caught her breath. He kept her semi-pinned with his leg over hers and his embrace.

“I came.” He’d done it to her again, without even touching her down there? “Wow.” Wow, just wow.

“You did and very sweetly, too.”

“You’re good.” How did he get her to do what she couldn’t even manage for herself?

He laughed. “Thanks.” He pressed a kiss to her breast, giving her new shivers. “Just getting warmed up here.”

“Oh, my.” Her laughter fluttered. “That was a warm up? So…what do you plan next?”

“Many things.” He combed his fingers through her hair, brushing more strands aside until he’d bared her ear. He kissed her earlobe and gently nibbled. “Many, many enjoyable things.”

Succumbing to curiosity, Olivia trailed her fingers across his chest through the dark hairs. She liked the rough texture and rasp against her skin. R.J. had been rather bare. Her hand brushed Dave’s tight nipple, and he flinched. She jerked her hand away.

“No, that was good.” He raised her hand to his mouth and kissed her fingers, and placed her hand to his chest. “I like being touched. Go for it.” He nudged her, a smile on his lips and his eyes hot.

Her anxiety was absurd, she’d been married, she’d touched a man before. Only, things had been so wrong then, and Dave was so different. She didn’t know what to expect from him—or from herself.

Be brave, bold, and honest…okay.

Her eyes meeting his, she grazed her palm over his chest. Yes, she liked the hair, raspy and silky at the same time, and she brushed his tight nipple again, slower and firmer, liking the sensation, and from his hissed intake of breath, he did too.

“More. Touch me, Livie. Love your hands on me.”

She followed the textures, rough chest hair, smooth skin, scars new and old, and solid muscle rippling under her touch. Her hand followed the neat trail of hair leading down his flat belly.

He was stroking her side with his fingertips and nibbling her earlobe, and rhythmic nudges of his hard, thick erection made focus difficult.

He sucked on her earlobe again, and she abandoned thinking, soaking in his clever caresses, his encouraging murmurs against her ear and lips, his hot body under her fingertips.

“Open your eyes.”

She blinked.

“I want to see your eyes. Your eyes are beautiful, like rich coffee and dark chocolate. I want to see all of you.”

He caressed her belly and lower, stroking over the damp swimsuit’s shield. Her hips rose to meet his touch, and she felt a new flush of moisture. The next slide of his hand brought a slow stroke under her bikini bottoms, over her curls, and long finger gliding through her wetness. Pleasure jolted, her legs opened, and body greedily arched for more of his touch.

“Please!” she gasped. Please, yes, more.

He stayed there, his golden eyes deep with desire, caressing his finger down and rising slickly. His body rocked with the easy intoxicating motion of his hand.

He withdrew his hand, leaving her speechless with need. Before she could protest the loss of his touch, he leaned up and slipped her bottoms away.

His expression tender and savoring, he traced his fingertips from shoulder to breast to waist to hip, and his warm smile broadened. “So beautiful. Kay should paint you, like this, dressed in sunlight.” Humor sparked in his amber eyes, and he chuckled. “I was going to say Nate should photograph you, but if he did, I’d have to kill him, and he is my best friend, so that’d be a problem.”

Her anxiety at lying bare beneath him and the wide blue sky broke, and she laughed, even as his possessive joke intrigued her.

Be bold.

She’d come this far…She sipped in a steadying breath and teased a finger over his waistband. “What about you?”

Keeping his eyes locked on her, he shifted away and stripped down his trunks, revealing his erection arching gracefully from the thatch of dark hair toward his belly, and exposing his scar-ravaged hip and thigh.

Dave shrugged and, despite trouble from his left leg’s limited range of motion, finished kicking the trunks away. “Leg’s a wreck, yeah. X-rays are an interesting read in hardware.” He settled onto his right side and caressed her cheek. “Back to more fascinating activities.” He smiled, but shadows lingered in his eyes.

Wanting to chase those shadows away, she set her lips to his and as he plundered her mouth, she caressed his chest, following the trail of hair until she met the warm head of his erection. At the encouraging rumble from his throat, she traced the strong shaft, caressing and cupping him.

He arched under her touch. “Oh, yeah. Yes.”

She closed her hand around the silky heat of him, the pulse of him against her palm, testing the slide of soft skin over heavy erection.

“Harder.” He rode into her hand. “You can hold me harder.”

“Bossy.” She smiled against his lips.

His laughter rumbled. “Oh, yeah, sweetheart, absolutely, but it’s all for the good.” He kissed her.

Caught between the pleasure of his mouth on hers and her delight in pleasing him, she experimented, varying grips and touch, listening to his feedback as he encouraged her play and exploration, which was consistently “Yes, harder,” and “Ah, yeah, there, more.” Her confidence rose, and she loved his enthusiasm. He was amazingly vocal in his enjoyment as he gasped, groaned and bucked into her hand. Even when she was clumsy, he guided her on through with praise.

A laughing gasp cracked from him, and he caught her hand away as he sat up. “Got to take a break, or there’ll be a fast change in plans here.”

When he’d caught his breath, he kissed her palm and winked. “Okay, I want to try something here. Lie back and get comfy.”

Wondering, she stretched out, nerves jittering. She was exposed to him, to the sky—

Dave shifted, half-turned toward her feet, and showered kisses and licks over her belly, his left hand teasing her breasts, and he spoke all sorts of sweet sexy nonsense until her anxiety dissolved into shivering laughter.

“Yeah, there you go, no worries here. Just us, just here, just feel. Trust me, babe.” Leaning over her, he raised her right leg and kissed her foot, the silliness of the kiss delightful, strange, and delicious. Her giggles only encouraged him to more playful, teasing kisses, and before she could wonder further, he’d caught her leg back with his elbow, opening her wide and brought his mouth down on her in a shocking and incredible kiss.

She jolted. “Dave!”

“Shh.” He kissed her there again, the naughtiest kiss she’d ever experienced, exquisite jolts firing through her. The weight of his torso across her belly and hips and his right arm keeping her leg pulled back left her effectively snared and completely exposed.

He caressed his left hand over her leg, restraining her. His next kiss found her center and scorched her with incredible sensation. With rough kisses, sweet licks, and deeper and deeper tongue strokes and absolute control, he reduced her to a shivering pleading tangle of breathless need. She shook under the wild, confusing energy. She writhed in his grip, her hands knotted into the blanket, unable to bear any more of his wicked lovely mouth…That pleading husky cry begging for more was her voice?

He drove her on, but this was far from the familiar, mild pleasure she could bring herself or the sweet, bright heat he’d given her before.

“Yeah, Livie, sweetheart. No more fighting it, let it go.”

At the next stroke of his tongue, shattering, terrifying pleasure tore through her, blinding and convulsing her, a high keen tearing from her tight throat.

When sense returned, she found herself tucked tightly against Dave’s chest, weeping and shaking as he stroked her head.

Mortified, she wrenched at his grip.