She woke in the night to the most amazing sensations. Someone was trailing kisses down her collar bone and nibbling on her body, and this time it wasn't just a dream. Her eyes opened to find Cody's dark head below hers, his lips roving over her skin as if staking a claim.
"Glad you're awake." His voice was a rough velvet purr in the darkness.
"I'm glad you're here." The words escaped before she thought better of them. She held her breath as he rose over her, his eyes holding hers in the semi-darkness. His gaze seemed to search her expression.
"Me too." His expression held secrets, but he didn't seem put off by her candor.
She started to breathe again when he resumed kissing her skin. He licked her hard nipples, bringing them to even finer points under his coaxing mouth. Cassandra's breath sped up as her excitement grew, as did his.
When she tried to touch him, he grabbed her wrists and pinned them above her head. She gasped as he bit down on her breast, not hard enough to really hurt, but enough to get her attention.
"My rules, baby. You move when I say you move. Lie back and enjoy." He growled the words against her breasts as he latched on to her nipple once more and sucked with amazing pressure. She'd never had a man be this forceful with her before, but it aroused the hell out of her. Cody knew what he wanted and he took it. He didn't ask permission. He was more decisive than any man she'd ever known and it was oddly exciting.
"Cody." She wasn't too proud to beg. "I need you."
"I like that, Cassie." He rose and snagged something off the nightstand. It turned out to be one of her scarves. He must've taken it off the hanger on the door where she'd placed it with the blouse it matched the day before. "Question is, do you like this?" He moved with steady, measured movements as he tied her wrists together above her head and then looped the end of the scarf through the headboard. His eyes questioned, but she was willing. The idea of being at his mercy was something new, and she wanted to find out what it would be like. Besides, she trusted him.
They'd already made love once, and though he'd been rougher than the few men she'd known before, he hadn't hurt her. She didn't think he was the type of man to use his bigger size and superior strength against her, and the very thought of letting him do something so wicked--so kinky--made her salivate.
"Is this all right? Tell me now, baby."
"It's all right."
"Not too tight? I wouldn't want you to bruise."
She moved her hands a bit to show him she was okay. "It's fine. But, um..." She bit her lip in a moment of shyness. "I've never done this before."
"Do tell." The grin that split his face was one of pure male satisfaction.
She felt heat rise to her cheeks and knew she was blushing. She looked down, unable to meet those knowing eyes. "I've never been very adventurous sexually."
"Don't worry. I'm adventurous enough for both of us." He chuckled, then settled at her side, stretching out his long, nude body along hers as one hand trailed over her skin. "Seriously, Cassie, you need to tell me if I push too hard. I want it all with you, and I've been wanting it since the moment I first laid eyes on you."
"Really?" She looked up at him, needing to see the truth in his expression.
He nodded, his eyes solemn and lit from within by passion. "Yes, ma'am. You turn me on like no other woman I've ever known. You're smart, you're funny..." He punctuated each statement with a kiss to another part of her body. "You bake like a dream and have the prettiest eyes I've ever seen." He reached down and guided her legs apart. "And now I know even more about you." The sparkle in his eyes dared her to ask.
"Like what?"
"For starters, you have the softest skin I'll ever touch." He marked the words with a long caress that started at her shoulder and ended at her knee, hitting all the interesting points in between. "You make the sexiest little noises when you're aroused, and you've got the tightest pussy it's ever been my pleasure to know." His daring words made her gasp and he grinned down at her. "Now just relax and let me show you how much I enjoy this perfect body of yours."
She wanted to protest that she was hardly perfect, but he seemed to believe his words, so who was she to argue? It was a fantasy come to life, having Cody in her bed, saying such wonderful things. Time enough to face reality--and all her flaws--tomorrow. Tonight was for loving.
Well, for sex anyway. At least on his part. No doubt he hadn't been fool enough to fall in love with her. Not the way she had fallen in like a ton of bricks for him almost at first sight. No, that sort of thing only happened to foolish spinsters who didn't get out much.
Cassandra felt a little pang when she thought about how this special night probably meant way more to her than it did to him, but it couldn't be helped. She wanted this memory and she was hanging on with both hands to whatever time he'd give her. Luckily, he didn't seem in any hurry to leave her bed.
Cody taught her to respond to his lightest touch, teasing her nipples and other parts of her body she'd never thought of as erogenous zones. The back of her knee, the bend of her elbow, the nape of her neck, he touched her everywhere with devastating thoroughness. By the time he moved over her, she was more than ready for anything he had in mind.
)
A city girl meets a country boy. She's "gone country" and he's just the man to teach her to ride... A city girl, successful business woman and former bakery owner, Cassandra, has sold out and moved West to her own slice of heaven--a working ranch, complete with cowboys. She doesn't know much about ranch life, but she's a willing student, especially when the new ranch hand catches her eye. Cody compliments her cooking and charms his way into her life, but he's keeping secrets, and she doesn't know if she can trust her instincts where he's concerned. She's going to have to make a decision, but should she take the risk?
