A groan moved from his throat to her mouth, and immediately Carlise’s pussy wept. Knowing Riggs was just as turned on made her want him all the more. Their kiss had gone from zero to four hundred and twenty-two in seconds, and as she kissed him more urgently still, Carlise cursed the fact that they were in the middle of the woods instead of inside his cabin.
She wanted this man. It didn’t matter that it had been less than a week since she’d met him. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t the kind of woman who engaged in flings. This felt like anything but a fling. She needed this man more than she needed air.
It was Riggs who finally pulled away, but he didn’t let go. He kept his hands right where they were and stared into her eyes as they both panted, trying to regain their equilibrium.
“Holy hell,” he whispered after a moment.
Carlise grinned. “Yeah.”
“I want you, Carlise,” he said baldly. “I don’t think I’ve ever wanted a woman as badly as I want you. But not for a one-night stand. There’s something about you that’s gotten under my skin. I can’t stop thinking about you. Wondering what I did right in my life to have you appear as if out of nowhere.”
“I shouldn’t have been on that road,” she whispered. “My plan was to stay on Route 2 to Bangor.”
“But you didn’t. You drove to me. To my mountain. My cabin.”
“Yes.”
This was an important moment. Carlise could feel it. She wasn’t sure what it meant, if things with her and Riggs could ever work out, but she wanted them to. So damn bad.
“We aren’t making love today,” he said finally.
Carlise frowned as she stared up at him.
“I want to. You have no idea how much. But I want to prove that you’re more than a passing fancy. I want you to get to know me. I need you to be sure, because once you let me have you . . . that’s it. There’s no going back, Carlise. Do you understand?”
She did. As much as she wanted to be with Riggs, a tiny part of her was worried that once they made love, he’d want her gone. Taking time to get to know each other better was the smart thing to do. The adult thing. But it still kind of sucked. Because damn, the man could kiss. And if he could kiss as well as he did, she had no doubt making love with him would rock her world. “Yes.”
“Yes what?” he asked.
“We should wait. I don’t want to, but it’s probably smart.”
“And the other? I was serious, Carlise. Once you let me inside your body, you’re mine. Just as I’m yours. I need you to understand that.”
The thought of this man being hers made longing course through her veins. “Yes.”
He stared at her for a beat before taking a long breath in through his nose. “Okay.”
“Okay,” she echoed. After a minute or two, she smiled. “So, are we gonna stand out here all day or go back to the cabin?”
“I can’t move,” he admitted with a small frown.
“What? Why not? Are you all right?” Carlise asked in concern.
He huffed out a breath. “I’m fine. I just don’t want to let go of you. And for the record, just because we aren’t making love doesn’t mean you aren’t sleeping in my bed, in my arms. That still stands.”
Carlise smiled again. “Good. Because your bed is really comfy.”
Riggs growled. “That’s the only reason you like it?”
He was fun to tease. “Maaaaaybe. I also like the way your sheets smell.”
“And?”
“Your pillows are awesome. And I’ve never met a man with an obsession for blankets like you have.”
“And?” he asked again, yanking her against him roughly. She could feel his erection against her belly. Desire shot through her once more.
“And sleeping with a man has never made me feel as safe as when I’m in your arms,” she admitted softly.
He smiled gently. “Damn straight. When you’re with me, you are safe.” He took a deep breath, then let his hand fall from the back of her head.
Carlise immediately missed his touch.
But he made it better when he turned and wrapped an arm around her waist, keeping her locked against his side. “Let’s get you back and warmed up.”
“You were the one who was sick, not me,” she reminded him.
“And I don’t want you to get sick,” he retorted. “It’s no fun, believe me. Although I did have the best nurse.”
Carlise smiled all the way back to the cabin. Things had changed between her and Riggs out at that bunker . . . and she was thrilled. Susie would tell her she was completely crazy and moving way too fast, that she needed to slow the hell down, that she didn’t even know the man. But Susie would be wrong.