Every Move She Makes. Jannine Gallant

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СКАЧАТЬ inched forward. “I’m not usually one to jump in with both feet.”

      Kane reached out and caught her hand. “Then I’ll help.” With a quick tug, he pulled her into the water next to him.

      “Oh, my God, it’s so cold.” Her teeth chattered.

      “Right now, that’s working in your favor. I’m not the man I was before my swim.”

      She grinned. “Maybe we should stay in here all day.”

      “Not a chance. I think I’m turning blue.”

      “A little exercise will warm you up. Let’s race.”

      Rachel was a decent swimmer, but she was no match for Kane. He passed her and was waiting when she reached the far shore.

      “It looks like I won.” He pushed a strand of wet hair out of her eyes. “What’s my prize?”

      “Your choice.”

      Slowly he pulled her against him. The wet cotton bra wasn’t much of a barrier as she hooked her arms around his neck. Skin slid against skin before a searing kiss stole her breath.

      “Want a rematch?” His breath came in a gasp.

      “You’re on.”

      Rachel flipped backward into the water and swam hard enough to reach the shore seconds before he did, then climbed out onto the warm granite.

      He flopped down beside her, water running off him in streams. “You beat me. What’s your prize?”

      Lying on her stomach, she glanced up and blinked fat droplets off her lashes. “I get to dry off on your shirt.”

      He grabbed his shirt, but instead of handing it to her, ran the soft cotton over her back and down her legs. “How’s that?”

      “Nice.” She closed her eyes, afraid to see the expression in his. Afraid the temptation to let him do more would destroy her control.

      “Turn over.” The words were a whisper in her ear. When she rolled onto her back, he dried her arms and bare stomach. “Look at me, Rachel.”

      Slowly, she lifted her lids.

      “We can leave now, or we can stay. Your call.”

      She met his direct gaze. “I don’t want to be a tease. If we stay, I don’t intend to make love to you on this rock. I’m not good at casual sex, and we haven’t known each other very long.”

      His finger ran along her rib cage. “I won’t push you.”

      “It isn’t fair to let you kiss me then ask you to stop.”

      “Why don’t I decide what’s fair?”

      Rachel glanced over his shoulder. “Daisy might object. She looks ready to pounce.”

      “You don’t need a furry protector. Tell her to stay.”

      “Daisy, sit.” She cleared her throat. “Stay.”

      “Will she behave?”

      “She’ll only disobey if she thinks I’m in danger.”

      “I won’t give her a reason to think anything close. Just a few kisses, and then we’ll go.”

      He took her in his arms and rolled with her until she was laying full length on top of him. Their bodies fused, leaving little to Rachel’s imagination. The hard length of his need pressed against her. She caught her breath.

      “The effect of the cold water appears to have worn off.” She stared down into the depths of compelling blue eyes.

      “Holding you would make a monk horny. You’re beautiful, Rachel Carpenter.”

      She leaned down and touched her lips to his. “So are you, but it’s more than attraction. I genuinely like you. That’s what’s making this so difficult.”

      He cupped her head and brought her mouth down to meet his. Their tongues mated and explored as the kiss went on and on. Rachel squirmed against him, and he groaned.

      “Move like that again, and I’m going to disgrace myself.”

      With a nervous giggle, she dropped her face onto his chest, loving the way the hair tickled her nose. She wanted to take off her bra and feel its softness against the sensitive tips of her breasts. She wanted to reach between them and touch the part of him that poked so insistently against her belly.

      “We should go before I forget I promised not to rush you.” One hand stroked her hair.

      “I want to. I really do, but then what? When this week is over, I’ll go back to my bookstore and my girls, and you’ll return to a job that’s killing you. We might see each other once in a while and have great sex, but we won’t really be a part of each other’s lives.”

      He winced. “A real relationship can’t survive on sex alone, great or otherwise. Maybe we should take a step back and see how we work as friends first. We’ve gotten a little ahead of ourselves.”

      “Smart idea. I’m not like my sister. I can’t indulge in a quick fling without winding up with a broken heart.”

      Kane ran a finger along her cheekbone. “I don’t know if I’d be able to either. Rule number one: No more getting almost naked when we’re alone.”

      “Rule number two: Kissing is okay, but not the soul-sucking kind that makes me forget rule number one.”

      He sat up and handed over her clothes. “You’d better get dressed before I forget rule number three.”

      “Which is?”

      “I can hold your hand, but I can’t feel you up.”

      She threw back her head and laughed.

      He bent and kissed her throat, his hand sliding across her breast in the process.

      A quiver shook her, and her laughter quieted. “What happened to our rules?”

      “They don’t go into effect until we’re back on the trail.”

      “Too bad we have to leave, but it’s getting late.” She glanced at her watch. “After two now, and it’ll take a couple of hours to hike to camp.”

      “Don’t worry. Jed will keep an eye on your girls. I told him we’d probably make a day of it.”

      Rachel pulled her tank top over her head. “Did you tell him why?”

      “He’s a smart man. I’m sure he’ll figure it out for himself.” Kane tied his boots. “Ready?”

      She nodded.

      The hike back was uneventful. The only time Kane touched her was to help her over a fallen tree in the path. By the time they ran into Chip a half-mile СКАЧАТЬ