She lay on her back as he spread her thighs wide, feeling like she could hardly wait until he entered her.

Instead of sliding the condom on, he moved down so that his head was between her thighs. Her eyes widened as she realized what he was going to do.

And then his mouth was on her and she thought she was going to explode from pa.s.sion and need. She gasped and cried out from the feel of his mouth on her, his tongue teasing her c.l.i.t. He slid two fingers inside her and moved them in and out as he licked her.

She felt a buzzing in her ears and heat flushed through her body like a fireball as she started to rise toward an o.r.g.a.s.m. He pumped his fingers harder and licked her c.l.i.t with even more pa.s.sion.

The fireball inside her body seared her inside and out as she came hard. Her cry was loud and she didn't think she could catch her breath.

"You look so beautiful when you come," he murmured.

He kissed her, not giving her a chance to reply. When he drew away his expression was strained. "I want to be inside you, Tess."

She nodded. "Please."

A moment after he rolled the condom on, he slowly slid his c.o.c.k into her core. She was still coming down from her o.r.g.a.s.m. She caught her breath again at the feel of him stretching her, filling her. The feel of his hard length moving inside her drew out the sensations of her o.r.g.a.s.m.

She couldn't believe she was actually in bed with Gage. She'd fantasized about him more times than she'd wanted to admit and now he was here, inside her.

He braced his hands to either side of her shoulders and moved at an even pace. Not too fast, not too slow. She gripped his powerful biceps as she met his gaze. Her breathing was ragged and she felt perspiration on her skin. A droplet of sweat rolled from his hairline, down the side of his face.

"You're precious, Tess." The words were soft as he whispered them in her ear and her mind was spinning so much she could barely grasp what he was saying. "So special to me."

His words sounded so genuine, so filled with caring that seemed to wind everything inside of her even more tightly. So tight she felt like she could explode with it. She didn't know if he'd meant everything he'd said to her tonight, but it felt so real that it made everything more intense.

He took her slow and easy, but his strokes were becoming increasingly stronger.

She moved her hips up to meet his as she clenched his biceps, then realized she was digging her nails into his skin.

The look on his face was almost ferocious. He was holding back, as if caging the animal inside him. He wanted to give her something special and that was exactly what he was doing.

Everything inside of her became so intense that she could no longer think. She could only feel. She felt her climax on the ridge and then she was almost screaming as she toppled over into the most amazing o.r.g.a.s.m of her life. She'd never felt anything like it before.

The o.r.g.a.s.m shook her to her core and she didn't know if she'd ever come down. Gage continued his strokes and she found she could barely breathe as she looked up at him.

His look was fierce, wild. And then he tossed his head back and roared as he came. His c.o.c.k pulsed inside her and her core contracted around him.

He brushed his lips over her forehead, the tendrils damp with perspiration. He tugged up the covers from the foot of the bed, drew them over their bodies. He brought her into his arms, her head resting on his biceps, her body snug against his.

She gave a sigh of pleasure as she cuddled up against him.

As she drifted off, she thought she heard him say, "You're mine, Tess. I'm never letting you go."

Chapter 17.

Tess woke to the smell of frying bacon and coffee and light spilling through the break in her curtains. Feeling a little dazed, she pushed herself up in bed. The covers fell to her waist and she realized she was naked.

Memories rushed at her in a torrent and her face flushed. She'd gone to bed last night with Gage. She'd insisted on it and had promised him and herself that she would have no regrets.

Yet, here in the light of day, she wondered if she had just made a big mistake.

She pushed her fingers through her short curly hair that she could tell was in a wild mess this morning. When she thought about Gage's big body on hers and the feel of him inside her, flutters went through her belly. It had been amazing.

Guilt rose up inside her. Last night had been the first time she'd been to bed with any man since her husband had died.

And she had chosen to be with someone who had a reputation as a ladies' man.

She slid out of bed and nearly tripped over their clothing scattered across the floor. She didn't know what to think. Everything was a confused muddle in her mind.

Hanging on a hook on the back of her bedroom door was her robe and she took it down and slipped into the comfort of the thick terrycloth. She went into the master bathroom and combed her hair then brushed her teeth, stalling before going into the kitchen where she'd have to face Gage.

When she walked out of the bedroom, she heard the sizzle of bacon and the delicious smells were even stronger. The moment she saw him, her breath caught in her throat.

Bare from the waist up, he looked so gorgeous, wearing only a pair of Wranglers that hung low on his hips. His hair was a little mussed, looking like it had been finger combed, and a shadow of stubble was on his jaws. He turned his gaze on her and gave her a s.e.xy smile, and she forgot about guilt or regrets.

"Good morning." The way he looked at her did strange things to her insides.

She held her terry robe close around her as she returned his smile. "Good morning."

When she walked into the kitchen, he leaned down and kissed her lightly. "Breakfast is almost ready." He flipped a medium-sized pancake that was perfectly golden brown on one side. A stack of pancakes was next to the stove. "I hope you're hungry because I made a lot."

"It smells so good." She got out a coffee cup and poured herself a cup from the coffeemaker. She saw his cup beside the stove, the coffee black and still steaming.

After she put half-and-half into her coffee, along with a couple teaspoons of sugar, she took a long sip. Wonderful.

She set the table in the breakfast nook as he was putting the bacon onto a paper towel-lined plate. She grabbed a couple of gla.s.ses and a carton of orange juice and brought them to the table before they seated themselves.

Sitting across the table from Gage and seeing the way he would look at her every now and then, made all of the doubts and guilt slide away. At least for now. She loved seeing him in her kitchen and loved how he had made breakfast for her.

"You slept well," he said.

"I think you wore me out." The words came out before she could stop them and she looked down at her plate before meeting his gaze again.

He gave her a smile that made her belly flip-flop. "I hope you saved some strength. Are you up for going to Sedona today? We could hike West Fork Trail in Oak Creek Canyon."

"I love Sedona and I haven't been on that particular hike," she said. Tess let the thought turn over in her mind. "I could ask Katie Sue's mother if Jenny can stay a little later in case we're not back on time and I can pick her up over there."

"Great." Gage pushed back his chair and stood, then picked up his empty plate and orange juice gla.s.s. "Ready?"

She laughed and pointed to her robe. "Not hardly."

"You look terrific to me," he said.

She rolled her eyes and got to her feet before helping him with the little cleanup there was to do.

When they finally got to the bathroom, he stripped out of his jeans and she let her robe drop after she warmed the shower. She stepped under the spray and he followed her a few moments later.

She turned to face him and he slid his hands down her a.s.s and brought her close to him as the water pounded on them. His erection pressed against her belly as he lowered his head and kissed her. The feel of his water-slick body against hers as he kissed her sent thrills through her to the place between her thighs.

"I can't keep my hands off you." He palmed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s then moved his hands over her body, caressing her.

She clasped her hands behind his neck and leaned into him, her nipples against his chest. He kissed her and grasped her a.s.s again, drawing her up his body. She hooked her thighs around his hips and felt his c.o.c.k against her core. She looked down and saw that he was already wearing a condom. She hadn't noticed that he'd put one on before he got into the shower.

"Prepared, aren't we," she murmured as she met his gaze, loving the way he was looking at her.

"I couldn't wait to have you again." His voice sounded hoa.r.s.e as he placed the head of his c.o.c.k against her core.

He moved her so that her back was against the cool shower tiles and he was blocking most of the shower spray. He slid inside her. Her breathing hitched as he began moving in and out of her, his strokes long and his movements deliberate and unhurried.

His gaze held hers and she clung to him, as her world seemed to catch fire. He caught her mouth with his as he thrust into her. He raised his head and started driving into her harder and harder.

Her mind whirled as she felt an oncoming o.r.g.a.s.m. She could barely breathe, could barely think. Being with Gage was something so incredible that she'd never experienced before. Maybe it was just s.e.x to him, but right now she didn't care. All that she cared about was having him inside her.

The o.r.g.a.s.m took her faster than she expected. She tilted her head back against the tile and a cry escaped her. He continued thrusting and thrusting and she watched his face, waiting to see him climax.

He came with a loud groan that rumbled up in his chest and she felt his powerful body shudder. He pressed himself hard against her as he closed his eyes, tilted his head back, and water beat down on his face.

When his eyes met hers she gave him a smile. He kissed her hard before letting her slide down his body until she was on her own two feet again. She leaned close to him and wrapped her arms around his waist, her heart beating hard enough that she wondered if he could feel it beating against him.

She gave a sigh of pleasure, wanting this moment to last a little longer.

He caught her chin with his fingers as he leaned back to look at her face. "If you still want to go out to Sedona, we'd better get finished in here."

She nodded and reached for the shampoo. He washed her hair and then he had to lean down in order for her to wash his. He was at least a foot taller than she was.

It felt amazing having him soap her body, touching her in ways that made her want him all over again.

Being with him in the shower felt so intimate and she felt as if she was closer to him than ever.

And as he kissed her here and there, whenever he could, she knew she was in trouble. She was falling for a cowboy she had no business falling for.

Chapter 18.

The distinctive red rock of Sedona came into view as Gage drove his truck toward the town. As they neared the town, Tess felt a kind of energy surrounding her. There was something about the area that seemed to carry a current in the air. She could almost feel static crackling in her hair.

She shook her head, knowing she was imagining things, but she still always got the same feeling.

"Want to do the tourist thing first?" Gage asked. "Or head up to Slide Rock and Oak Creek?"

Tess smiled at him. "Touristy stuff first and then we can have our lunch somewhere on Oak Creek."

When they reached the downtown part of Sedona, Gage parked the truck in front of an ice cream shop. A few doors down were colorful jeeps from the popular Pink Jeep Tours.

Gage helped Tess out of the truck and they bypa.s.sed the ice cream shop and started walking. They went to different shops with crystals and stones native to the area and the state, along with the usual tourist souvenir stores.

Tess bought Jenny a tie-dyed Sedona T-shirt and a pretty little copper and turquoise bracelet that would fit her for a while and she could wear for special occasions.

Gage picked out a silver necklace with a turquoise pendant for Katie Sue's birthday present. "Her parents say I spoil her," he said with a low laugh. "Can't help it. She's a sweet kid."

They reached a jewelry and gemstone shop and went inside. Tess marveled at the gorgeous Arizona stones that included fire agate, azurite, peridot, citrine, malachite, turquoise, and amethyst.

Her favorite was a gold ring with a swirl of turquoise along with sparkling peridot at the center and diamonds curving along one side. She also loved a freeform fire agate pendant. Unfortunately the price tags were well beyond her reach, but she enjoyed looking at the pieces.

When they'd finished visiting the various shops, they climbed back into his truck and headed toward Oak Creek.

They drove to the foot of the hiking path known as the West Fork Trail and parked just off the highway. The day was sunny, the air cool and fresh.

Gage shouldered the backpack with their lunch as they started along the trail, and he carried a small fly rod. Tess wore a cross-body canteen-style large water bottle, which left her hands free.

They had stopped by his ranch before heading to Sedona, and they each wore st.u.r.dy shoes for hiking. They both wore jeans and T-shirts, and Tess had put a band in her hair to keep her curls away from her face.

"It smells wonderful." She breathed in the clean, crisp forest smells as she followed him.

He gestured up ahead. "And the scenery along here is incredible."

Not long into the hike, the trail hugged steep canyon walls that towered hundreds of feet. There wasn't much room between the canyon walls in a few areas, leaving only a narrow path that crossed from one side of the stream to the other. The creek was only a few inches deep although there were some pools that could be as deep as three feet.

They crossed the steam using rocks and fallen logs. She slipped once and her shoe landed in the water so that one sock was wet and one wasn't. She laughed and stepped in with both feet so that they were equally wet and he grinned.

Oak trees, sycamores, aspens, and tall pines rose up along the trail, along with even a few apple trees near the trailhead. Being that it was still summer, the vegetation was lush and the green contrast against the red sandstone of the canyon walls was beautiful.

Gage told her how beautiful the trail was in all seasons. "If we just stick to the basic trail, it's a six-mile round trip." He looked at her. "It's not a bad hike and you're in great shape." He gestured ahead. "When we have more time, the trail extends another eleven miles but we won't go that far. Maybe six miles up where we could camp some day."

"I haven't done any backpack camping. It sounds so fun." She took a swig of water and offered him the canteen. He drank from it and then she took it from him and adjusted the strap of the carrier again.

As they walked, he asked her about growing up in New Mexico.

"I miss it sometimes," she said. "But I do like Prescott."

She especially liked one s.e.xy cowboy, but she didn't say that. She pushed that thought from her mind. Did she even know what she was doing with Gage? Over the past months since she'd gotten to know him, he had pushed his way past her defenses and here she was-she'd just spent the night with him and now they were out hiking together.

"What was it like growing up with four brothers?" she asked as they continued on.