Her Hometown Hero (Page 53)

As Spence’s arms wrapped around her, she closed her eyes and leaned back against him, feeling perfectly happy just as they were. Yes, she wanted to get to the lovemaking, but at the same time she wanted to freeze this moment, this feeling of bliss from the first truly romantic day she’d ever experienced.

“I don’t know how you arranged all of this, but thank you,” she whispered, afraid of breaking the spell she was under if she spoke too loudly.

“I just made a couple of phone calls. The staff here did the rest.”

“Well, they were great phone calls. Thank you again, Spence. You’ve made me feel special.”

“I want you to feel special because you are. Everything I do for you, I do because it pleases me so much to see your eyes light up with happiness. A smile from you brings me joy unlike any gift ever has.” He punctuated his words by caressing the side of her neck with his lips.

She found herself tilting her head to give him better access to that sensitive skin.

Spence drew his head away momentarily. “Would you like a drink before . . . ?”

Sage was glad he didn’t finish the sentence. She was ready for this, but to talk about it . . . no, she didn’t want to. Talking might give her the opportunity to back out, and that’s the last thing in the world that she wanted. This was what she wanted. If she could just manage to fight off the nerves that kept threatening her.

“A drink sounds good,” she said, and nearly whimpered when he released her.

He walked over to a wine bucket, lifted out a chilled bottle, and prepared it for the corkscrew. “From the moment our eyes connected, I wanted you. It soon became an all-consuming passion, a need to have you. Now . . . now, it’s so much more.” He drew out the cork smoothly and then poured the wine into crystal goblets.

She accepted the glass he offered and moved back to the large window. “It feels like I’ve wanted you forever. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before about . . .” No. Why belabor their fumbled night? It was something best forgotten.

“I have this strong impression that I need to guard you—or rescue you. Am I the one you need rescuing from?” He was joking, but not entirely.

His uncharacteristic moment of insecurity gave her strength, wiped away the nerves that had been gnawing at her most of the night—heck, most of the time since being back in Spence’s presence.

“I think I need to be rescued from myself—from the protective ball I’ve placed around myself. I think you really are my prince come to life,” she told him, setting down her wine and walking over to him, feeling the material of her dress swirl delicately around her legs.

He set down his own glass and raised his hand to her cheek. “I can do that. I can be anything you want me to be. I want to be a better man when I’m with you.” He bent down and took her mouth gently, showing her his need in a slow, sweet kiss.

Sage broke away only long enough to say, “I just want you to be you. I just want you, Spence,” and then returning to the kiss, she got lost in his arms. If this was a preview of their night to come, she thought she might never float back to earth again.

“We won’t rush this, Sage. I want to build the fires, make sure you know that lovemaking is about pleasure, not pain. I don’t want to push you, and I don’t want to ever stop. Tell me what you want, what you desire. Let me please you.”

“Don’t treat me like a porcelain doll—that’s all I ask. I want you to lose yourself,” she said, crying out when he gripped her hips and pulled her against him, showing her that he was thick and hard.

“I can do that,” he said, the low growl in his voice stoking an inferno inside her. “You are mine—only mine, Sage Banks.”

Lifting her up, he moved to the bedroom, making her breath catch and her heart race. Yes, he was her Prince Charming, claiming her, owning her, taking what he desired. She was more than willing to be his partner—to be whatever he wanted her to be.

She was seduced, and from the look in his eyes, he was just as much hers as she was his. They were made to come together like this, made to catch fire in each other’s arms. She hoped time would stop and the night would never end.

Sage hardly noticed the low lighting in the room, or the flowers on the nightstand. She barely registered the silk sheets, or the rose petals covering them. She seemed unable to notice anything but the sultry look in his eyes.

Setting her down next to the bed, he stepped back, making her hunger to be in his arms again, but he just stood there, his eyes roaming up and down her body as he removed his jacket and then began undoing the buttons on his crisp white shirt.

“Spence?” She wanted to be bold and reach for him, but the secretive smile flitting across his mouth told her to be patient. She was—but just barely.

When he’d cast his shirt aside, her mouth watered as she gazed at the golden smoothness of his chest. Taking a step forward, she reached out, ran her finger along the hard lines and down the planes of his stomach.

“Oh, Sage,” he groaned, making her feel bold, making her want to move her fingers even farther downward. He grabbed her hand and drew it up to his shoulder, then wrapped his arm around her back.

He kissed her now, this time with so much more heat, possessing her, leading her to what was coming. His hands splayed across her back, moved down and gripped her behind to pull her against him, press her against his pulsing arousal. She groaned into his mouth, opening even more for him, feeling completely devoured.

She felt his hands at her shoulders, felt him removing her dress, but she could barely register the material falling away as he pulled back just enough to let it drift down her body. When he saw the sexy lingerie she’d almost chickened out on wearing, the pure lust in his eyes made her glad she’d bought it.