“I never said—”
“Obviously, I’m the sort to kick puppies and harangue children who behave like—” she gasped dramatically “—children.” Frustration carried her as she turned to storm away.
Baxter caught her and spun her sharply back around.
When she started to blast him, his mouth silenced her. Cool lips on warm, coaxing, pressing.
Dangerous move, she thought. With both his hands now framing her face, he left his body vulnerable. She should stomp on his foot, tug his chest hair—or maybe even plant her knee in his crotch.
He deserved it, damn him.
She meant to do something—anything other than soften against him. Anything other than open her mouth for his tongue.
Anything other than moan quietly.
Still holding her face, he murmured against her lips, “I meant that fear can make people react without thinking. And you were scared shitless.”
“Such a lovely description to apply to a lady.”
“It’s accurate. Jason Vorhees wouldn’t have scared you more.”
“Well, actually, he’s one of my favorite monsters.” When Baxter looked confused, she shook her head. “Never mind. You were saying?” If he had more of an apology to make, she wanted to hear it.
“That kind of fear can prompt us to say or do things we later regret.”
“Yeah, well.” She almost resented his understanding more than his implied insult. “I adore kids enough that I think I can refrain from ever hurting them, either by word or action.”
Amused, Baxter repeated, “You adore kids,” with just a touch of surprise. “And monsters, too—as long as they aren’t insects?”
Eyes narrowing in renewed ire, she snapped, “Yeah, so?”
“So there’s obviously a lot I don’t know about you.”
That gave her the will to push away from him again, only this time she didn’t attempt to stomp off. “Let’s keep it that way, okay?”
“Why?”
Her eyes flared in disbelief. “Why?”
“You’re shouting.”
Damn him. She brought her voice down to a growl. “Maybe because you turned to stone the other day over pizza at Coop’s place?”
“I didn’t—” he started to protest.
No way would she let him get away with that. “It was obvious to the rest of us that you didn’t want to be there, not in a setting where you were expected to socialize with me.” To punctuate her understanding of the situation, she stated, “Sex, yes. Getting to know me? Obviously a big hell, no.” Ridley realized she was almost shouting again.
Baxter didn’t attempt another denial. He steadily stared at her, waiting.
Ridley faked a calm she couldn’t feel. Why she couldn’t feel it, she had no idea—except that he seemed to bring out the worst in her. “It’s not a problem for me.”
He gave her a look of irony. “That’s not the impression you’re giving.”
“I was just accosted by a praying mantis! I’m frazzled.” That certainly seemed like a valid excuse to her. “You can believe me, we want the same things.” Patting his naked chest in dismissal, she said, “Thanks for the bug rescue. I need to get back to work, but I’ll see you tonight. And Baxter?”
Appearing thoughtful, his gaze still far too perceptive, he asked, “Hmm?”
“Bring your A-game. I deserve it.” And with that, she finally walked away.
*
Ridley liked kids. And she didn’t mind laughing at herself, even over something so very real to her.
He’d just left the lake when, again, his gaze was drawn to her. When he saw her flailing about, he’d at first thought she’d been stung. He’d already been walking her way, ignoring questions from the class and a few attempts to flirt with him. The closer he’d gotten to her, the faster he’d moved.
Her face was white, her eyes unseeing as she’d uselessly batted at the poor mantis while drawing a crowd of onlookers who found her hilarious.
He’d said her name but she didn’t hear him, so he’d done the expedient thing of holding her still and removing the bug. She could be an Olympic sprinter, she moved so fast once he’d freed her of it.
And still she hadn’t been offended by a kid making fun of her. The boy, probably ten or so, had put on quite a show. When Ridley noticed, Baxter had expected any number of reactions from her—anger, tears, annoyance.
Instead, she’d been amused.
Even as she’d given him hell, practically vibrating with the need to attack him, he’d wanted to kiss her. He’d known she was holding back by sheer will, and he’d wanted her mouth. Badly.
Was it the insect, as she’d claimed, that had her overreacting?
Or was she that offended by his comment about the kid?
He wanted to know. Suddenly, in fact, he needed to know.
She was right that he didn’t want to socialize with her. Not in a group. But privately? Maybe after a powerful orgasm made her more docile, he’d find out everything he could.
Assuming the woman was ever docile.
Baxter grinned as he headed back to his disgruntled guests, his thoughts on how fun it would be to tame Ridley Rose’s prickly temper.
Damn, but she was proving to be the best sort of challenge.
*
Polished from head to toe, hair conditioned and soft, body sleek in scented lotion, makeup perfectly applied, Ridley tugged on a smooth camisole top, no bra, with thin harem pants over pretty thong panties. Barefoot, she walked to the blinds in the bedroom to peek out. It was fifteen minutes early, but Baxter was just walking up. He wore a snowy-white T-shirt that contrasted with his tanned skin, with his usual board shorts and sneakers. His fair hair looked as if it had dried in the humid air. Reflective sunglasses protected his eyes from the glare of the hot, summer day.
The sun wouldn’t completely set until close to ten o’clock. Too bad she couldn’t open the blinds and see Baxter’s naked body in the natural light.
She planned to put him through his paces. Just thinking it made her heart trip in excitement. She would make him insane with lust, make him beg for release. She’d be in control from start to finish.
He would know that he’d met his match—and then she would decide the course of their relationship. Never again would she let any man hurt her.
His brisk knock brought her to the door. She strolled—leisurely—to the living room to answer. Even after she reached for the knob, she hesitated, anticipation ripening to an acute ache. After a deep breath and quick lick across her lips to wet them, she turned the handle and pushed the door wide, greeting him with a smile as the steps came down.
She’d already rehearsed what she’d say, how she’d play him along, make him wait until she was ready—
He came up the steps in one big leap and before she could make a sound, he had an arm around her waist, her body hauled close to his.
“God, the day was excruciatingly long.” Then his mouth was on hers and Ridley forgot her plan.
She was vaguely aware of him shoving the door shut without breaking the kiss—vaguely, because most of her concentration was on his wicked tongue, exploring over her teeth, her lips, before plunging deep. When she tried to kiss him back, he sucked her tongue and lightly bit her lips until she couldn’t breathe, could only hang on to him.
“So soft,” he murmured.
She wasn’t sure if he meant her hair, where he’d tunneled in his fingers, or her ass, which he currently squeezed, drawing her closer and closer to him, ensuring she felt the solid ridge of his erection.
Control. Right, she was supposed to be calling the shots.
With that in mind, Ridley slid a hand down his chest, over his flat abs to his straining cock in the loose shorts.
Mmm, nice. She liked the way he jerked, how he freed his mouth to hiss in a breath.
Yes, she could do this. She...immediately found herself backed up to the only available empty wall space in the RV. At first he ground himself into her hand, then he captured both her wrists and pressed her hands to the wall at either side of her head while he opened his mouth on her neck, directly over her fluttering pulse.