Hidden Desires

She couldn’t believe she’d said that. When she’d slipped into the flimsy bra and panties Suzanna had forced her to design, she’d never expected Travis would actually see them. She’d known he was coming over, had even suspected a kiss or two, but she hadn’t planned on going to bed with him.

But things never worked out according to plan, did they? Because as she lay back on her soft bed, the only thing she planned was having Travis naked and inside her.

“Clothes are really overrated, aren’t they?” he said glibly, sitting at the edge of the bed.

Rachel stared up at his eyes and nearly moaned at the blatant hunger she saw in them.

He leaned down and ran his hand over the line of buttons down her shirt. Her breath hitched as his finger clasped over the top button, popping it open. With steady hands, he slowly went down the line until her shirt fell open.

When she saw his eyes narrow at the emerald-green, barely there bra she wore, pleasure sizzled through her. God, how many times had she told herself she didn’t want a man admiring her body? How many times had she told herself sex was nothing but a cheap and tawdry act? Plenty of times, that’s how many.

So why did her heart flutter at the thought of being appealing to Travis?

“You’re beautiful,” he muttered.

She felt so vulnerable as she lay there, as he ran his thumb over the swell of each breast. Yet she didn’t tell him to stop. Instead, she arched her back so that her breasts pressed against his hand.

He motioned for her to sit up, and she did, letting him pull the shirt off her shoulders. Then he reached for the waistband of her slacks and pulled them off her body in one swift motion.

He groaned. “Are you trying to kill me?”

Travis’s reaction to her erotic lingerie made her suddenly grateful that she’d allowed Suzanna to talk her into this. The tiny panties clung to the triangle of her thighs, the spaghetti-thin straps struggling to hold them up. It would take no effort for Travis to rip those flimsy panties off her, and Rachel flushed at the thought. Not only that, but the wisp of cream-colored lace stitched over the satiny green fabric of her bra scraped against her nipples, making her wonder if Travis’s mouth would feel just as delicious. Every inch of her body sizzled with anticipation.

“Do you like?” she murmured, running her hands over the bra.

He groaned again. “I more than like. Are all your designs this…nice?”

She shrugged. “No. This came from my private collection.”

He grinned knowingly. “You designed it for me, didn’t you?”

Heat scorched her cheeks. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?”

“Yes.”

He nodded. “Good.”

The conversation came to a quick end as he slid onto the bed and kissed her. His long, hard body felt so nice against hers, so damn right, and she wanted it to remain there forever. She wanted to feel his thigh pressed against her leg, his chest against her breasts, and his lips to remain permanently against hers.

She twined her arms around his neck and ran her fingers through his dark hair. “Travis,” she murmured, but the sound was muffled against his mouth.

She wanted to tell him to undress. Wanted to order him to touch her. To slide inside her.

But Travis had other ideas.

“Seduce me.”

She met his gaze. “What?”

Travis propped his arms behind his head and leaned against his hands. “Rachel, I told you I’d prove I want more than your body.”

“And how is me seducing you going to prove it?”

“Because I don’t want you to think I’m trying to take something from you. I only want to give. So, the way I see it, this is your show, sweetheart. Take what you want.”

His sexy offer both tempted and frightened her. She’d never seduced a man, never even thought it possible. Men were happy enough to lead, to take what they wanted out of sex and the woman’s needs be damned. At least, that’s what she’d always believed. Seeing Travis lying there on his back, telling her to take him, made her realize that perhaps sex was more than a one-sided activity.

“I can wait all night, you know.”

She heard the teasing in his voice and suddenly felt bold. “What if I want you to wait all night?” she teased back.

He never blinked. “Then I would.”

With a small smile, she moved her hands to his shirt and began unbuttoning it as slowly as he’d unbuttoned hers. When she heard his sharp intake of breath as she ran her palm over his defined pectorals, she quickened her pace. Seconds later, his shirt was on the bedroom floor, and she finally got to feast her eyes on his chest. She knew it would look like this. Smooth. Hard. Just the right amount of dark hair feathered over his sinewy skin. Rippled abdominal muscles and trim hips.

Just perfect.

She kissed his left nipple, slowly swirling her tongue over the small nub.

Travis groaned. “Want some advice?”

She lifted her head at the sound of his husky voice. “Advise away.”

“Taking is great and all, but taking too long is likely to make me explode.”

Pleasure fluttered in her belly. “What if I want you to explode?” she asked, drifting her hand lower and sweeping it over his evident arousal.

His features creased as he choked out, “I’d prefer we exploded together.”