Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)

His dark gaze never wavered. “The being-gay thing could have something to do with that.”


“I don’t like it that much.”

He put his hands on her shoulders. “Let’s find out why.”

Before she could figure out what he had in mind, he’d basically removed her bra and was sliding her panties down her legs. The man worked quickly. She didn’t even have time to get embarrassed.

When she was as naked as him, he moved her to the bed and had her lie down. He settled next to her. He leaned over and lightly kissed her.

“You like the kissing,” he said.

“Yes.”

“Then we’ll do that.” He shifted closer and settled his mouth on hers. He kissed her slowly, moving his lips against hers before slipping his tongue inside.

Uncertainty faded and she wrapped her arms around him. As their tongues tangled and her blood moved a little faster, she moved her hands up and down his back. She could feel his muscles moving underneath his skin. He was so wide through his shoulders, she thought. Then his back narrowed as she got closer to his waist.

He broke off the kiss to trail his mouth down her throat to her collarbone. He placed one of his hands on her belly, which made her tense. But then he kept it there, just moving in a slow circle. She could handle that, she told herself.

His mouth eased closer and closer to her br**sts. She found herself thinking about him kissing her there. A little jolt zipped from her br**sts down her middle to between her thighs. A jolt that caused her breath to quicken.

His mouth settled over her nipple and he drew on it. The jolt returned, stronger this time, creating a direct line from her breast to that place between her legs. The place that had, honestly, never been all that special.

He raised his head. “Yes? No?”

“It’s nice.”

He chuckled. “You’re not easy. I like doing this. Do you mind if I keep at it for a while?”

“No.”

He moved from breast to breast. Licking, sucking. She felt trapped in her own skin, kind of hot and cold at the same time. She raised her hands to his head and ran her fingers through his hair. Her legs moved against the cool sheets.

The hand on her belly moved. Slowly, he shifted it across her stomach until his fingers dipped between her thighs. She parted her legs instinctively, knowing what would happen next. He would rub her there a few minutes, then assume the position. Once he was inside, she would make those noises guys seemed to like and then he’d come and then it would be over.

She turned her head, trying to see the clock. If it didn’t take too long, she could still watch a movie on pay-per-view.

He explored her gently, sliding over her clitoris before easing a finger inside her.

“You’re wet,” he murmured.

Not surprising, she thought. It wasn’t that she didn’t like what he was doing. It was just...so what? Yes, it felt nice for a while, but then she wanted it to be over. Why did it have to take so long?

He began to rub her center. As he did that, he shifted so they were kissing again. She was aroused, she thought, frustrated. She usually got aroused. But then it went nowhere. He continued to kiss her as his fingers moved against her center. She liked what he was doing—liked the warmth flowing through her, the tension. She wanted to push or strain, and as need built inside her, she started to feel uncomfortable. Not physically. She wasn’t sure how. Maybe in her head?

She just wasn’t that woman, she thought grimly. The one who threw herself on the bed and breathed, “Take me now!” Sex was fine. This was better than it had ever been, but still, she didn’t understand what—

“I can hear you thinking from here,” Ford said, shifting so he rested his head on his hand, his weight supported on his elbow as he faced her.

“My brain doesn’t turn off.”

“I can tell.” He lightly traced her breast, his finger slipping over her tight nipple.

A shiver rippled through her.

He did it again and she shivered again.

“Count backward from a thousand,” he told her. “In threes.”

“What?”

“I want your mind busy so it can’t freak you out.”

“I’m not freaked out. I’m totally calm.” She reached over and put her hand on his hip. His erection strained toward her. He was going to fill her completely and that would feel nice.

“It’s your turn,” she murmured. “Let’s do that.”

“I don’t think so.” He rolled onto his hands and knees, then slipped between her thighs. Although he loomed over her, he didn’t try to enter her. “A thousand, nine hundred ninety-seven...”

“Fine. It’s a stupid idea. Nine hundred and ninety-four.”

“Close your eyes and count.”

She did as he instructed. She didn’t know why he was making such a big deal of this. Not everyone felt the earth move every time. Or ever. She was okay with that.

“You counting?”