He shook his head. “Not yet.”
Rick leaned into her, pulling her body closer and pressed his lips to hers. His tongue licked at the seam of her lips leisurely, demanding entrance. Lydia opened for him and tangled her tongue with his. She moaned as she explored every crevice of his mouth. His masculine scent drifted to her nose as his palms slid sensuously up and down her back. There was no denying she wanted this man. She wouldn’t stop him; no, she couldn’t. Her palms pressed against his chest, exploring the dips and crevices of the man she’d admired from afar. She slid her palms up around his neck.
If this was some test, another lesson that he was trying to teach her, she was going to kill him. Lydia pulled him closer and let her fingers tangle in his hair. She pressed her breasts against his chest. A new feeling came over her, a need that was as raw as her nerves had been the last few days. He wasn’t leaving tonight if she had anything to say about it. She wanted him with a desire she’d never felt.
Rick inched his palm between them and up to her breast and gave a gentle squeeze. A pleasure ran through her from her breast down to her core, making her moan louder. She whispered, “Yes.”
“God, you’re beautiful.” Rick removed his hand, swept her up in his steely arms, and carried her to the bed. He pushed the covers aside and laid her in the middle with him by her side. He propped his cheek in his hand. His other hand made little circles on her stomach. “Lydia, I need you to know that I will be back.”
Lydia didn’t want to talk about it or tell him she believed him. All thoughts were centered on his fingers running over her silky nightgown. The same one she wished she didn’t have on. She wanted to feel his hand on her flesh, revel in it.
His hand stilled against her stomach. “You do believe me, don’t you?”
Lydia pushed herself up on her elbows. “Does it matter what I believe?”
Rick’s mouth parted. It was obvious that she’d stunned him, not that she meant to. She didn’t want to have this conversation with him. She didn’t want to hold him to a promise she didn’t expect him to keep.
He resumed the circles on her stomach and slid his palm just underneath her breast. “It matters to me.”
Lydia closed her eyes. Trusting him meant opening herself up. It was going to be a leap of faith, one that she hadn’t given anyone in a mighty long time. “I believe you.” She pulled his head down to hers. “Now shut up and kiss me.”
Rick grinned against her lips.
He devoured her mouth. Their tongues twined together. She tilted her head to deepen his kiss. Her hands reached for him, rubbing everywhere she could reach. She tugged at the bottom of his shirt, wanting to feel his skin against hers. A need came over her, overwhelming her. She needed this.
Rick leaned back and tugged his shirt over his head. “Is this what you want, Red?”
She lifted her palm and rubbed it over his smooth, hard chest. His tanned toned muscles begged to be touched, caressed, and kissed as he’d done to her. “Yes.”
His hand traveled down her nightgown until he reached the hem. He slid his fingers underneath and ran his hand back up the same path, pulling the cloth with him. His fingers sent a fire traveling through her, every nerve ending vying for his attention. Her heart beat quickened. She wanted more than his fingers caressing her skin. She wanted him. All of him.
Lydia reached for the hem and pulled it over her head, letting the material drop off the side of the bed and to the floor.
“Damn, you’re beautiful.” Rick pushed up from the bed, kicked off his shoes, and pulled his jeans off. Lydia’s gaze held steady on his jutting erection. He was magnificent, huge. She wasn’t sure that he would fit. She’d been with men before, but none as big as him. Lydia let her gaze rove over the rest of his body. Pure perfection stood in front of her. Why he wanted to be with her she had no idea, but there was no way she was going to bring it up on the mere chance he might realize she was right.
Lydia lifted her hand to him. “I need you.”
Rick lifted a brow. His gaze roamed over her body caressing her, drinking up her awaiting body. A sheepish grin took form on his face. “I wouldn’t dare deny you anything.”
Rick crawled up the bed, positioning himself between her thighs. His hands rubbed up and down her legs, stopping just short of where she needed his touch. He leaned down and kissed the inside of her thigh as he slid her panties down and off of her. “That’s better.”
Rick placed a kiss above her red curls and caressed the inside her thighs, inching his fingers toward her core. Rick glanced up at her, his mouth right above her mound, the heat from his breath making her more wet from the anticipation.
“Tell me you want this as much as I do, Lydia.” His eyes darkened to an emerald green. “I need to hear you say it, baby.”