Texas Hot by Regina Carlysle Page B

can’t own a property this big and not have an odd path or two. Dawson and I both brought girls out here on a regular basis.”
    “Dawson?  But I thought….”
    “Nah, he tried dating girls for a while but he eventually gave up on that. Now me? I kept right on going.”
    “Oh I’ll just bet you did.”
    Mitch went quiet then lifted the lid on the cooler. He popped the tops on two cans of beer and passed one over to her. Gina didn’t want beer, she wanted Mitch, still she took the drink and sipped. She loved watching him, the way his hands looked…strong and capable…and how those creases at the corners of his eyes marked him as a working man. She loved him in clothes and, most assuredly, out of them. A woman with her history of violence with men might have been afraid of such a big man but Mitch was gentle and he’d proven that over and over.
    The thought of leaving him killed her.
    Gina shoved those thoughts into a far corner of her mind and tried to enjoy the moment. “It’s so beautiful here. It’s peaceful.”
    “Different from Brooklyn, huh?”
    “Absolutely. Don’t get me wrong, there’s much to love about my home but its crazy busy with people and traffic. There’s so much to do that every minute is like a wild carnival ride.”
    “I’d like to see it someday.”
    She looked over to see him watching her steadily. Gina smiled. “I’ll show you. But you have to know how amazing it is right here. It’s like nowhere else.”
    “Doesn’t mean I don’t like to try new things.”
    “Adventurous.”
    “You know it. And speaking of adventure.” He reached for her beer and set it aside, along with his own before gently pushing her down onto the blanket. Before she could catch her breath he leaned over her and moved until his breath brushed her lips. “Have you ever made out under the stars? Had sex under the stars?”
    “There’s a first time for everything,” she whispered as he took her lips. The tasting was soft at first, then hungry until they lay wrapped up as if melded together by a welding torch. Despite the coolness of the surrounding night, Gina burned when he reached for a breast, thumbing her nipple until it tightened to finally push against the satin of her bra. Frustrated, needing a firmer touch, she gripped his sides and squirmed against his broad chest. Mitch sat up and with an economy of motion, stripped her new dress from her body, divested her of her bra and panties then looked his fill. Without a word, he worshipfully moved his palms over her and without speaking a word conveyed his thoughts.
    She was beautiful.
    At least, that’s how he made her feel.
    The past faded until there was only this moment and this man.
    He felt like forever to her.
    Mitch slipped his fingers between her thighs, testing, testing and Gina felt her passion rise, felt her body dampen against his touch. As he plied her flesh, driving her crazy with need, he bent to take a nipple into his mouth. A soft cry broke free. Gina sent her fingers into his hair to hold him close but then, even that tender pressure wasn’t enough.
    “You’re ready,” he whispered as he thrust two fingers deep into her body. Gina sighed at the feel of the hotly-spoken words as they swept her aching nipple and, helplessly, she moved against the push of his fingers as they repeatedly entered and withdrew.
    Passion stole her words but they weren’t really needed anyway.
    Mitch adjusted his body to tug and push at his jeans then the soft rasp of pearl snaps popping free followed as he pulled his shirt away leaving him bare, hers to stroke and touch. Gina reached up and dragged her fingers through the light dusting of hair on his chest then stroked his wide, wide shoulders.
    “You’re smiling,” he said as he leaned over her.
    “Am I? I didn’t realize. Maybe it’s because you make me happy.”
    “Damn, Gina, you know just the thing to say to make a man want more than he actually deserves.”
    “You deserve everything. I