Cowboy All Night (Thunder Mountain Brotherhood, Book 5) by Vicki Lewis Thompson Page A

cradled her face in his big hands and looked into her eyes. “One kiss. Just enough to see if we suit.”
    She slid both palms up the soft, warm material of his shirt and felt the rapid thump of his heart. “Maybe we won’t.”
    “I’m guessing we will.” Angling his head, he settled his mouth over hers.

5
    I MMEDIATELY B RANT KNEW he was in trouble. One kiss from Aria would make him want a hundred. But he’d announced that he’d only claim one, so he’d better make it count.
    He started slowly, learning the contours of her lips as he listened to her breathing change. When he connected more fully and began to explore the sweet depths of her mouth with his tongue, she moaned and curled her fingers into the fabric of his shirt. That moan traveled straight through him, firing his blood and sending it south.
    He desperately wanted her lush body pressed tight against his rigid cock. But that would lead to more than they’d bargained for. He thought they’d get there eventually, but not tonight.
    Savoring Aria’s plump lips would feel like a party no matter what, but the flavor of champagne added to the celebration. She cooperated with each move he made, giving him access to every delicious part of her mouth. She obviously liked kissing him and, oh, man, did he like kissing her.
    He was so involved in the sensuous feel of her tongue sliding against his that he almost missed the fact that she’d wound her arms around his neck. He didn’t miss her next maneuver, though. When she molded her hot body to his, it was like touching a match to brandy.
    If this was a test of his restraint, he was failing miserably. Before he realized it, he’d cupped her bottom and pulled her hard against his straining erection. He’d meant for their kiss to be subtle and classy. Somehow it had morphed into a demonstration of primal lust.
    Ah, but how encouraging that she wanted him. He didn’t need more than that to figure out the next step. Consoling himself that there would be a next step, he slowly ended the kiss and lifted his head. A breeze ruffling his hair indicated his hat was now on the ground. Small matter.
    He gazed down at her, and slowly she lifted her lashes to reveal eyes darkened with the same urgency he felt. He took a shaky breath. “I need to stop while I still can.”
    His comment seemed to take a while to penetrate, but at last she gave him a slight nod. “Me, too.”
    “Were you about to take advantage of me?”
    “I thought about it. Would you have gone willingly?”
    “Probably, God help me. You pack a punch.”
    “You, too.”
    Looking into her eyes, he fought the urge to start kissing her again. Not tonight. “But you need to get home and talk to your brother about tomorrow.”
    “I do.”
    “It’s lucky that you’ll have your next three days free so you can hang out with Linus.”
    “Yes, but the restaurant will be busy over the holiday weekend, so my nights...”
    “You have a full schedule.”
    “Unfortunately.” She reached up and traced his mouth with her finger. “But you’d think I could make room for a top-notch kisser.”
    “I surely hope so, because if you liked that kiss, you’re gonna love the rest of the program.”
    “Can you make me float in the air?”
    “You bet.”
    She smiled, but then her expression turned serious. “It’s just that I’m not sure of the logistics.”
    “Usually folks start by taking their clothes off—at least I’ve found that it works better that way. But the floating part is a professional secret and I’m honor-bound not to reveal it.” He was gratified when her smile reappeared.
    “I meant the logistics of when we’d get together.”
    “I know. I just saw you getting serious all of a sudden, as if you needed to plan it all out. You don’t. Let’s see how it goes.”
    “I want to spend time with you. But it’s complicated.”
    “No worries.” As much as he wanted her, he wasn’t going to push. “If it’s supposed to happen then it