The Birthday Fantasy by Sara Walter Ellwood Page A

do that to a man. After overhearing Jamie’s conversation with Jefferson through the open French doors of his room, he was more convinced than ever that she was making the biggest mistake of her life if she married that yahoo. He didn’t know what Jefferson’s game was, but Tate would bet it had everything to do with the ranch. And not because he wanted to raise black Angus cattle.
    He rolled over and yanked on the covers a little too hard. He sighed and tried to ignore his cold feet, but when a draft passed through the room causing that weird chill down his spine, he sat up and threw the bottom of the blanket over his feet. He lay down on the pillow, putting his hands behind his head. The memory of Jamie came rushing back. The passion of her kiss and the way she responded to his touch. Her silky skin, the taste of her, the scent of her…He closed his eyes to stop the thoughts, but then he didn’t want to, even if it was torture for him.
    The door opened with a soft click.
    Tate opened his eyes, but he had to be dreaming. Jamie walked toward him limned by the soft glow of the moonlight coming through the windows. Her strappy, low-cut nightgown clung to every curve as she moved. “Am I dreaming?”
    Her soft laugh brought his gaze back to her face. “I figured you hoped to see me actually wear this thing since you deliberately packed it. I don’t want to think about you going through my entire nightgown drawer to find it.” She put her knee on the edge of the bed.
    Yeah, he’d found the sexy nightgown and hoped he’d get to see her wearing it. “Jamie?”
    “ Were you expecting someone else?” She leaned over him. Her tangy sweet scent surrounded him.
    “What are you doing?”
    “I don’t want to fight this anymore.” Her touch on the sides of his face was warm and soft as she smiled. She kissed him with a passion that took his breath away.
    He wrapped her up and held on to her, afraid she’d disappear if he didn’t. When she broke the kiss for air, she rested her forehead on his and met his gaze.
    “ I love you, Tate.”
    “Oh, God, I love you, too.” H is heart raced with happiness and desire. Tossing off the covers, he flipped her under him and crushed her lips with a kiss meant to brand her. He tugged on the sexy nightgown, pulling it over her head.
    Her naked skin slid over his and h is desire screamed at him to make her his, but he wanted to savor every incredible inch of her.
    ****
    Jamie gasped and arched into him as he lavished her breasts with his hot mouth. The roughness of his cheeks adding to the pleasure. She moaned and pulled at his hair, wanting him to kiss her. Instead, he shifted to kneel between her legs. As he placed fiery kisses down her belly, he pushed her thighs apart and touched her soft folds, pushing them apart.
    Oh, yes, this what she wanted.
    “Tate...” She fisted her hands in his hair, guiding him to her achy center. He licked and nibbled on the needy nub. She lifted off the bed as the burning coil tightened. He sucked in the delicate tissue, and she shattered into a million brilliant pieces under his tongue.
    He brought her down, then slid over her. She opened her eyes to meet his gaze and lifted a trembling hand to touch his cheek. His beard shadowed his face, black hair hung over his forehead and his passion-filled green eyes glittered with need. She had never seen a more handsome man. He bent to kiss her as he thrust into her. She gasped at the rightness of it and wrapped her legs and arms around him.
    H e rocked his hips, slowly sliding into her to the hilt and back out again. Unlike on the sex on the beach, this was slow and sweet and so damned good. He leaned over her and buried his face in her neck.
    “Marry me, Jamie .” He breathed in her ear.
    “Yes!”
    He pulled back and held her gaze as he began to move faster.
    She clawed at his back and bucked against him as the band of pleasure stretched thinner until it snapped.
    Stilling above her, he t hrew his head