Page 12 of Theirs to Treasure

“How’d you know where to find those?”

“That’s easy. You’re OCD, like me. Of course they would be where they belong. In the side compartment where they would be easy to retrieve.” He opened the driver side door and pushed the button to pop the trunk. Before Josie could even start to get in, he had the towel and the mat closed away in the trunk and was back at her side. “About that Sweet Dreams treat you promised me,” he said as he reached down to cup the side of her face. “What would you say if I told you I wanted my treat now?”

As his head bent lower, Josie finally realized what he was saying. He actually meant to kiss her! This gorgeous man, with the dark hair and glittering green eyes, was saying that kissing her would be a treat, and that was the last coherent thought she could claim as his lips brushed against hers.

The cool predawn air chilled her skin, but the warmth of his lips immediately heated her. It was a soft subtle touch that lingered, and Josie kept her eyes open the whole time.

Sam lifted his head and looked down at her. He gave a slow, wicked smile. “Honey, you don’t have to hold onto my hands so tight. I promise they won’t go anywhere you don’t want them to.”

Josie realized she’d been clutching at his hands. He was right, she was scared that he might want to roam, and the thought terrified her.

“Can I touch your shoulders?” he coaxed. “Just your shoulders and your tense neck. Nothing more unless you agree. Well, and another kiss.”

“You’re bad,” she whispered breathlessly.

“No, I’m good. That’s what you’re afraid of.”

Her laughter rang out across the lake. She bit her bottom lip, considering his words, then finally released his hands.

One of his hands caressed the perfect spot where her neck and shoulders met, gently kneading at her tight muscles. While his other hand roamed up to the nape of her neck, his fingers splayed into the thick strands of her hair and started to massage her scalp, bringing her head closer to his mouth. As their lips touched, sparks caught her by surprise, his fingers began to trace circles on her shoulder, while she pressed her head deeper against his massaging fingers.

The conflicting sensations, soft and hard, were a confusing morass of bliss that consumed her and just added to her pleasure. Several long, drugging kisses later, she realized that her nipples were hard points underneath the lace of her bra, and they were pushing against the rigid muscles of his chest.

“God, Baby, rub some more! You feel so soft and good.”

She lifted her arms around his neck and pressed herself chest to breast and felt him shudder. She froze. Oh, God, she wasn’t wearing anything but her yoga clothes and a bra and panties. She was rubbing her poochy tummy all over the man! She struggled to get out of his arms, but he just held her tighter.

“I love how you move. We’re going to set the sheets on fire, Baby.” Sam brushed more kisses up the side of her neck, and Josie used both hands against his chest to push him away. Sam took a step back but kept one hand at the back of her head and moved the other to the back of her waist. “What is it, Josie? What’s wrong?”

She looked up at him. She had a profound moment of déjà vu. Hadn’t she been in Chance Reynolds’s embrace a little over two weeks ago, and then running away because she knew he wouldn’t like how she looked? Only problem was, he was still running around after her, thinking that she was some kind of great catch because she was misrepresenting herself. Well, not this time! She took a step backward and would have fallen into her car seat if it hadn’t been for Sam’s hold on her.

“Let go,” she urged.

“Absolutely.” Sam held up his hands. “But can you tell me what’s going on?” he coaxed.

Josie sighed. He didn’t sound angry in the slightest. Just confused. He seemed so nice, and she was a fraud. Such a fraud.

“You think you’re getting a good thing, Sam.” She shook her head sadly, mad at herself again. Hadn’t her past taught her anything? “Well, I’m not a good thing. And I’ll prove it.”

Josie looked up at him, seeing the confusion. Who could blame the man? There she’d been, climbing all over him, and now she couldn’t seem to get away from him fast enough.

“Josie, you’re the best thing that’s happened to me since I’ve hit this town.” His smile was filled with admiration.

Well, this should take care of it. Josie steadied herself, grabbed the hem of her workout shirt, and yanked it over her head.

Fuck! I’m a dumbass. What was I thinking?

She desperately wished she could immediately cover herself and slink away, but that wasn’t what this was about, so she looked up at Sam. She couldn’t read his expression. He seemed baffled, but he also seemed to be stunned. He kept looking down, and then up to her face, and then down her body, and then back up to her face. She couldn’t stand it anymore.

“Now do you see? This can’t possibly do it for you. This won’t heat up your sheets, so let’s just call it quits now.” She pulled at her shirt so that she could untangle it enough to get it back over her head. Sam grabbed it out of her hands and threw it on top of the car.

Not in this life!

She might be small, but that made ducking under him easier. She snatched the shirt off the top of the car and tugged it back on, mortified.

Did I just do that? I’ve lost my damned mind.

“Baby, don’t think you’re leaving without me,” he growled. “We need to clear the air, and thank God you put that shirt back on, otherwise I would have lost my mind ogling your beautiful body.”