His handsome face remained skeptical.
“Let’s cut to the chase. I like sex. There isn’t a substitute for the way naked flesh feels sliding together in the heat of passion. There isn’t a substitute for a long, wet kiss. There isn’t a substitute for a heart-pounding, blood-pulsing orgasm. There isn’t a substitute for sex. Period. I’m not supposed to admit I get antsy and snappish if I go too long without it. I’m not supposed to admit that satisfying the craving for intimate physical contact is all I want. I don’t want messy emotional entanglements. Just. Hot. Sex.”
He leaned forward and took her hand, staring deeply into her eyes. “I think I love you.”
She laughed.
“In all seriousness, it’s refreshing that you’re so up front about what you want.”
“Or what I don’t want.” Tanna swallowed a mouthful of beer. “So, you interested in taking me for a tumble?”
“Oh yeah.” His smile turned decidedly predatory. “But I’m not gonna shake your hand like this is a business arrangement.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed the inside of her forearm, from her wrist to the crook of her elbow. “I’m gonna seduce you.”
“Right here, right now?”
“Just giving you a sneak peek at my playbook.” His thumb lazily swept an arc from her knuckles to her wrist. “But I won’t attempt an all-out blitz. I’d rather make the plays drive by drive. Trust me. I’ll still get us to the goal line.”
Tanna squirmed in her seat. “I’ve never been turned on by a football analogy before.”
He chuckled. “I’m happy you caught the right sport reference.”
“Bite your tongue. I’m a Texan. Football is not a sport; it’s a religion.”
“My mistake. That said, I’m gonna jump ahead in the offensive playbook and score us a room at the motel across the street. Be right back.”
He slid from the booth leaving her staring after him feeling . . . what? Guilty? Like she should offer to pay for half? Or tell him she’d already booked a room? Or was she feeling like a skanky ho for picking up yet another guy in a bar?
Nah. It’d been a while since she’d hooked up. And what was wrong with acting on her baser impulses anyway? Nothing. Men did it all the freakin’ time. Her body, her choice. All pleasure, no emotional pain. Just what she needed.
Tanna ordered another round of Coronas and let her head fall back. Her mind filled with thoughts of roving hands and hot mouths. Of cool cotton sheets beneath her. She imagined the taste of his mouth. His skin. She thought about his hair teasing her as he kissed down the center of her body. By the time she’d finished fleshing out all the sexual scenarios she’d like to put into play, the bench seat creaked. She angled her head and opened her eyes to see her hot stranger sliding next to her.
His big hand curled around the side of her face and he swept his thumb over her cheekbone. “I was afraid you’d be gone.”
“Why? I meant what I said.”
“I believe you. But me heading off to secure a room before I even kissed you is a little rude on my part.”
Tanna’s heart galloped when he leaned closer, letting their lips almost touch as he gazed into her eyes with such heat and tenderness. She managed to eke out, “Maybe you oughta prove that you’re not a bad kisser before this goes any further.”
“Be my pleasure.”
His breath continued to flow over her lips, but he didn’t kiss her. “Is there a problem?”
“No. You’re just so dang pretty,” he murmured and pressed his mouth to hers.
A soft, quick brush of moist flesh as his lips teased hers. Then another. And another. When Tanna parted her lips, his tongue slipped inside her mouth.
The kiss started out a slow, sweet exploration. Heat built gradually as their lips moved and tongues dueled. She gave herself over to him and this amazing first kiss.
By the time he eased back, Tanna knew her face was flushed. Her heart raced. A warm throb of need had settled between her legs.
“Damn, woman,” he finally said.
“I’m feeling a little buzzed after that too.” Good Lord. He’d kissed her with such intensity she was out of breath.
“I take it I passed the kissing test?”
She nodded. “With flying colors.”
“Good. Because I want another taste of you.”
Heat spread between her thighs. “And then what?”
“Then I’ll probably throw you over my shoulder and run across the parking lot.” His mouth meandered down her throat. He stopped to trace his tongue along her collarbone before he planted kisses straight down to her cle**age.
Somehow he’d maneuvered her into the corner of the booth. His big body blocked her from view of other bar patrons, which allowed him to leave openmouthed kisses on every exposed inch of her br**sts.
Tanna’s head fell back, letting his greedy kisses on her skin consume her. When she realized her hands were gripping the booth and not his rock-hard flesh, she reached out and placed her palms on his pectorals.
“I like your hands on me,” he murmured against the upper swell of her breast.
She curled her fingers into his torso, allowing her nails to scrape down his belly to the waistband of his jeans. Then she put her mouth on the salty skin beneath his ear. “Imagine me doin’ that down your back.” She nipped on his earlobe. “At least two times.”