It had been like pulling myself away from the climactic ending of an exceptionally good movie, but I’d managed to coax out from the warm cocoon created by the quilt and Beck’s body. He’d stirred for a second, and I was sure he’d pull me back for more sex like he’d done twice during the night. Each time had been amazing and unforgettable.

I smiled down at the handsome sleeping giant, he looked just as formidable asleep as awake with his dark hair and ink covered muscles. But as formidable as the man looked, he was beyond masterful as a lover. It would be extremely hard to move on with any relationship after one wonderful night with Beck.

I pulled my pajamas back on and nearly laughed out loud. Coco had left the fabulous pajamas, and I’d relished the idea of sleeping in the satiny confection, yet I hadn’t worn them for longer than fifteen minutes. I would be sorry to leave the pajamas and the inn and, most especially, the man behind when I headed back home.

I wasn’t completely sure what had made me leave his warm bed at the crack of dawn. It might just have been propriety and not wanting Coco to discover that I’d slept across the hall or it might have been because I wasn’t completely sure how to say good-bye to Beck. If I was honest with myself, I was probably ducking out so it would be easier to leave. One long night with Beck had churned up some emotion. I realized I wanted a relationship with the kind of passion, the kind of lust that made you do stuff you wouldn’t normally do.

I opened the door and glanced back at Beck before leaving. He was fast asleep. I realized I knew absolutely nothing about him except that he was breathtaking to look at, rode a motorcycle, had a temper and his skills in bed were masterful.

I shut the door to his room and felt a little despondent about it all. It had been silly for me to believe that I could spend the night with a man like Beck and then just saunter away as if it hadn’t happened. Something told me I was going to be feeling the sting of my impulsive decision for a long time.

I needed to sort out my car trouble or find a ride home this morning. If I stayed much longer, I might just end up falling for him.

Of course, Beck was probably on his way out this morning too. I doubted he would be feeling any of the tugs of regret that I was experiencing. He would more than likely ride off on his motorcycle, moving on to the next adventure like some dark brooding nomad. Or maybe he had a woman waiting for him somewhere. Since I knew little about the man who I’d just made love to three times, my imagination could drum up a number of upsetting scenarios.

During the short journey across the hallway, I chided myself for being such a fool. My sincere attempt to make sure I was back in my room before Coco discovered me missing had failed. There was a buttery smelling scone sitting on a plate next to a cup of coffee.

I felt a blush cover my face and was feeling more than a bit embarrassed. Then I reminded myself that I was a grown woman with the capability and right to make my own decisions. Even if they were questionable, at best.

I picked up the scone, took a bite and glanced down at the napkin. Another embroidered sentiment. I wondered if she had an entire collection of them.

“No need for wise words. Looked like the first napkin worked.”

I reread the pink stitching three times. It was as if the napkin was talking directly to me. I thought back to the first sentiment about following my heart to a happy ending. I shook my head. It was all too weird to wrap my mind around.

I’d shower and head downstairs to see just what to do about my car and a ride home. With any luck, Julia would be available. I couldn’t really call David since we were on the outs. I was standing firm in my decision to stay that way. I quickly allowed myself an extremely satisfying daydream where David pulled up in his pretentious sports car only to see me kissing the beefy tattooed hunk of a man I’d just spent the night with. Beck was everything opposite of David, which, of course, was why I found him so darn appealing.

I walked into the bathroom and started the shower. Even though the house was at least a century old, the bathroom amenities, including the big, glass shower were all modern. I pulled off the pajamas and stepped inside the shower stall. A wide showerhead poured water down on my head like a warm spring rainstorm. Even the soap Coco provided was a rich, lavender scented slice of heaven.

My face was under the water when I heard the bathroom door shut. I wiped my eyes and squinted through the steam and the condensation on the glass. There was only one person who could fit the large silhouette moving toward the shower.

The soap slipped from my hands and circled around my feet. I bent down to pick it up. Air rushed into the shower, cooling my naked bottom.

“Huh, it’s as if you read my mind, sweetheart.”

I straightened with a shocked gasp. Again, the soap jumped from my fingers like a slippery fish. Beck caught it mid air and squeezed his fingers around it. “You’re right. It would be much more fun to lather up first.”

Beck shut the glass door, nearly filling the stall with his oversized frame. He stepped beneath the water with me and lifted my chin for a kiss. “You don’t mind if I join, do you?”

I shook my head, rendered speechless by the mere thought of an erotic shower session with him.

While keeping his deep brown gaze on me, he turned the bar of soap in his hand and worked up a lather. He placed the soap on the tray and pressed the pillow of lather against my breast. His hands smoothed through the creamy soap, running them along my breasts, sides and bottom as he kissed me. Water poured over us, trickling between our lips as we kissed. My body warmed even more every place he touched.

He moved closer. His erection pushed against my belly, begging for some attention. I moved my hand down and wrapped my fingers around him. Beck groaned in appreciation against my mouth.

We were wrapped in a warm, floral scented steam. It felt almost as if nothing else existed outside of the shower. It was just the two of us, completely naked and wanting each other again just as we had through the night. I was still feeling the sweet, achy tenderness of the long night, and yet, I was feeling completely aroused as if it was the first time.

I pulled my mouth from his and smiled up at him. I had never been with a man like Beck. I wasn’t about to miss one opportunity to explore. My body reacted before my mind had settled on it. I sank down to my knees. Warm, soapy water circled my legs and dripped down my face and back as I closed my fingers around his cock. It felt thick and hot in my hand.

I pressed my mouth against the tip and ran my tongue around it, teasing out the salty liquid. Beck’s large fingers tangled in my hair as he held my head in front of him. I ran my tongue along the long shaft. His deep growl echoed off the bathroom tile as he moved his hips toward me, wanting me to take more of him into my mouth. Giving him pleasure made my pussy tingle with heat.

I moved my mouth over his cock and ran my tongue around it as I pushed him deeper into my throat. I cupped his balls with my hand and slid my lips along his erection, taking in more of him each time. His cock seemed to thicken and grow harder between my lips.

“Em, no more. Your mouth is too fucking perfect. I want to finish inside of you.” His tone was gruff, commanding.

I slid my tongue along him for one last tantalizing moment. He reached down impatiently and lifted me to my feet. The hot steam was cooling and coating everything with a thick condensation.

His dark eyes had an intense, fiery gaze as he spun me around. He reached down, took hold of my wrists and pressed my hands against the tile wall of the shower. He pulled my hips so that my ass jutted out toward him.

“I can promise you I’m clean, Emmie. But just say the word, and I will walk out of here now. I will probably throw my fist into a wall on my way out, but just say the word—”

“I’m covered with birth control. It’s all right. I believe you.”

My hands stuttered down the tile as he pushed my feet wider. He was far less gentle than the night before, but then I’d pushed him farther than usual with my mouth, a wicked notion that made me absurdly excited. I’d never felt confident that I knew what I was doing with oral sex, but with the way he was handling me and his plea to take me right there against the wall, it seemed I’d been doing something right.

Before I could take a proper breath beneath the downpour of water cascading over my naked body, he was inside of me. A primal sounding growl echoed off the tile.

I braced myself hard against the tile wall and met each of his thrusts. Each movement pushed the breath from me. His cock moved deeper each time, reaching the very core of me. The movements were fast and slightly unhinged. I had a hard time catching my breath. My head spun, and it seemed that the bathroom lights were doing a dance above my head. Every time he filled me, he reached a deeper pocket of pleasure but his movements were too powerful. I couldn’t keep up.

“Come for me, baby,” he grunted. “I won’t finish until you do.”

My arms trembled under the strain of holding myself up and bracing against his blows.

“It’s too much,” I sighed in exhaustion. “I need—”

He dropped one hand and moved it down between my legs, where he found my sweet spot, my tender clit. With a skillful touch, he coaxed me closer to climax while not letting up on anything. He still pushed deep and hard into me, knocking short cries of pleasure from me with each thrust.

“Hold firm, Emmie. Keep this beautiful ass right where it is.” I had no idea what was happening. He kept one hand tucked between my legs while he moved the other back along my bottom. Before I could sense what was happening, his finger drew down between my ass cheeks and he pushed his finger inside the tight, puckered opening. I tightened against it at first.

“Relax, baby, and move with it.” His deep voice was just soothing enough, and I followed his command. He was invading every part of me. That thought made my body shiver with sensations I’d never felt before. My legs trembled and my pussy tightened around his cock in pulsating waves.

My orgasm seemed to be all Beck needed to reach his own climax. His cock surged inside of me as his hot seed spilled.

The water was turning lukewarm. Beck’s big hand reached past me to turn the handle. I was still holding the wall for support as the steam slowly disintegrated to cool beads of moisture on the tile, glass and chrome.

Beck turned me around and pulled me into his arms. “You are something else, Emmie.”