A Buckhorn Bachelor (6 page)

Licking her way up to his ear, she nipped his earlobe, brushed her lips over his jaw, touched the corner of his mouth, and...found herself being ravenously kissed.

Nice.

As her feet left the ground, she held on to him, loving the hungry way he took her mouth, the plunging of his tongue, his hot breath, how he groaned low in his throat.

Taking her by surprise and leaving her cold, he suddenly set her back on her feet, and their bodies no longer touched.

Dazed, she blinked and said, “Wha..?”

Adam stared along the drive, cursed, and grabbed her hand. “Come on.”

Still disoriented, she couldn't get her feet working. “What...where..?”

“You have a visitor, honey. And we both need a minute before greeting them.”

CHAPTER SIX

A
DAM
HAD
A
hell of a time getting his heartbeat to slow back to a semi-normal pace. He was hard, almost shaking with lust, and it didn't make any sense.

Issy had only kissed him. He'd been kissed before.

And sure, her scent intoxicated him. But most women smelled good. And were soft. And sweet.

How was she so different?

How did she affect him so strongly?

At the side of the house, his knees locked, his breath strained, he stared down at her.

She stared back. “Are you okay?”

A deep breath didn't really help, but it at least gave him a second more to think. A car door slammed and the sound of conversation—
a male voice
—carried from the driveway to where they stood.

Possessive urges swamped him, narrowing his vision until all he could see was Issy. Urgency kicked his heart back into a racing beat. He hadn't yet had her. He damn straight didn't want some yokel stepping ahead of the line.

“Adam?” she whispered, her expression growing wary.

He cupped one hand to her jaw, ran his thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “Did you invite someone over?”

Leaning her cheek into his palm, eyes closed, she whispered, “No.”

The relief stayed just out of reach. “Then who—”

They both heard Amber's laugh.

Damn it. Umbrage stiffened his spine.
His busy-body cousin had brought a man to Issy's house!
What was she, a pimp?

Issy patted his chest, turned to kiss his palm, then whispered, “Just a second, okay?” She crept to the side of the house to peek around, taking care not to be seen.

Expression incredulous, her brows pinched, she ducked back and whispered to Adam, “It's the EMT I met at the carnival.”

No, he decided. Not happening.

Yet as Issy pondered the situation, his indignation swelled.

She looked up at him. “You could sneak back to your boat and—”

“I'm not going anywhere.”

That had Isabella tipping her head in a curious way. “If your cousin sees you here, how will you explain?”

I'm first in line
. But no, of course he couldn't say that. It sounded horrible. She wasn't a prize to be won. She was a beautiful, intelligent woman who just happened to make him insanely crazed with lust.

And seriously, he didn't want there to be a line. Thinking about any other guys sidling up to her for any intimate reason—even a kiss—left him infuriated.

Only he didn't have the right to be infuriated. At the moment, he didn't have any rights at all.

Probably time to change that.

If he could.

“Yoohoo, Adam,” she teased softly, waving a hand in front of his face. “You still in there?”

“I'll tell her about the cat.”

One brow going up, Issy said softly, “Okay. So then why are you still here?”

Because I need you.

“She'll ask, Adam. You know that.”

Before he could answer, he needed to know. “What are you going to do?”

“Get rid of him as quickly, but nicely, as I can.”

There'd been no hesitation, and he believed her. He was a lucky guy.

Amber's voice reached them as she called out, “Isabella?”

“She's comin' this way,” Issy said urgently. “Make up your mind.”

Adam grabbed her in for a quick, firm kiss. He wanted her to remember he was waiting. “I'll stay out of sight. Soon as they're gone, you and I need to talk.”

“We do,” she agreed, coming in for yet another fast peck. “And I'll go first.” Then she slipped around the house, catching Amber just before she would have busted them.

“Hey, Amber,” Issy said in her soft drawl. “Sorry, I was down by the lake.”

Adam stayed put, content to listen in.

“Just you?” Amber asked.

Adam recognized the tone. Amber already knew he was with Issy. How she knew was anyone's guess. But for sure, she knew.

“Uh-huh. So what's up?”

Glee sounded in Amber's tone when she said, her voice all silky, “You remember Wayne?”

“Of course. How are you, Wayne?”

For the next five minutes, Adam ground his teeth while listening to the byplay between Wayne and Issy.

Wayne wanted her. That much was clear. The way he spoke, how he laughed... Adam recognized the signs. Repeatedly Issy came up with excuses for why she couldn't get together, and repeatedly, Wayne found a new way to ask.

Coming on all hot and heavy, Wayne told her that he'd always been interested but she gave off “don't touch” vibes.

Ha! Adam glanced around at the guy with smug victory. Isabella had all but insisted that
he
touch her. That had to mean a lot.

“I'm sorry,” Issy said for the tenth time, “but I—”

“C'mon,” Wayne interrupted smoothly. “At least give me a chance.”

Adam was about to intervene when from behind him, Amber whispered, “You big fraud.”

He jumped a foot.

Damn it, he'd been so fixated on Issy's conversation with Wayne, he hadn't realized that Amber was no longer on the scene, and he hadn't even heard her approach behind him.

He jerked around to face her and caught her enormous grin. Pointing toward the back patio, he gave a silent order and with a shrug, Amber sashayed that way.

“So what are you doing?” Amber whispered.

“None of your business.”

“Ooh, so it's that type of visit.” She patted his shoulder, sharing her pity. “And right in the middle of things, Wayne moves in.”

“He didn't ‘move in',” Adam corrected with annoyance. “You dragged him here.”

“Now, Adam,” she chastised. “The man is more than willing. Trust me, he did not have to be coerced.”

If he didn't stop grinding his teeth, he'd turn them to powder. “I thought you liked me.”

She laughed quietly and gave him a hug. “I
love
you, silly. But I didn't know you were that interested.” Holding him back, she asked, “You're saying you are?”

Adam opened his mouth—then snapped it shut. He wouldn't make confessions to his cousin before he even made them to Issy. “I'm saying you need to stop the stud parade. She doesn't need your help.”

“Stud parade,” Amber mused. “I like that.”

Yeah, Issy might like it, too—if he didn't nix it real quick. “You have to stop.” But he knew she wouldn't. Amber was like a tsunami. Once she got started, all you could do was brace yourself.

“Aw, what's wrong? Tell Amber all about it.”

He scowled. “Don't talk about yourself in third person. You aren't the queen.”

She laughed a bit loudly, and slapped her hand over her mouth.

Adam took her shoulders. “Amber, seriously.” He bent his knees to meet her gaze at eye level. “I need you to give me a little time with her.”

She sobered quickly. “Do you care about her?”

He did, but how much? Because he wasn't ready to figure it out just yet, he said instead, “I'm working it out.
We're
working it out. But it makes it tough when you keep tossing single men her way.”

“Afraid of the competition, huh?”

For what Issy wanted? Yes. He might already be too involved, but as far as he knew, she wanted to sow wild oats.

If she only sowed them with him, that could work.

But with Amber offering up so many alternatives-

“I'll give you a week,” Amber said decisively. “Let's say...the picnic next weekend? Dad told me that he invited her to join us and that you further coerced her. So she'll be there, right?”

Um... “Yes?” Why did it still feel like Amber plotted his failure? It shouldn't have scared him, but determination glittered in her eyes and it never failed to set him on edge.

“Terrific.” She put her finger in his face and leveled a firm look on him. “One week, Adam.”

“That's not much time...”

She rolled her eyes. “You've known her five years, for crying out loud. Seven days is more than enough time for you to decide if you're interested in friendship, a fling or more.” Triumphant, pleased with her own plans, she smiled, hugged him tight, and walked away.

From a safe distance Adam followed and heard her say, “Sorry, Wayne, we need to get going.”

Wayne sputtered. “But I was—”

“I know,” Amber crooned, her voice laden with sympathy. “I think Isabella has made other plans, though, so there's no point in dragging this out. Come on. We'll talk about other prospects while I drive you home.” Truck doors closed and the engine revved. Amber yelled, “I'll see you this weekend, Issy. Make the most of your week!”

As her truck disappeared, Adam stepped out. Having a timeframe laid out pushed his fevered urgency to the breaking point. He needed Issy. Today.

Right now.

She had her back to him, watching the dust settle after Amber's truck departed. Sensing her melancholy, he stepped close to her, waiting, hoping she'd turn to him, touch him again.

The heat of her small body lured him, and he cupped his hands over her shoulders. Her scent filled his head and, unable to resist, he drifted his nose along her nape. “Issy?”

Resting against him, she whispered, “That talk?”

“Yes?”

“Do you think we could put it off for...oh, I don't know.” Her voice deepened. “Maybe an hour or so?”

He had one week and he didn't plan to waste a single second. Gently turning her to face him and tugging her into full body contact, he brushed his mouth over her soft lips. “We can do anything you want.”

“Perfect.”

Adam held his breath.

“Let's get to those weeds.”

* * *

W
AIST
DEEP
IN
the water, her hair pinned atop her head with sweat trickling down her temples and across her shoulders, Isabella cleared away weeds growing along the rock retaining wall. With every heartbeat she was aware of Adam a few yards up the shoreline, shirtless, his fair hair haloed by the sunshine, his shoulders bronzed.

At first, after Amber and Wayne had left, Adam had seemed surprised that she didn't want to go straight to bed with him. She
did
want to, but that would be nuts. They needed to talk.

About so much.

She didn't understand herself, and it made her sigh—which drew Adam's attention.

He glanced her way, pausing to swipe a forearm over his brow. “Everything okay, Issy?” With his reflective sunglasses in place, she couldn't read his expression.

But she saw his small smile.

“Yes.” Sort of.

She couldn't stop thinking about Wayne, about how bizarrely insistent he'd been. He was a good-looking man with a noble job where he helped others. Tall. Charming. Bold.

But he wasn't Adam, so none of that mattered.

“You need a break?” he asked. “I can finish up here.”

Talk about noble...the man had thought they would have sex. She'd seen that in his gaze. But when she suggested work instead, he hadn't balked. And now he offered to let her off the hook while he finished alone.

Isabella shook her head and wondered why she kept dragging her feet.

It wouldn't get any easier.

In a lot less time, Adam had accomplished quite a bit more than she did, so they'd already finished pulling the weeds around the yard. Once they finished along the retaining wall, they'd be done.

She heard a splash and turned to where Adam was last. All that remained was his sunglasses on the rock wall. Water moved around her and a second later he broke the surface right in front of her.

Lake water slicked back his hair, emphasizing his dark sinner's eyes. His scent was more pronounced, deliciously so. Issy touched his damp chest hair. “Guess you needed the break?”

“I need a kiss more.” He brought her against his incredible body, making her gasp as his now cooled skin met her heated body. “What do you say?”

Nodding, Issy looked at his mouth and whispered, “I say yes.” Always, yes.

She
loved
kissing Adam.

As he slowly lowered his head, his smile faded. He skimmed his lips along her jaw, up to her ear. “Jesus, you smell good.”

She clutched at his shoulders. “You do, too.”

He kissed her sensitive throat, and one hand dipped under the water to stroke her back, down her waist, and over her hip.

He leaned back to see her as he palmed her backside in the wet bathing suit bottoms. His eyes turned darker, heavy-lidded. When he hoisted her against him, she naturally put her legs around his waist.

Wet fingertips trailed over her shoulder to her throat, then along the top edge of her bathing suit top. “You ever had sex in the lake, Issy?”

Heartbeat thundering, she shook her head.

“You'd love it,” he promised huskily. “And this cove is private enough to make it possible.”

Scandalized, titillated, she whispered, “You mean..?”

He smiled and lightly kissed her mouth. “Not this time.”

What a tease! “Why not?” Now that he'd said it, she wanted it, damn it.

“Because our first time I want to see you. Every inch of you. And that's not possible with half your body hidden in the water.”

“Oh.” Okay, that sounded pretty good too, because if Adam could see all of her, she'd be able to see all of him. A win-win.

Those teasing fingers played with one strap of her bra-top, ramping up her anticipation until finally he slid it down her left shoulder, down, down, until he could carefully scoop her breast free.

They both groaned.

Adam didn't kiss her—he was too busy looking at her, at the way his rough fingers held her pale breast, how his big thumb teased over her already taut nipple, sending ripples of sharp pleasure straight to her womb.