Debbi Rawlins - One Unforgettable Night - Wild at Heart / From This Moment On / Her Last Best Fling

NAOMI HAD ENJOYED her first week alone in the forest with the eagle family. But her second week had taught her more about herself than about the nesting habits of eagles. She’d spent her days studying and recording the raptors’ behavior, but she’d spent her nights with Luke.

His arrival had depended on his duties. Sometimes he’d show up before sunset and they’d make love on her observation platform, surrounded by fiery hues and the twitter of birds settling in for the night. Other times he’d ride into her camp after dark, when she’d already built a fire in preparation for dinner.

On those nights, he’d swing down from the saddle and pull her into his arms with an impatient oath, as if he’d been gone for days instead of hours. The first time that had happened, he’d been so desperate that he’d backed her up against a tree. Thrilling though that encounter had been, she’d chosen to have a sleeping bag conveniently positioned by the fire the next time he’d arrived after dark.

Sharing her work space and her campsite with Luke was the closest she’d ever come to living with a man. Because she’d fared so well on her own, she’d always wondered how well she’d tolerate such an arrangement. She not only tolerated Luke’s presence, she craved it.

With Luke she lost any lingering sexual inhibitions. Having sex with him every night had taught her how responsive she could be. She vowed not to lose that information after he was no longer inspiring her to enjoy her body to the fullest.

Luke had also raised the bar for any guy she would ever become involved with. Although she couldn’t dream of a forever-after with Luke, she wouldn’t settle for less than someone with his vibrancy. No more underdogs for her.

She was grateful that Luke Griffin had ridden under her tree nearly a week ago. As she swept the meadow with her binoculars around noon, she foolishly wished that he’d appear. He wouldn’t, though, not for several hours.

She might have worried about her eagerness to see him, except that she could guarantee he was thinking of her at this very moment, too. Somehow he’d managed to perform his duties to Emmett’s satisfaction, even though he’d told her that his thoughts were always on her. He’d described some of those thoughts, and they were all X-rated.

So were hers. Whenever she remembered all they’d shared this past week, she grew moist and achy. Sitting on the camp stool, she took off her hiking boots and socks, even though she knew for a fact he wouldn’t be riding out into the clearing until the sun went down.

Standing barefoot on the platform, she still felt restricted by her clothing, so she stripped everything off. She’d love to walk around the platform naked, but after Jack’s surprise visit, she wasn’t comfortable doing that. She put her shorts and shirt back on, but going without underwear felt risky and fun. No doubt about it, Luke had changed her outlook.

Too bad he wouldn’t be here for a sexy picnic. After checking the eagles and typing more notes, she snapped off a few shots with her digital camera. Then she grabbed an energy drink and paced the platform as she sipped it. She pictured what Luke might be doing right now.

He’d mentioned teaching roping tricks to the eight boys who were spending the summer at the ranch as part of Pete Beckett’s youth program for troubled kids. Naomi smiled at the thought of Luke working with those boys. He had such an adventurous spirit that he probably had them eating out of his hand. He certainly had her eating out of it.

A movement on the far side of the clearing caught her attention. Quickly setting her energy drink on the folding table, she grabbed her binoculars and her pulse leaped. As if she’d willed him to be there, Luke was riding in her direction on Smudge. What a glorious sight.

Capping her energy drink, she gave in to what was probably a ridiculous impulse. She tugged on her hiking boots, leaving the socks off, climbed down the ladder and started across the meadow to meet him. He’d ridden this path so often that he’d worn a little trail she could follow through the ankle-high grass and wildflowers.

She knew the minute he’d spotted her, because he urged Smudge into a canter. Laughing, she started to run. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d run without a bra, and her breasts jiggled under her shirt. This was crazy, but crazy was how he made her feel.

When they were about ten yards apart, she stopped running so she could catch her breath before they met. He slowed Smudge to a trot and then to a walk.

His grin lit up his entire face as he approached her. “I liked that.”

“Which part?”

“You being so excited to see me that you had to race out here gave my ego a boost, and the fact that you’re not wearing a bra made it even more fun to watch.” He tipped back his hat with his thumb. “What’s the occasion?”

“I felt like staying loose today.”

“That sounds promising. Can I hope it was for my benefit?”

“Let’s say it’s for our benefit.”

“Works for me.” He drew alongside her. Sliding his booted foot out of the stirrup, he held out his hand. “Come on up.”

“Is there room for me up there?”

“Plenty of room if you sit on my lap.”

“Will Smudge be okay with that?”

“Smudge is so well trained you could do a lap dance and he wouldn’t spook.”

“Is that what you envision? Me doing a lap dance on horseback?”

“Nope. You don’t have to do a thing except enjoy the ride.” He wiggled his fingers. “Let’s go.”

She didn’t need to be asked again. The sight of him cantering toward her, his body moving in rhythm with the horse, had aroused her beyond belief. She wanted to feel all that manly coordination up close and personal.

Placing her hand in his firm grip, she put her foot in the stirrup and swung up and over the horse’s neck so she faced Luke. She marveled at the strength in his arm as he steadied her movements one-handed.

“Hold on to my shoulder.”

He circled her waist with his free arm and cinched her in tight against his crotch. “There you go.” He clucked his tongue and Smudge started walking down the trail. “How’s that? Comfy?”

“You have no idea.” She slipped her feet free of the stirrups and hooked her heels behind his knees so she could feel the hard ridge of his erection rocking against her as the horse moved. “I took off my panties, too.”

He groaned. “You are rapidly becoming the sexiest woman I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet.”

She wound her arms around his neck and lifted her face to his. “You’ve always been the sexiest man I’ve ever had the good fortune to meet.”

“Then you won’t be surprised if I put my hand up your shirt.” He held the reins and focused on the trail ahead, but he slid his free hand under the hem of her shirt and cupped her breast. “I like this decision of yours to ditch the undies.” Slowly he rolled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. “I like it a lot.”

Sensation zinged straight to the spot being massaged by the bulge in his jeans. “Mmm.” She pressed against his fly and let the steady movement of the horse work its magic. “You can do that some more if you want.”

He kept his attention on the trail. “You’re trying to come, aren’t you?”

“You told me to enjoy the ride.”

He glanced down at her and his dark eyes glittered. “You realize what this means, right?”

“Yes.” She sucked in a breath as she felt the first twinge. “I’m going to run out to meet you more often.”

“It means that the minute we get off this horse, you and I will get very busy.”

She moaned softly and rocked a little faster. “Doing what?”