Chapter One
Mentally she chanted,
I'm a size two...I'm a size two...
It didn't work. She was becoming one with the wall, when Mr. Excuse me turned around yelling obscenities to the woman he was running from, smashing her into the man behind her. She turned towards whoever caught her to tell him
I'm sorry,
when she noticed a large defined chest before her. Muscular biceps wrapped around her and she felt the need to swoon.
Miss I never swoon over anything was shell-shocked. Mr. Excuse Me had knocked her into every woman's fantasy. She groaned when fantasy man grabbed her butt, because who would object to his hands cupping their bottom even if it's only to catch his balance?
Somehow his thigh ended up in between her legs and her nose buried in his chest.
Damn. He even smells good,
all male with a hint of Obsession cologne.
Daren knew he should grab the jerk that just knocked the woman into him, but he couldn't get his hands off of her ass.
She has a perfect ass,
he thought. His thigh was right against her mound and he could feel her heat. Involuntarily, he squeezed her ass and nudged her closer.
He heard a groan, but couldn't tell if it was from her or him. He could feel her nipples against him and his dick jumped to attention.
Leaning down he gently whispered in her ear, "Nice to meet you."
Her throaty giggle gave him a raging hard-on that pressed against her hip. Her hands clutched his shirt and she groaned, "Why and how does this happen to me?"
He smiled, "Baby, I'm not complaining."
She looked up at him in surprise, her big chocolate brown eyes rounded in disbelief.
No, she wasn't the usual blonde that he favored with long legs, in fact she was a brunette with a very pretty round face and full lips. Her long hair was wavy and reached the middle of her back. His gaze travelled to her impressive cleavage,
double D's,
no doubt about it. She was a short little thing stacked with a woman's curvy body. Daren couldn't help but think about touching each and every inch of her.
She jerked in his arms as someone yelled, "Steph!"
That's when he realized that the line had moved and there was a large gap in between them and the people in front of them. Quickly she stepped away from him and walked towards the woman who called out to her.
Daren reached out and grabbed her hand, "Ride this one with me."
He couldn't explain it, but he knew he wanted her more than he'd wanted anything in a long time. She glanced at his hand that clutched her and looked into his eyes.
Oh shit,
was all Stephanie could think. His ice blue eyes mesmerized her. His dark brown hair was short, cut almost like he was in the military. She just couldn't get over how sexy he was and
he's holding my hand.
She blushed crimson when he smiled at her and a dimple marked his cheek.
He brought her out of her stupor when he asked, "Please?"
"My friend would have to ride alone then." She stammered, "I-I couldn't do that to her."
He nodded towards the guy behind him, "Jake will ride with her."
She looked down at his hand that still held hers, "But, I don't even know you."
He ran his hand up her arm, dropping his voice, "I promise...I don't bite."
Daren waited with baited breath. A sexy smile covered her face when she laughed, "Maybe I want you to."
Looking her up and down, "I aim to please, baby girl."
The blush that covered her face about did him in. She turned to her friend, "Jessica? Do you mind riding this one with that guy?" She pointed at Jake.
Her friend looked at Daren skeptically, "What about you?"
She told her, "It seems I'll be riding with him."
Her friend hesitated, "If you're sure?"
Her eyes met his and Daren heard her say, "We'll see."
Jake laughed behind him, "Dare, only you'd find a way to pick up a chick...literally."
As Jake walked past her, Daren pulled her against him, "I'm Daren Michaels, by the way."
She gasped at the contact, "S-Stephanie Barnes."
Quickly he placed a gently kiss on the corner of her lips, "Hi, Stephanie."
He could feel her shiver and smiled when she said, "Hi, Daren."
For the next twenty minutes they moved along in line, her back to his front and his arms wrapped around her waist, as though they were a couple. Never had a woman felt so right to him. When she leaned back against him, resting her head against his chest and covered his hands with her own, he vowed to have her in his bed tonight.
They were next in line when she gripped his forearm and admitted, "Is this a bad time to mention that I'm terrified of heights?"
He bent down and kissed her neck, "I'll take your mind off of the ride."
The ride was a long water ride that started by going up a steep incline. It glided through the tree tops for about five minutes then ended by dropping you over a hill to plummet into a spray of water. Daren smiled as he thought of ways to keep her occupied when going up the hill.
Finally, it was their turn to get inside the log looking canoe. He climbed in and straddled the padded bench. Daren smiled and patted the space in between his legs. She looked apprehensive, but climbed in straddling the bench.
He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. Nuzzling her neck he asked, "How should I distract you?"
Nervously she laughed, "That would be one way."
She felt his hands slide up her thighs and squeeze. He asked, "This helping?"
She laughed, "Yes and no, hon." She closed her eyes, lost in the feeling that Daren was stirring inside her body.
This is insane!
She could not hold back the moan that escaped her lips as he nuzzled her neck.
Daren had turned thirty-four years old two days ago and couldn't remember a time when he wanted a woman as much as he wanted Stephanie. She smelled like raspberries and a hint a vanilla and it was driving him nuts. He wanted to take her back to his hotel room and spend the weekend making her moan and gasp while he claimed her body.
He could hear her breathe deeply in and out as he slid his hands to her inner thighs. He knew he was rushing her and never in a million years would he have thought about feeling a woman up this quickly, but he couldn't stop.
He growled in her ear, "Do you have any idea how much I want you, Stephanie?"
He reveled in her reaction. Goose bumps travelled up and down her arms, "I-I want you, too."
He almost demanded, "Stay with me this weekend."
She whimpered, "I don't know. This is crazy, Daren."
He kissed her ear and neck, admitting to both of them, "I know it's crazy. I just need to be with you."
He felt her indecision as she bit her bottom lip. He couldn't keep the smile from breaking across his face as she said, "I'll have to let my friend's know." She shook her head, "I'm thirty years old and can't believe I'm doing this!"
He knew the drop off was coming and wrapped his arms around her tightly, "We'll stay with our friends for a few more hours, but I want you all to myself after that."
She turned her head towards him and said, "OK."
He kissed her full lips briefly and asked, "Ready to get wet, baby?"
She winked at him, "I've been wet the whole time." Daren wanted to find out for himself, but the canoe dropped off over the crest.
Daren couldn't control his laughter as they got off of the ride. Stephanie was drenched. It looked like someone had just pulled her out of a lake. Where she had sat in front of him, he barely got wet at all.
Stephanie had covered her face with her hands and it looked like she was about to cry. Daren rushed to her, "Oh, baby...I should have warned you. I'm sorry."
Wrapping her arms around him, she smiled as she saw Jessica open a bottle of water behind him. Before Jake could warm him, Jessica commenced to pour the entire bottle over him.
"What the...!"
Daren jumped and Stephanie busted out laughing. Mockingly she told him, "Oh, baby...I should have warned you!"
With and evil smirk on his face, Daren stalked towards her, "I'll get even for that."
She was backing away from him, "Ooh...promises...promises." Her eyes widened when she realized she was cornered.
She gasped when Daren picked her up and kissed her. One arm wrapped around her waist suspending her in air as his other hand cupped the back of her neck. Her arms held onto him as his mouth devoured hers.
Stephanie felt tiny in his arms. His lips ate away at hers and she moaned into his mouth.
When did I become a moaner?
