Free Pippa's Rescue by JJ Keller Page A

younger days. Instead she learned the basics of ranching and, after her father passed and David went overseas, the details of managing a farm. Too bad. She could use some womanly wiles right about now. “Yes. It could have been.”
    He stalked her with slow, deliberate steps, backing her into the wall beside the door frame. He pried her fingers from her now frayed top. “Why are you nervous? I promise I won’t let anything happen to you.”
    “Guilt,” she whispered.
    “Excuse me?”
    She stared at the dark wood floor wishing the floorboards would disappear, and she’d be sucked into the hole. “I feel guilty about this afternoon. I’ve never done anything like that and I’m not as loose as I’m sure I appeared.”
    He laughed. Big hearty bellows.
    What the hell? She jerked and tried to step away from his deliciously fragrant body, but was pinned against the wall. If she slid a few steps to the side she could shove him and his spicy cologne through the doorway and lock the damn thing, but the burning in her soul urged her otherwise. She enjoyed his muscled weight pressing alongside hers.
    As skilled as a ballet dancer, he reached around her and gently shut the door. His muscular back flattened to the wood frame. “I’m sorry. My laughter was rude. I’m the one who should apologize. Couldn’t sleep thinking about my lack of finesse.”
    He took her hands into his. Sincerity was evident in his eyes, but Special Ops were taught to deceive the enemy. Should she trust him? “Lack of finesse?”
    His fingers caressed her palms. “Yes. You’d think I was a youngster by rushing into love…making. I wanted to take my time, explore and excite you, but you’re so beautiful, bright, and bold. I’d built the moment so much before we got there—climax came immediately.”
    Good God, how embarrassing. She’d never had this honest of a conversation regarding sex, and it had to be with him. A man she’d started to adore. She glanced at the bed. His moves were excellent the first time they came together. Could she handle Basil with finesse? “Want to try again?”
    He cradled her head in his hands, drawing her mouth to his. “I thought you’d never ask.”
    He possessed exceptional kissing skills. Slow exploration, simmer, then hot rapid-fire tongue and nipping, addictive and sexy.
    “I know a guy’s always supposed to be prepared but I don’t have any condoms.” His sheepish grin melted her core. “You wouldn’t happen to have some, do you?” His hard shovel-calloused hand slid under her top, creating a new tingle as he caressed her breast.
    “No,” she whispered. “I don’t usually have men stay overnight.”
    “Umm.” His lips moved to the sensitive area of her neck, near her ear. The tingles became an outright riot of desire.
    She exhaled and placed her hands on his shoulders. “As much as I want you, I’m not much of a risk taker.”
    He kissed her, a sweet simple peck, then looked toward the door. Was he anxious to get back to his room? Facing her again, he stroked the side of her face. “I’ll get some condoms tomorrow. I’ll leave, so you can rest.”
    “Would you stay with me?”

Chapter 9
    Basil squinted at the sunlight pouring into Pippa’s bedroom. She’d opened the curtains last night when she sought her intruder, and he hadn’t bothered to close them. Her cell phone bleeped. As she reached for the device, he stroked her backside. She cat-backed and murmured a greeting into the rectangle.
    Pain pulsating through his groin and cock made him inhale. He’d held her through the night and as much as he wanted to make love to her, he remained a gentleman and didn’t push her into anything she’d regret. However, today was a new day and Pippa’s warm, shapely body next to his made him hurt. Perhaps together they could find a solution to ease the agony.
    “What?” Pippa sat upright and dragged the covers off. “Who was there yesterday?” She ran to her dresser, grabbed the trousers