“He will,” Tessa told him, leaning her forehead against his. “I wish there was something I could do to help.”
Micah was assisting her right now in so many ways, and she wanted to give him something back. It was obvious that the devastating events that had occurred were getting to him. He’d lost his parents, and now he felt like he was losing his brother.
She squealed with surprise as he sat up and hefted her onto his lap. “You can. Give me your opinion. What do you think of me building my house right here?”
Tessa barely caught his words as she wrapped her arms around his neck, trying to steady herself. “Here?”
She sensed that Micah didn’t want to talk about Xander anymore, and Tessa let the subject go. He’d come here to escape for a while, and he deserved a chance to relax and forget about his troubles right now.
“Yep. I think this is a perfect place for a second home.” He tightened his arms around her.
“It’s beautiful here. Peaceful.” As she looked around, all she could see were trees and the massive coastline beyond. It was slightly elevated where they were sitting, so the views would be amazing.
“I thought so, too.”
“But I didn’t know you wanted to spend more time in Amesport. It’s a little tame.”
Micah lived for action, for new adventures. Amesport was fun in the summer because of the ocean and the tourists, but she was pretty sure he’d quickly get bored. It certainly wasn’t New York City.
“I want to build a home for both of my brothers, too. I want what Jared has: all of his family back together again. I won’t live here all the time, but I kind of like the idea of building us homes here like Jared did.”
Tessa caught a sense of longing she couldn’t explain in his sad smile. “So you bought up all the land on this side of town just to build a few houses.”
He shrugged. “It’s not like I can’t afford it. So yeah, I guess I did.”
“And the skating rink?”
“We Sinclairs like our space and our privacy,” he answered with a more genuine grin. “I bought the skating arena for the property it sits on, but if you think you’ll use it, I’ll reopen it.”
Tessa looked into Micah’s eyes, realizing he was serious. He’d reopen the ice-skating venue just to make her happy. “I’d love to see it open, but I’m not sure how much revenue it would bring. My dad never made much of a profit. It’s outside of town, and the tourists come for the coastline and the ocean in the summer. It was mostly locals.”
“Then I guess it needs to become the happening place in Amesport. Besides, I don’t need to make more money. I’d do it for you.”
Tessa’s heart did backflips as Micah moved closer, his stare becoming more intense.
“Why? You hardly know me,” she asked, perplexed.
Tessa squeaked as her back hit the grass again and Micah pinned her arms beside her head as he answered, “I know you, Tessa. I fucking feel you every single day. I can’t be in your company without getting a raging hard-on, and it’s driving me half-insane.”
His fierce expression made her heart pound hard against her ribs, so hard she could feel it thumping inside her chest. Micah’s body was resting on top of hers, his weight keeping her plastered against the ground. Her breath hitched as she answered slowly, “I don’t understand.”
“Then let me be blunt. I want to fuck you so damn badly that I can hardly draw a breath. I want to be buried so deep inside you that you lose yourself completely, and all you want is for me to fuck you hard and fast until you scream my name while you come.”
The hunger on his face was visible, and Tessa knew he wasn’t lying. Right now, he looked like he was a predator ready to consume her, and heat flooded between her thighs as she conjured up the image he was describing.
Both of us naked, our bodies entwined. Me, losing control while he pumps into my body until I’m screaming, helpless to do anything but climax.
Her belly tightened and her core squeezed so hard with desire that her entire body was shaking.
This is what it’s like for a man to really desire me.
It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time, probably because she wanted him, too.
His face was close, so close she could feel his heated breath against her cheek. Temptation beckoned, the deep longing to feel the ultimate human connection with this man. Him. Micah Sinclair. The only man who’d ever made her tremble with a single touch.
“I can’t,” she whispered anxiously.
“Can’t or won’t?” His expression was anguished now.
“Both,” she answered vaguely.
There was nothing she wanted more than Micah. Her soul and body were begging her to give in, let herself wallow in the pleasure she knew he could show her, but her rational mind resisted. Hard.
And then, he kissed her, his mouth diving for hers like he couldn’t stop himself. She relaxed for an instant, let herself follow where his dominant passion led. He cajoled, he teased, and he conquered. She opened for him, letting his tongue roam through her mouth like he owned it. Moaning as she allowed her mouth to meld with his, Tessa realized she was already drowning in sensation and Micah’s bold, commanding touch.
Just like I did at the skating arena.
She wanted to let herself go.
She wanted to fall into him and forget.
She desperately wanted the connection she had with him to grow deeper and deeper, until she didn’t know her own name.
But she couldn’t.
Turning her head, she separated her mouth from his and cried out, “No! I can’t. Please. I can’t do this again.”