As they neared a sign indicating the end of the stable's private beach, he slowed Yogurt down to a walk, then finally halted her. "Well?" he breathed into Lexie's ear.

"Incredible. Exhilarating. Exciting." Turning her head, she pressed a breathless kiss to his chin. Then, slipping her hands from beneath his, she spread her arms, encompassing their tropical surroundings. "Isn't this view terrific? I love the water. Someday I'm going to live right on the water."

He wrapped one strong arm around her, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Right on the water? Won't that be a little damp?"

She laughed. "I mean, waterfront property." She pointed across the glimmering strip of azure water. "Like over there. See that group of houses? That's a new development. Just to the right of them is some great waterfront property. A whole series of canals and hidden coves. It's peaceful and private and perfect." And someday she would own her piece of it… the piece she'd wanted since the first moment she'd seen it. The only things standing between her and that dream was the wait for the owner to sell, and a big pile of money. All she needed was the down payment. Hopefully, when the time came, she'd have enough.

His arm tightened around her. "Looks nice. Sounds nice, too."

Turning her head so she could see his eyes, she said, "Thank you, Josh, for a wonderful, thoughtful surprise. And for bringing me here. It's beautiful."

"Yeah," he murmured, his gaze roaming her face before settling on her lips. "Sure is beautiful."

She lifted her face, intending to give him a brief kiss, but the instant their lips met, the kiss turned hot, wet and demanding. His tongue explored her mouth with a hunger that heated her from the inside out A long moan purred in Lexie's throat and she wished their position were less awkward so she could touch more of him.

With his mouth insistent on hers, he flicked open the top three buttons of her sleeveless cotton blouse, then caressed the tops of her breasts with one hand, while the other continued down to rest low on her belly.

Breaking off their kiss, he ran his lips across her throat while she raised her arms over her head then back to encircle his neck. His strong, warm fingers slipped beneath the lace of her bra to tease her aroused nipples, while his other hand lightly traced intoxicating circles between her spread legs straddling the saddle. His erection pressed against her buttocks, and she arched back, rubbing herself against him.

"Lexie." He breathed her name in a passionate whisper against her overheated skin, a whisper that ended in a groan of masculine longing. "Let's go home. Now."

"What was that you said to me the other night?" she whispered. "Oh, yes. Great minds think alike."


* * *

Josh spent the thirty-minute-drive back to Lexie's house trying to corral the need raging through him. Damn it, he'd never felt so unsettled in his life. Or impatient to get his hands on a woman's skin. Feel her. Taste her. Have her wrapped all around him.

This loving a woman was a real pain in the ass. Why the hell couldn't he just have fallen in lust with her? Lust he knew and understood. But noo-ooo. He had to fall in love with a woman who only wanted a fling. He felt as though he was picking his way through an emotional minefield and that any second he was going to get blown to bits. But there was no way in hell he could consider retreat.

By the time he pulled into her driveway and cut the engine, he had himself and the need clawing at him back under control. In fact, he congratulated himself on his restraint. All the way into the foyer.

He watched her lock the door behind them, and in the blink of an eye, all bets were off. The instant she'd turned the bolt into place, he turned her around and kissed her with all the pent-up need he foolishly thought he'd pushed back. He stepped forward, pinning her against the door with his body, and yanked her shirt out of her jeans with one hand, while the other impatiently worked the buttons free. Seconds later he parted the white cotton and settled his hands on her warm, bare stomach.

But the feel of her skin beneath his hands brought him no relief, only fueled his need. His inner voice told him to slow down, but it was impossible. Not with her hands splayed on his ass, pressing him closer, grinding herself against him.

He pushed her blouse down her arms, then unclasped her bra. Both fell to the tiled floor. Breaking their frantic kiss, he took her tight nipple into his mouth, absorbing her sharp gasp. It was all he could do not to take her right against the door, but some drop of sanity prevailed. They needed a condom, and the damn things were in the bedroom. And there was no way he was leaving her here while he went to get one.

Dipping his knees, he lifted her up. She instantly wrapped her legs around his waist, and with her showering his face and neck with hot kisses, he managed, somehow, to get them to the bedroom, making a mental vow to never come near this woman again without a condom in his pocket.

He deposited her in the center of the mattress with a gentle bounce, then immediately moved to the nightstand where he grabbed a condom from the box he'd brought with him and stashed there before their riding lesson. It took him of all ten seconds to return to her, and in that time she'd managed to divest herself of her shoes and socks, and was applying herself to her jeans.

Without a word, their gazes fused, she shimmied out of her snug denim and panties, while he unfastened his jeans. He couldn't get them off without stopping to remove his boots, and that was simply out of the question. He needed to be inside her now.

Pushing his Levi's and boxers down to his hips, he rolled on the condom, gritting his teeth against the unbearably arousing sight of her lying naked on her aqua comforter, legs splayed, nipples wet and erect from his mouth, eyes smoky with want.

An inferno roared through him, taking him over. Helpless to stop it, he thrust into her, all fire and incinerating heat. Gentleness was beyond him. But she met him all the way, wrapping her legs around him, urging him with desperate whispers to go faster. Harder.

He tried to hold off his orgasm, but it was like trying to hold back the ocean with a broom. Seconds later his release pounded through him, pulling a growl from his throat. Clutching her to him, he buried his face in the fragrant curve of her neck.

He lay there, panting, sweating, heart hammering, unable to move. He remained inside her, her limbs wrapped around him, listening to her rapid breaths battering against his ear. He wasn't sure how long it took for reason to return. When it finally did, he lifted his head. And looked down into gold-flecked hazel eyes glowing up at him.

"Holy cow," she whispered. A short laugh puffed between her parted lips. "How many times can we do that before we both pass out?"

"I don't know. What's the record?"

That brought a smile. "I'm not sure how it's possible to feel half dead and fantastic at the same time, but you've managed to make that happen."

"Glad to know I didn't leave you hangin' at the starting gate. I didn't mean to come so soon. Couldn't stop it."

"Don't be sorry on my account. Your timing was perfect." Raising her arms above her head, she stretched with abandon. "I guess turnaround is fair play. This time I'm the one without the clothes."

"I would've exploded if I'd taken the time to undress."

An unmistakable feminine gleam glittered in her eyes. "Hmm. I insist you tell me what I did to inspire such passion so I can make sure I do it again. As soon as possible."

A frown pulled at Josh's brow. What had she done to make him lose control like that? To rob him of his finesse in that unprecedented way? To make him want her with a desperation that he'd never felt for another woman? The answer hit with the force of a sucker punch.

That's what love did to a man. She'd done nothing except be with him. She'd laughed with him. Talked to him. Looked at him with those big, expressive eyes. Shared a ride on the beach with him. Then thanked him for the experience. She'd seduced him, without even trying, simply by being herself, and she'd done it long before she'd actually kissed him. And he'd kissed her with such raw need and hunger because he'd already been thoroughly seduced. Because he loved her.

How the hell could he possibly hope to explain that to her without telling her truths he sensed she wasn't ready to hear? Truths that if he revealed too soon he feared might make her bolt like a spooked rabbit? Hell, except for Lexie, if a woman he'd just met a few days ago had told him she loved him, he'd have disappeared so fast he would have left a vapor trail behind him.

He wanted to tell her how he felt about her, but damn it, he was afraid. Afraid it was too soon. Afraid she'd tell him to get lost. Afraid she wouldn't love him back.

A bomb exploded in the emotional minefield he was trying, with little success, to navigate. As much as he might not want to, he needed to wait a little longer before he threw his heart into the arena.

Luckily he was spared the need to respond when Scout jumped onto the bed and let loose with a loud meow.

"She's saying hello," Lexie said with a smile.

Josh winked at the cat who, he swore, winked back.

"She responds well to flattery," Lexie said.

Flattery? "Er, cats rule, dogs drool."

Scout clearly agreed. After an extensive butt-in-the-air stretch, she curled up on Lexie's pillow with a contented purr, then shut her eyes.

Not anxious to return to her unanswered question about how she'd inspired such passion in him, Josh asked, "Why'd you name her Scout?"