She took a deep breath. “Hey.”

The delight in his eyes stirred more fluttering in her belly. “Beth. I didn’t expect to see you here.”

She glanced around. None of the rest of the Colemans seemed to be near. “You got a minute? My boys are at a birthday party and I…” Holy cow, this was harder than she thought it would be. She forced her head up and met his gaze. “We need to talk.”

Daniel grinned, a panty-twisting expression that made her knees weak. He propped his rake against the wooden wall and tilted his head toward the door. “Come, we can talk while we walk.”

“No.” Her fingers were tangled together, and she dragged them apart, not sure where to put her hands. She felt about twelve years old with a first crush. “We’re private here—that would be better.”

He gestured to a bale. “Have a seat.”

She’d practiced this so it didn’t sound too desperate or sluttish. She hoped. “I was thinking about what you said the other day—”

“About us seeing each other?”

He sat beside her, their thighs touching as he faced the opposite direction. The scent of his skin rolled over her, the earthy fragrance of a man who’d done physical labour—raw and powerful. She barely stopped herself from leaning into him and offering her lips.

Instead, she nodded.

Daniel chuckled. “You’re getting all tongue-tied again, Miss Beth.”

“I’m interested in you, but I’m not looking for a long-term relationship.” The words burst out exactly how she’d rehearsed them. She twisted to face him, determined to finish. “I think we should just have some fun together.”

There. She’d said it. Maintaining eye contact was impossible, and she stared down at her fingers twisted together in her lap. He covered her hands with his, pulling one free.

“Now why did I think you were going to go and say something like that?”

He did? “I mean, you’re very attractive, but I don’t think I should get involved with anyone. It’s too soon and I don’t want—”

“The boys, right?”

Exactly. She relaxed a little. “I don’t think it’s fair for them to see me with another man.” Oh Lord, he was kissing her knuckles, his tongue teasing the seam between her fingers. The pulse between her legs quickened, and she had to force herself to stay motionless.

“Hmm. Makes sense, I guess.” He opened her palm and kissed it. “So, you’re interested in me sexually, but we can’t see each other in public. Is that what you’re saying?”

A shiver raced up her arm as he licked her wrist then gently sucked her skin.

“Yes. No. I mean…” How was she supposed to think with him touching her? When he leaned closer and nibbled on her earlobe? “Daniel, please.”

“I aim to.” He smoothed a hand over her shoulder, tangling his fingers in her hair. He pulled her head back so they could see into each other’s eyes. “You want to spend time with me.”

“Yes.”

“But the boys can’t know?”

She swallowed, watching his lips move closer. “Right.”

“Hmm.” He kissed her, lips faintly brushing back and forth as he directed the speed, the pressure. She slipped out her tongue to touch his bottom lip, and he captured her, sucking her tongue into his mouth. The kiss deepened, and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing as close as she could while seated side by side. The desire and need that had haunted her since the start of summer built to a high boil, and she gasped for air when he broke contact.

He traced a path over her body with his gaze. “How are we supposed to see each other without the little tykes catching on? And if they did find out, wouldn’t that cause more trouble?”

No. No more thinking about it. She didn’t want to analyse this anymore. She’d already had five restless nights trying to figure out how to satisfy her craving for him. “They won’t know. We’ll keep it quiet.”

He reached for her chin. “So what you’re saying, and pardon my crudeness, is you want a fuck buddy.”

She cringed. The phrase had skipped through her brain earlier, but it sounded far worse when said out loud.

Daniel stroked his thumb over her cheek. “You’re not looking for a friend with benefits because I ain’t allowed to be your friend.”

“It’s not that, it’s just—”

“Don’t know if I can do that.” She squeaked as he picked her up and placed her on his lap. “If all you’re looking for is some sex, I’m not interested. There’s a part of me that says, hell yeah, and I could be fucking you up against the wall in two minutes flat.”

Oh God, the images racing through her mind.

“But if you remember our conversation in the back hall of the bar, I don’t think you’re that type of woman. I’m not that kind of man. Honesty is one of the things that makes us who we are, and I’m going to be honest with you, darling.”

Beth held her breath as he cupped her face then stroked his other hand down her body intimately. He opened her legs and settled his fingers over her crotch. Could he feel how hot she was through her jeans?

“I find you very attractive, and I don’t just mean your body. I don’t know what troubles you’ve had in your past, but I hope we’ll get to talk them through at some point. So here’s what I suggest—you tell me if you agree. You and I do both. We fool around like you want, as long as you let us try to learn to be friends, like I want.”

It sounded so reasonable. Then he pressed a finger to the seam of her jeans and rubbed, and all logical thought fled. The slight friction against her clit was enough to cause an instantaneous reaction. She trembled in his arms. “I can’t…”

He hummed, caressing the tender skin behind her ear, tracing patterns down her neck with his tongue. “I think you can do a lot of things, Miss Beth, if you put your mind to it.”

The constant motion of his hand was driving her wild. “Please…”

Kisses descended again, and for the first time in a long time Beth let go. All her tension and fear she let fall away and simply accepted the rising passion. He was a thorough kisser, tasting her lips, her cheeks, brushing his fingers through her short hair and tugging her closer so their bodies melted together.

His hand moved relentlessly, and Beth widened her legs, rocking into his touch harder, needing a little nudge to push her over the edge. He slid his other hand under her sweater and cupped her breast through her T-shirt and bra, pinching her nipple. She teetered off the cliff, her sex pulsing with her orgasm as she moaned into his mouth. The physical bliss was so much richer than when she brought herself to a climax, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the sensations rocking her body.

It had been a very long time since a man had touched her like that.

When he finally separated them, her whole body buzzed. His grey eyes were dark, his pupils huge as he stared. Stared at her lips, her hair, her body. “You’re beautiful when you come.”

Beth glanced around the barn then laughed. “What am I doing?”

Daniel lifted her chin, and those fathomless eyes mesmerized her again. “You’re dealing with the passion you’ve locked inside, for whatever reason.” He didn’t let her look away. “You on the Pill?”

Oh dear, this part of the conversation. She’d thought this through as well, but it was still tough to say. “I’m protected, but I want to use condoms.”

Daniel shook his head. “We’ll use them until we get a clean bill of health to show each other. If this is supposed to be fun for us both, condoms won’t cut it for the long run. There are too many things I want to do with you. Plus, I want you to know I’m clean and not going to hurt you in any way.”

Beth opened her mouth to protest then closed it. It made sense, even if the thought of anyone finding out he’d had blood work done scared her. She didn’t want the whole town talking, but if they kept it quiet, she could make that change to her plans. “I’ll get a test done when I go to Calgary at Thanksgiving. I have to see my doctor then anyway about my leg.”

He touched the brace lightly. “Anything I need to be warned about? Any positions we need to be careful with while we’re playing?”

“As if I would know,” she answered without thinking.

“Beth?”

She flushed hard at his expression—the half-savage lust-driven animal, half-confused human thinker. He kissed her temple then lowered her back to the bale before rising and pacing a few steps.

“I need a few more details before we continue this adventure. You haven’t had sex since your accident? Is that what you’re saying?”

She hesitated. Take control, Beth. Tell him what you want. Stay in charge. “I haven’t had sex, but I also…” The words stuck in her throat.

“You have three sons. I didn’t imagine you were a blushing virgin.”

What was it he had said? Be honest?

She lifted her chin and spoke as boldly as she could. “I’ve had sex on my back for ten years with one man. I want to do something different. I want to…” The conversation got harder and harder to continue. “I want to try it all.”

He stopped in mid-pace, rotating slowly to face her. “What if your ‘try it all’ and mine veer apart?”

Oh dear.

Daniel continued, his voice gone husky and deep. “How about you make a list. Sound alright?”

She nodded, unable to force out any more words. Had she actually agreed to make a wish list of sexual positions and experiences?

Daniel held out his hand. “Come, I’ll walk you home.”

She glanced at her watch and swore. “I need to pick up the boys soon.”

“I’m just walking you home, not ravishing you.” He kissed her knuckles. “Not yet.”

Beth swallowed hard. Holy cow. What had she done?