Beth returned the kiss just as softly, easing back from the eagerness and desperation from before. It wasn't just sex she wanted. Oh, she wanted it plenty, but she wanted him to understand that it wasn't just that. Somehow, the surly, prickly redneck had gotten under her skin in a way she never expected from him. Then again, before this, she'd never had cause to get so close. She'd known he was a good man, but never quite how good.

When the kiss ended, she leaned back slowly, sitting astride his hips, shivering at the feel of him hard in his jeans, pressed up against her. Because of her. She guided his other hand to her chest and moaned softly at the feel of them moving on her breasts.

One hand moved down to trail her fingertips down the line of buttons on his shirt, plucking at them very lightly, inquiring rather than demanding, this time. "Can I..?"