His Marriage Pact: The Rancher's Marriage Pact / The Rancher's One-Week Wife / Terms of a Texas Marriage

“Because you haven’t been here long enough to explore,” he said. “During the day, you get sun. At night, you can see all the stars. If you notice, there aren’t any light fixtures.”

She looked around to confirm that fact. She also noted the room was illuminated enough to view all those details she preferred he not see. “Is this where you bring all your dates?”

He didn’t appear too pleased over the question. “This is where I come to wind down.”

“It’s a good place to do it. Unwind, I mean.”

He cupped her cheek with his palm. “It’s a good place for us to get to know each other in every way.”

They stood there face-to-face, as if neither knew what to do next. Dallas broke the standoff by taking her back into his arms and holding her for a long moment. He pulled away and searched her eyes. “If you change your mind at any point, let me know. I want you to be totally comfortable.”

She very much appreciated his consideration. She also felt confident he would show her great care, and probably a very good time. “I’m not going to change my mind.”

He sent her a soft smile. “Good. I’ve been waiting all night to see you undress for me.”

Oh, mercy. “Are you going to watch?”

He flashed a grin and a dimple. “Do politicians lie?”

“All right. I suppose I can do that. As you pointed out, you’ve seen almost all of me anyway.” And now he would see it all—from head to toe and too-wide hips in between.

You’re too uptight, Paris.

The ghost of that chunky, awkward girl came back to haunt her, along with the voice of her ex criticizing her butt and in his opinion, inadequate breasts. She lowered her eyes to avoid Dallas’s scrutiny. “I’m not sure I can do this while you’re staring at me.”

He came to her then, tipped up her chin with his fingertips and kissed her softly. “Yeah, you can. Don’t forget the boat.”

“That was different. I had on a bikini until you took the top off me. And that was only the top.”

She could tell by his expression that his patience was waning. “You’re a beautiful woman, Paris. All of you. Now we can talk about this all night, or we can act on this all-fire need between us.”

“Okay, I admit there is a tad bit of chemistry.”

“You know we’ve both been hot for each other since we met. You can keep denying it, but you know I’m right. I figured that out in the kitchen this morning when you dropped the robe. If that wasn’t a hint, then I don’t know what is.”

She couldn’t be shocked when she’d intentionally been transparent. She’d also allowed him a peek of her backside, and he hadn’t run away yet. “Okay, I’ll make a deal with you. Since you’ve already seen more of me than I care to admit, it’s only fair you go first.”

Without hesitating, he stepped back and lowered his fly. “Just so you know, something’s come up. It’s been up for days.”

She managed a smile. “Nothing I haven’t seen before.”

After stripping out of his clothes and underwear, he looked no less proud. Every inch of him. And frankly, her very limited sexual experience had not included such an absolutely impressive...man.

“It’s your turn, sweetheart.”

Okay, she could do this. She’d been pretty gutsy this morning. Why not carry that over to this moment?

Following a deep breath, Paris shimmied out of the dress and let it fall to her feet, then shoved her panties down and kicked them aside. And there she stood, totally nude in the middle of a dimly-lit, glass-walled room with a fantasy man raking his gaze over her, clear approval in his eyes.

He inclined his head and pointed at her. “Lady, if I had my choice, you’d never wear a thing again when you’re with me.”

She released an anxious laugh. “Something tells me that could be awkward with both the mothers darting in and out all the time.”

“True. Now come here and let me give you the time of your life.”