turned to find another one of her students, Donnell McGuire, standing in the doorway. Had he overheard her conversation with Tammy? Did he and the other students suspect something was going on between Tammy and Dr. Clayburn? The one thing Layla wouldn’t do was discuss one student with another, no matter how much she wanted to sound off to someone about Tammy’s atrocious attitude.
Before she could say anything, Donnell added, “And don’t worry about that report Tammy hasn’t done. I’ll take care of it. I do have some free time.”
His words told Layla he had overheard her conversation with Tammy. “That assignment was given to Tammy, Donnell, and I expect her to do it. Besides, I have something else for you to do. I just got a call that the last of our supplies arrived at the post office in town. I need you to go pick them up. If everything looks good, we’ll start digging by the end of the week.”
A huge smile touched Donnell’s face. “Alright! I can’t wait.” The young man rushed off to tell the others.
Layla chuckled at his enthusiasm. She would give anything for more students like Donnell who took being a team player seriously. He was a hard worker. Most of the students on this team were. Although being an archaeologist was Donnell’s first love, she knew he was also good with a camera and had won a number of photo contests. At twenty-two he would be graduating in the spring with a major in archaeology and a minor in photography.
She refused to let Tammy put a damper on her day, especially when it had started off with the promise of being wonderful. She’d had such a wonderful night with Gavin. Then this morning, before the crack of dawn, she’d proven just what a great horsewoman she could be. Memories of what they’d shared still sent shivers down her spine. She couldn’t help but blush. Being intimate with a man had never been anything she’d thought about until now...
She glanced at her watch. She had a full day planned here on-site and then Gavin had invited her to dinner again. This time he would be the one cooking. He claimed he wasn’t bad in the kitchen. Tonight she intended to see if that was true.
* * *
Gavin had always prided himself on being a man in control. As a SEAL, he couldn’t be any other way. The success of any mission called for it. There was no time to let your guard down. Weakness of any kind wasn’t acceptable. Then why did he lose control every time he entered Layla’s body? Why did overpowering weakness overtake him whenever they made love?
He had prepared dinner for her tonight at the party house. He’d fed her well. Surprised the hell out of her with his culinary skills. At the moment, he contemplated impressing her with another skill. One of seduction. When he’d arrived at the party house with his arms filled with groceries, Layla had opened the door wearing an outfit that only made him think of filling her.
She’d tempted him the entire time he was in the kitchen. There was no doubt in his mind that she’d known exactly what she was doing as she’d sat at the breakfast bar watching him. She had known each and every time she crossed and uncrossed her legs that she was showing him a portion of her thigh and exactly what that did to him. How he had managed to finish cooking and then sit across from her and eat was a testament to his control.
Now it was payback time.
“So how was your day, Gavin?”
He’d cleared off the table and was loading up the dishwasher as he fought to retain control. “It was the usual day in the life of a rancher. The cows are finally settled in for the winter, which is good since forecasters predict a cold wave coming through first of next week.”
“I heard. I’m hoping bad weather won’t delay the completion of the dig. Our goal is to start later this week.”
He closed the dishwasher door, then turned around and watched her gaze shift from his face to his midsection. She saw the evidence of his desire for her. That couldn’t be helped when she was sitting there looking as sexy as any woman had a right to look. “Did I tell you how much I like your outfit?”
She chuckled and the sound made his erection thicken even more. “Yes, you told me. I figured you would like it since I understand men like to see skin.”
She understood right. Men liked touching and tasting skin as well, which was something he’d shown her last night. Her short dress showed a lot of her thighs since the hem barely covered them. And the top had a neckline that showed a lot of cleavage, reminding him of how much he enjoyed her breasts. He wanted her bad. He wanted her right here. Right now.
He slowly crossed the room toward her. Any other woman would have run after seeing the predatory look in his eyes. But Layla stood her ground. That was fine with him. When he reached her, he removed her dress with a flick of his wrist and a little muscle power, leaving her totally naked. Like he’d suspected, she hadn’t had a stitch of clothing on underneath that dress. He knew he had surprised the hell out of her with how quickly he’d undressed her.
He smiled at her shocked look. “A SEAL pays attention to detail. While sitting across from you at dinner I studied the design of your dress and figured out the best way to take it off without ripping it to shreds. I like the dress too much to tear it.”
He stepped back. “Now to remove my clothes.”
Gavin undressed quickly. And then he picked her up and spread her across the same table he’d cleared just moments ago. “Open your legs for me, Layla.”
He intended to bury himself inside of her as deeply as he could go. He was certain the hot and hungry look in his eyes said as much. But he knew all this was still new to her and he wanted her to be comfortable with everything they did together.
She lay there, on his table, with her legs spread. For a minute he just stood and looked at her. Remembering her taste, he couldn’t help but lick his lips. Tasting her would have to come later. Right now he needed to come. Quickly putting on a condom, he settled his body between her thighs. She held his gaze when he entered her, filling her completely. Being inside her, feeling her muscles clench around him, felt so damn good. Her muscles were trying to pull everything out of him and the sensation was driving him insane.
Gavin held tight to her hips as he moved in and out. She wrapped her legs around his waist, locking him inside of her. He wanted her to feel every stroke, the same way he was feeling it. On and on, each thrust was hard and precise. Back and forth, he rocked inside of her. Steady, with meaningful precision. He thrust hard, creating pleasure that spread like molten heat throughout both of their bodies. The sound of Layla’s moans only increased his desire to please her. When he felt her body explode, his explosion soon followed.
That’s when he realized why things were so different with her. Why with her he so easily lost control.
As much as a part of him wished it wasn’t true, he knew he had fallen head over heels in love with Layla Harris.
“So what are you going to do about Tammy?”
Layla lifted her head off Gavin’s chest. It was two days after the night he’d prepared dinner for her. She had arrived at the guest cottage to find him sitting on the steps waiting for her. Her heart had pounded the minute she’d seen him sitting there. He’d stood when she got out of the car and her gaze had taken him in. With the Stetson on his head, his Western shirt, a pair of well-worn and scuffed boots, he looked like a quintessential cowboy. She wondered how he would look dressed as a SEAL. Too bad she would probably never see him that way. Gavin as a rancher would be the memory of him she would keep in her heart forever.
He had taken her hand into his and once they were locked inside the house, he had swept her into his arms and headed for the bedroom where they’d made love a number of times. Then he’d told her some troubling news. It seemed earlier that day he’d overheard one of his men bragging about sleeping with Tammy. The man had said she’d told him she was into group sex, so if he had any friends who were interested, she was available.
Gavin hadn’t