Page 10
Story: Road Trip with Her Bodyguard
“Yeah, right there,” Dane groans as I dig into the point where his neck meets the shoulder. “Damn, girl, you’re really good at this.”
“Thanks. I was very popular in the library during exam week.”
He chuckles. “I bet you were. I hope you charged top dollar.”
“Ha – no. People did bring me coffee and muffins, though.”
“Well, breakfast is on me tomorrow, that’s a guarantee.”
My hands stop moving for a split second, and he notices. “Is that okay?”
“Oh, sure.” I make fists, then push them slowly upward in slow, twisting motions. “I guess it just hit me again that you’re my bodyguard. As in, being paid to keep me from would-be criminals.”
Dane spins, catching my wrists and meeting my eyes. “Gorgeous, I would gladly keep you safe without the money. If your dad had simply called in a favor from my father, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But now…”
His palm lifts, cupping my cheek. “I… I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. You know this ismorenow. Right?”
My breath stops. The room around us is silent. Can he hear my heart racing? “More?” I finally manage to whisper.
“Yeah. More.” He tips my chin up with his finger. “I know we’ve been thrown together into a strange situation. You’re out here all alone with me, and I would never want you to feel trapped. But Jorie…” He lifts my hand, kissing the back of it gently. “Those kisses were not fake. This reaction we’re having to each other is not just pretend… Is it?”
It feels like my chest is blushing. “No. It’s not.”
“I guess the next question is, what do you want to do about it?”
I love that he’s leaving the ball entirely in my court, making sure I’m comfortable.
Except right now, I’m not. I’m the opposite. My throat is flushed and my pulse races as we face each other on the bed we’re going to be sleeping in together tonight. I’ve never felt so aroused. Every inch of my skin is dying to find out if he’s going to touch me. If he’s going to wrap those thick arms around me all night.
“Breathe, gorgeous,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to make you so flustered.”
“I’m fine. Just… WhatdoI want? I don’t even know.”
“That’s okay. As long as I know that light in your eyes isn’t just for show, we’re all good.” Dane leans slightly closer. “How would you feel about a good night kiss?”
Words fail me. I simply nod and lean in. Our lips meet in a brief, flirtatious kiss. Then his arm stretches around me, pulling me in. I’m falling, sinking into him as the kiss takes on a life of its own. I move on instinct, my hands snaking around the back of his neck to pull him against me, my nipples tight through my thin shirt as they brush against his firm chest.
He slides us down, tucking us into bed while still kissing me. Our bodies move so easily, anticipating every movement, arms and legs working together to get our bodies settled until I’m nestled comfortably in his arms, my calf draped over his.
His palm drifts lazily around my shoulder, my arm, then comes to rest on my hip. Thick fingers squeeze for a second, then he chuckles while murmuring, “Mmm, this peachy little ass,” against my lips. “Am I allowed to admire peaches during the blueberry festival? Your call.”
My mouth opens wider as I laugh, and he takes full advantage, his tongue delving deeper until we’re kissingfeverishly. My hands grip the back of his hair. His rough fingers slip under my shirt to caress my back. His knee nudges my thighs apart.
The ripple of heat flowing through me becomes a deep wave, as his rough fingertips graze the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. Maybe he feels the way I shudder, because he breaks off our kiss. “Don’t be nervous, Jorie. I just want to cuddle. That’s all.”
“I’m not nervous.”
His eyebrows lift, then he breathes along my neck, just under my ear. “I felt you shiver, gorgeous. I need you to know I’m here to guard this sexy body. If that includes keeping my hands to myself, I promise I will.”
Swallowing a moan, I can hardly breathe as his fingers slide higher, his lips kissing a trail along my collarbone.
“Should I stop?”
“No.” The word bursts out more emphatically than I’d planned, leaving Dane chuckling.
“Good. Because I’ve been dying to touch you from the moment I set eyes on you, my gorgeous little angel.”
I love that he’s being both clear and sweet. That he can probably tell I’m completely inexperienced, but is polite enough to not mention it.
“Thanks. I was very popular in the library during exam week.”
He chuckles. “I bet you were. I hope you charged top dollar.”
“Ha – no. People did bring me coffee and muffins, though.”
“Well, breakfast is on me tomorrow, that’s a guarantee.”
My hands stop moving for a split second, and he notices. “Is that okay?”
“Oh, sure.” I make fists, then push them slowly upward in slow, twisting motions. “I guess it just hit me again that you’re my bodyguard. As in, being paid to keep me from would-be criminals.”
Dane spins, catching my wrists and meeting my eyes. “Gorgeous, I would gladly keep you safe without the money. If your dad had simply called in a favor from my father, I wouldn’t have hesitated. But now…”
His palm lifts, cupping my cheek. “I… I don’t know what I’m supposed to say. You know this ismorenow. Right?”
My breath stops. The room around us is silent. Can he hear my heart racing? “More?” I finally manage to whisper.
“Yeah. More.” He tips my chin up with his finger. “I know we’ve been thrown together into a strange situation. You’re out here all alone with me, and I would never want you to feel trapped. But Jorie…” He lifts my hand, kissing the back of it gently. “Those kisses were not fake. This reaction we’re having to each other is not just pretend… Is it?”
It feels like my chest is blushing. “No. It’s not.”
“I guess the next question is, what do you want to do about it?”
I love that he’s leaving the ball entirely in my court, making sure I’m comfortable.
Except right now, I’m not. I’m the opposite. My throat is flushed and my pulse races as we face each other on the bed we’re going to be sleeping in together tonight. I’ve never felt so aroused. Every inch of my skin is dying to find out if he’s going to touch me. If he’s going to wrap those thick arms around me all night.
“Breathe, gorgeous,” he murmurs. “I’m sorry – I didn’t mean to make you so flustered.”
“I’m fine. Just… WhatdoI want? I don’t even know.”
“That’s okay. As long as I know that light in your eyes isn’t just for show, we’re all good.” Dane leans slightly closer. “How would you feel about a good night kiss?”
Words fail me. I simply nod and lean in. Our lips meet in a brief, flirtatious kiss. Then his arm stretches around me, pulling me in. I’m falling, sinking into him as the kiss takes on a life of its own. I move on instinct, my hands snaking around the back of his neck to pull him against me, my nipples tight through my thin shirt as they brush against his firm chest.
He slides us down, tucking us into bed while still kissing me. Our bodies move so easily, anticipating every movement, arms and legs working together to get our bodies settled until I’m nestled comfortably in his arms, my calf draped over his.
His palm drifts lazily around my shoulder, my arm, then comes to rest on my hip. Thick fingers squeeze for a second, then he chuckles while murmuring, “Mmm, this peachy little ass,” against my lips. “Am I allowed to admire peaches during the blueberry festival? Your call.”
My mouth opens wider as I laugh, and he takes full advantage, his tongue delving deeper until we’re kissingfeverishly. My hands grip the back of his hair. His rough fingers slip under my shirt to caress my back. His knee nudges my thighs apart.
The ripple of heat flowing through me becomes a deep wave, as his rough fingertips graze the sensitive skin of my inner thigh. Maybe he feels the way I shudder, because he breaks off our kiss. “Don’t be nervous, Jorie. I just want to cuddle. That’s all.”
“I’m not nervous.”
His eyebrows lift, then he breathes along my neck, just under my ear. “I felt you shiver, gorgeous. I need you to know I’m here to guard this sexy body. If that includes keeping my hands to myself, I promise I will.”
Swallowing a moan, I can hardly breathe as his fingers slide higher, his lips kissing a trail along my collarbone.
“Should I stop?”
“No.” The word bursts out more emphatically than I’d planned, leaving Dane chuckling.
“Good. Because I’ve been dying to touch you from the moment I set eyes on you, my gorgeous little angel.”
I love that he’s being both clear and sweet. That he can probably tell I’m completely inexperienced, but is polite enough to not mention it.