Page 9
Story: Road Trip with Her Bodyguard
What an amazing day.
Dane was right – the drive was fantastic once I thought of it as the adventure itself.
We stopped at roadside diners for a couple of meals, and at several rest stops for coffee or snacks. There were two moments where Dane pulled me into his arms for a quick kiss before hustling me around a corner, or into the car.
Both kisses were fast and hot, and I felt them all the way down to my toes, but they weren’t quite like the first one. That, I felt all the way down to my soul.
What is this strange connection I feel with him? It’s way more than the smoking protector vibe he has going on, although that’s part of it. He’s a shining example of what I’ve always dreamed of.
Maybe I’m imagining it, but it feels…like Dane actually wants me. I’m not an obligation, but something special. Mind you, my life has been turned upside down, so there’s a good chance I’m mistaken.
Staring out the window into the darkness, I hope I’m not reading more into the situation than is really there. No matterwhat happens, I’m going to make the most of this bizarre situation and intense connection.
“Hey,” Dane says softly, turning off the highway. “You’re a million miles away. Which is fine, but we’re almost there.”
I see the sign welcoming us to Heartstone. It seems like a sweet small town, like the dozens of others we’ve passed today. “Have you been here before?”
“Yeah, several times. Sometimes to sleep, mostly to eat.” The car slows, and he turns to me. “I know we just had dinner an hour and a half ago, but road trips make some people hungry. Would you like another snack before bed?”
“I’m stuffed, thank you.”
“Okay. Just sleep, then.”
He frowns as we drive up to a small inn, then parks in one of the few empty spaces right up front. “Weird. It’s never this busy here.”
His hand brushes my knee as he reaches into the glove compartment to pull out a cheap burner phone. Even that accidental touch sends a thrill through me. The closer we get, the more electrified I feel. It makes it even easier to wish this were a real road trip and we were a real couple without all of the stress, not total strangers.
“Let me guess, you didn’t make a reservation, because that’s trackable,” I say.
“Exactly.” He peers at the screen. “Hmm… Apparently, it’s the annual Heartstone Blueberry Festival. The other decent hotel is hosting the judges. This must be overspill. One sec. I’ll be back.”
I love that he keeps watching me through the front window as he checks in. Having such a huge guy hovering over me really does make me feel completely safe.
Dane returns, then grabs the luggage before we go into a small but clean room. This time it’s not the generic nature print that catches my eye. It’s the solitary queen-size bed.
“This is the last room,” he explains apologetically. “I could sleep on the floor?—”
“No way,” I say firmly. “You just drove all day. You need a good night’s sleep. I won’t take up much room, I promise.”
His expression is interesting. I could swear he’s trying very hard not to allow a grin to overtake his slight smile. “Whatever you like.”
Half an hour later we’re settled in, and I slip into bed beside Dane. He’s sitting up, checking his cheap phone. “The weather should be great tomorrow.”
His grin sends prickles of warmth through me. Or is it just the heat from being so close to his naked chest, our bare legs nearly touching?
Dane sets the phone aside, then rolls his shoulders back a few times. “Damn. I’m used to moving all day when I’m working demo. Sitting still too much feels weird.”
“Want me to loosen up your neck?”
A soft smile plays across his lips. “Sure. That would be great, thanks.”
He turns his back to me, and I swallow hard, trying to ignore the huge expanse of muscled flesh in front of me.This shouldn’t feel so personal, I think as I turn, sitting cross-legged behind him.
My hands drag slowly along his shoulder blades, kneading his tight muscles. Then I work on each section of his back, listening carefully to his breathing so I know exactly whenever I hit a tight spot.
Once everything feels looser and his shoulders look to have dropped an inch, I drag my thumbs up the back of his neck on either side of his spine. His deep groan sounds like more than atight spot releasing. It feels like we’re getting very comfortable together.
A shiver chases up my spine. If I work my hands all over him, what will he?—
Dane was right – the drive was fantastic once I thought of it as the adventure itself.
We stopped at roadside diners for a couple of meals, and at several rest stops for coffee or snacks. There were two moments where Dane pulled me into his arms for a quick kiss before hustling me around a corner, or into the car.
Both kisses were fast and hot, and I felt them all the way down to my toes, but they weren’t quite like the first one. That, I felt all the way down to my soul.
What is this strange connection I feel with him? It’s way more than the smoking protector vibe he has going on, although that’s part of it. He’s a shining example of what I’ve always dreamed of.
Maybe I’m imagining it, but it feels…like Dane actually wants me. I’m not an obligation, but something special. Mind you, my life has been turned upside down, so there’s a good chance I’m mistaken.
Staring out the window into the darkness, I hope I’m not reading more into the situation than is really there. No matterwhat happens, I’m going to make the most of this bizarre situation and intense connection.
“Hey,” Dane says softly, turning off the highway. “You’re a million miles away. Which is fine, but we’re almost there.”
I see the sign welcoming us to Heartstone. It seems like a sweet small town, like the dozens of others we’ve passed today. “Have you been here before?”
“Yeah, several times. Sometimes to sleep, mostly to eat.” The car slows, and he turns to me. “I know we just had dinner an hour and a half ago, but road trips make some people hungry. Would you like another snack before bed?”
“I’m stuffed, thank you.”
“Okay. Just sleep, then.”
He frowns as we drive up to a small inn, then parks in one of the few empty spaces right up front. “Weird. It’s never this busy here.”
His hand brushes my knee as he reaches into the glove compartment to pull out a cheap burner phone. Even that accidental touch sends a thrill through me. The closer we get, the more electrified I feel. It makes it even easier to wish this were a real road trip and we were a real couple without all of the stress, not total strangers.
“Let me guess, you didn’t make a reservation, because that’s trackable,” I say.
“Exactly.” He peers at the screen. “Hmm… Apparently, it’s the annual Heartstone Blueberry Festival. The other decent hotel is hosting the judges. This must be overspill. One sec. I’ll be back.”
I love that he keeps watching me through the front window as he checks in. Having such a huge guy hovering over me really does make me feel completely safe.
Dane returns, then grabs the luggage before we go into a small but clean room. This time it’s not the generic nature print that catches my eye. It’s the solitary queen-size bed.
“This is the last room,” he explains apologetically. “I could sleep on the floor?—”
“No way,” I say firmly. “You just drove all day. You need a good night’s sleep. I won’t take up much room, I promise.”
His expression is interesting. I could swear he’s trying very hard not to allow a grin to overtake his slight smile. “Whatever you like.”
Half an hour later we’re settled in, and I slip into bed beside Dane. He’s sitting up, checking his cheap phone. “The weather should be great tomorrow.”
His grin sends prickles of warmth through me. Or is it just the heat from being so close to his naked chest, our bare legs nearly touching?
Dane sets the phone aside, then rolls his shoulders back a few times. “Damn. I’m used to moving all day when I’m working demo. Sitting still too much feels weird.”
“Want me to loosen up your neck?”
A soft smile plays across his lips. “Sure. That would be great, thanks.”
He turns his back to me, and I swallow hard, trying to ignore the huge expanse of muscled flesh in front of me.This shouldn’t feel so personal, I think as I turn, sitting cross-legged behind him.
My hands drag slowly along his shoulder blades, kneading his tight muscles. Then I work on each section of his back, listening carefully to his breathing so I know exactly whenever I hit a tight spot.
Once everything feels looser and his shoulders look to have dropped an inch, I drag my thumbs up the back of his neck on either side of his spine. His deep groan sounds like more than atight spot releasing. It feels like we’re getting very comfortable together.
A shiver chases up my spine. If I work my hands all over him, what will he?—