Page 10 of Her Protector on Route 14 (Love Along Route 14 #6)

She looks so damn shy, so nervous. Her cheeks are a faint red, but she keeps hiding behind her hair and playing with the straw in her mojito like it can answer all her questions better than me.

She only paused briefly when I reminded her who started our make out session.

The one I haven’t been able to forget, the one I’ve nearly repeated every time I get the whiff of her vanilla perfume and the gentlest feel of her body against mine.

Holly clears her throat, then turns to face me. “You understand what I’m- I’m saying though, right?”

That she’s a virgin, that she doesn’t have much experience, that she still, for some reason, thinks that she’s not enough. Which is probably my fault for how I ended our kiss. Taking a slow breath, I move slightly closer to her. “Your innocence is part of what draws me to you.”

She blinks at me.

“I mean, you’re not na?ve. You’re sweet and warm, still have a glow of softness and you’re not jaded by the world.

I like that you’re ... you, exactly as you are,” I say, sure I’m butchering the explanation.

“Which makes it hard to remember that I’m fourteen years older than you and shouldn’t be interested. ”

“Says who?” she asks gently. “Because I’m ... I mean, it should be obvious. I like being with you, I trust you and ...”

She wants me too. Which makes my worry about our age feel ridiculous. She’s twenty-four, not eighteen. She has goals and she’s determined, so why am I holding back when she’s right here? I’m sure there’s a reason, one I should know, one that I should be able to hold on to.

Holly brushes her fingers over my hand, her skin as cool as her drink with beads of condensation on her fingers. Her touch breaks me. I don’t know why. I’ve touched her plenty in the last few days. She’s leaned into me. I haven’t let her beyond my reach unless we’re at the hotel, but ...

“Tanner,” she breathes, eyes pleading and hopeful as she peers at me from under her lashes. Her touch, her sweet smell, her voice, everything about her.

I pull her up and between my legs, kissing her as if I can fix the last few days – as if I can pack every kiss I wanted to give her into one.

It’s tender, deep, hungry, and restrained.

Her soft moan and the way she pulls me closer isn’t a warning this time, it’s a fucking invitation and I’m not strong enough to resist it.

I slip my tongue along hers and let my hand slide down her back, then back up so I can feel the soft skin between her shoulders. She’s decadent, perfect, and melts against me in a way that makes me twice as determined to protect her, support her, take care of her.

When I draw back, we’re both panting.

“We should go upstairs,” I say softly before sucking her bottom lip. “Rather than doing this so publicly.”

“Yeah, that’s smart,” she whispers.

“Even if you just want to make out,” I promise as I get up and toss twenty five dollars down on the bar. “We should do that in my room.”

I take her hand and lead her to the stairs. She swallows. “And if I want to do more than make out?”

“Then I’m a damn lucky man, Holly,” I say, pulling her up onto the landing to kiss her again, and again since she turns me into a glutton. “So lucky.”

“My room’s closer,” she breathes.

“Sounds like that’s where we should be then,” I answer, brushing my lips across hers.

It’s almost a miracle that we make it to her room and get the door shut.

Kissing her is addictive. She’s a fast learner and so responsive.

Every flick of my tongue is answers, every long stroke, gentle curl, she returns to me until I’m somewhere between floating and more grounded and present than I’ve ever been.

When she fists my shirt, then clumsily pulls at the buttons, I catch her wrists and pull them around my neck as I bend down to kiss her deeper. I stroke down her back and walk her backwards. “Patience, darling.”

“I want you,” she breathes.

“I’m not going anywhere tonight unless you ask me to,” I promise. “But you deserve a bed not the floor.”

“And you shirtless?” She asks between kisses.

I smile into the kiss and spin her so she’s walking forward. I kiss across her neck while continuing to work us towards the bed. “In any state of undress you want and can handle.”

I play with the tempting neckline of her dress and kiss further down until I feel her racing pulse. “I like this dress.”

“It looks better off me,” she whispers.

I grin and nod, dragging it down her arms slowly. She arches back against me so I get a perfect view of her perky, full breasts as the dress drops around her hips, then slinks to the floor. She shudders and her nipples tighten.

I trail my fingertips up her belly and stop just below her breasts. “Let’s cover ground rules.”

“Whatever you want,” she answers, grinding against my erection eagerly.

“If you don’t like something, you say ‘no.’ It’s that easy. If you change your mind, tell me the second it happens,” I say, licking the shell of her ear. “Do you understand the rules?”

“Yes,” she pants, turning to kiss me again. “I understand, Tanner, please touch me.”

“Good,” I groan. “I want you to keep talking to me, tell me what you like, what you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

I cup her breasts to prove it and her back arches for me. My thumbs circle her nipples and she grinds against me harder. “I really want you undressed. I want you to keep kissing me and ... and touching me.”

I lower one hand to take her hand, then spin her around and lay her down on the bed. I toss my shirt to the side and lick my bottom lip as I look her over. Her thighs press together as she squirms on the bed, watching me with unhidden desire.

“So beautiful,” I hum as I stroke her ankle. “Lovely, perfect. You’re just right, Holly.”

She shudders and drinks me in while I continue stroking up her legs, gently spreading them around me so I can kneel on the bed. I kiss her slowly, then let my lips wander down her neck and towards her breasts.

“Keep talking to me, darling. I love hearing your voice,” I encourage.

“That feels good. More, please, please more,” she pants.

I trace the top curve of her breast with my tongue, following the curve to her sternum. I palm her breasts and groan. “Touch me however you want.”

Holly’s hands slowly trace the muscle of my biceps, my shoulders, then flow up my neck to my hair. She grips my hair in one hand and slides her other hand down my spine, fingers spreading wide.

“You’re so strong,” she pants. Don’t stop, Tanner, please,” she whispers.

I lift my head from between her breasts and kiss her again. She’s more eager with every kiss, arching into my touch, spreading her thighs around me, stroking down my chest and abs to my jeans.

I let her undo my pants while I trace the top of her panties. “My fingers or my mouth – what do you want more?”

Her eyes widen and dip to my hand. I’m sure she’s going to tell me to pump the breaks, but instead she lifts her hips. “Both, Tanner. I want everything.”

“My greedy girl,” I hum before licking over her nipple and slowly guiding her panties down her legs.

I take my time working her up, running my lips and tongue over her breasts until she’s moaning, panting and begging for more. If my girl wants me to please her, she’s going to have it. I lick down her belly and stop just above the little landing strip above her slit.

“You’re going to have everything you want,” I promise. “For as long as you want.”