Page 23 of Raised On It (Between the Pines #1)
Her breath hitches, and my insides do too. I just told her she was mine—that she was the one—without really telling her any of those things, of course.
She has no idea that I’ve never said this to anyone. That there has never been anyone I’ve wanted to say it to.
When we pull up to the house I run around to let her out before I get a word out, she says, “Come on, Lou!”
She’s not just inviting me in; she’s inviting Lou in as well.
“You sure Katie won’t mind?”
“Well, I’m not gonna let him stay in the truck all by himself until the morning.”
Be still my beating heart.
This woman may like me enough to ask me to stay over, but she loves my dog.
She was so worth the wait.
When we reach the front door where I typically leave her with a kiss on the cheek, she unlocks the door, and then oh, so coyly says, “Thanks for the milkshake.” She rises on her toes, and her lips find mine for at least the thirtieth time tonight.
Only, this time, it’s not an innocent peck in front of my friends.
It’s a full force, no-holds-barred, tongues-dancing kiss that says she wants so much more.
Lou pushes his way between our legs, a reminder we’re still on the front porch and haven’t even opened the door. Reaching around her, I turn the doorknob and push the door ajar, guiding us inside.
Lou runs and jumps on the overstuffed chair covered in pillows and blankets like he owns the place. I know Katie wouldn’t be happy to see it.
“Lou, get down right…”
“He’s fine, just leave him.”
She drops her purse and my flannel at her feet and leans against the wall.
“If you say so.” Her chest is heaving up and down while she waits for me against the wall. “How are you doing?”
“I’d be better if we were doing some more of what we were doing out there on the porch.” Her voice is seductive, her chest moving up and down in anticipation and want.
Fuck, she’s killing me right now.
I cave, unable to hold back.
Pinning her against the wall, I press my body lightly against her while my hands hold most of my weight on the wall next to her head.
I leisurely kiss her exposed neck, making my way to her earlobe.
It was a hot day, and the taste of salt on my lips is fucking delicious.
Her hair is still up in her high ponytail, and I can smell the smoke from the fire clinging to it.
I trace the shell of her ear with my tongue. “You like that, City Mouse?”
“Yes.”
“You want me, don’t you, Mason?” I pull back so I can gaze into the ocean of lust-filled emotions looking back at me.
“I do.”
“I knew you’d come around eventually.”
“Is that so? ”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Enough talking.”
“I get it if you can’t handle a conversation like this yet.
” My left hand travels down her side, gently grazing the side of her breast and causing her to catch her breath yet again.
“We can talk later.” My thumb finds its way across her nipple, and the silky material of her cute little summer dress leaves little to the imagination as it pebbles under my touch.
Unable to find her voice, she nods her head with her full lips parted, begging me to take them. Obligingly, I do just that, devouring her like a man starved. And she feasts on me just the same.
Our hands are all over each other.
I’m not sure how, but she feels even better than I’ve been imagining since I watched her walk away from me on her first night in town.
Somehow, we’ve made it to the couch, and as usual, she’s taking the lead. I’m on my back, and she’s straddling me, setting a ferocious pace as she grinds herself on me. She must not realize I’ve been dreaming about her every night for two weeks and it’s not gonna take much more before I blow.
“Babe, let’s take this to your bed.”
Her smile spreading against my lips tells me she’s been having similar dreams. She wastes no time getting off me, then takes me by the hand to help me up and follow her to the back of the house.
When we get to her room, she turns on the little lamp next to the bed.
Slipping the tiny spaghetti straps off her shoulders, she lets her dress fall to her feet, and hand to God, I’ve never seen anything so beautiful.
Her skin is flawless, her breasts are full and natural and her pert pink nipples are begging for my mouth.
The sexy curve of her hips is alluring with her thumbs in the thin sides of her panties as she teases me with the promise of baring herself to me completely.
Of course I want to see all of her, but if I don’t stop her right this second, things are going to go farther than I’m ready for them to go.
I still haven’t shown her everything, and I’m not taking her completely until I do.
Closing the space between us, I pick her up and gently toss her on the bed. When she sees me kick off my shoes, she props herself up on her elbows to watch me. Wearing nothing but her panties, she looks like a wet dream.
After I pull my T-shirt over my head, she catcalls me like I’m a stripper.
“Take it off!”
I throw my shirt at her, and she makes a show of taking a big whiff of it.
“Yum…campfire.”
The gleam in her eyes, the glow in her cheeks, the want in her voice, and the way she can’t stop moving her closed legs together tell me she’s ready. She wants it all.
When I pull down my shorts, her eyes grow big and her mouth agape in anticipation.
When I don’t pull down my briefs, she looks disappointed, and it’s adorable.
I join her on the bed, and when my hand touches her soft skin and starts to explore her body, the simple act has her writhing and moaning for more.
I can’t take my eyes off her face, so when she opens her heavy lids and looks at me, there’s an unmistakable connection.
A mutual feeling.
Something more than just going to bed with the hot tourist from New York.
When I look into her eyes, I feel a realness I’ve never felt with another woman.
I’m looking at my future.
My family.
My happy ending and not the kind of happy ending I’m usually looking for.
“Thank you for inviting me in tonight.”
She nods .
“I hope you aren’t disappointed,” I say as I pull her nipple between my lips.
Her back arches, and her eyes close again. “How could I be?” she asks in a lust-filled sigh.
Because I can’t give you what you want.
Not yet.