Page 5 of Road Trip with Her Bodyguard (Love Along Route 14 #9)

JORIE

W hat 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 matter what 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 a tight 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?—

“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 is more now. 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… What do I 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 kissing feverishly. 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.

“I think I’ll give you…hmm…three goodnight kisses, then we should go to sleep.”

I nod in agreement, and he turns off the light on the nightstand. There’s still a slight glow coming through a crack between the curtains, so I can still faintly make out his face.

“May I put those three kisses anywhere I want?”

“Yeah…” Even that single word is breathy.

He pulls my shirt down, then kisses the top of my breast, lazily moving his lips back and forth in a slow, meandering line, then up to my collarbone, finding a nook under my ear that makes me twitch.

He already seems to know everywhere I’m sensitive.

My body is completely under his control, which feels utterly perfect.

Like I’ve been waiting for this moment for years.

“That was one.”

My god. If he’s counting that as a single kiss….

My hand reaches out to stroke his hair, but he’s already slid down the bed, taking the blankets with him. He pushes my shorts up my right thigh, then spreads my legs open. As I try not to gasp, he trails his finger around in a little circle. He’s barely three inches from my?—

“Oh!” I gasp, as his lips make contact with my sensitive inner thigh. He’s not just kissing, he’s sucking hard enough to leave a mark. I can scarcely breathe. Scarcely think. Scarcely believe this is actually happening.

His lips slowly circle the love bite, sending chills and sparks through every pulse point.

I want to have sex with this man.

I don’t care that I’ve barely known him for twenty-nine hours. I don’t care that this is a strange situation. I really don’t care that he’s older. Sensing how much Dane wants me is kicking my desire out of dormancy and into overdrive, making me want to explore everything with him.

“That’s two.”

I want Dane to take me. To crawl on top of me and plunge deep inside. To rip my shorts off and… I moan with pleasure as he slides up, capturing my lips with his.

The kiss is pure fire – his arm underneath me, cradling my shoulders and the back of my head as our bodies writhe together, fighting for every single point of contact possible as we shift and move against each other.

My right hand moves slowly down his naked chest, his side, then tentatively along the fabric of his boxers.

At first I just caress his hip, then my hand falls lower, inching toward the hard thickness rubbing against my peach shorts.

My gasp makes him chuckle, and his hand slips up my shirt, thumb drifting gently against my peaked nipple.

The kiss continues, both of us breathing roughly, touching and shifting, trying to stimulate the other as much as we can.

My hand inches slightly lower, my fingertips barely brushing against the outline of his hard shaft.

He grabs my wrist, pulling it away and setting my hand firmly on his lower back. “That’s three, baby.” His forehead rests on mine, breathing hard, as if trying to pull himself together.

After a moment, he lies down beside me, cuddling me in his arms and tucking the blankets around us. “Thanks, gorgeous. I wanted to give you a very thorough kiss. Something you’ll think about all night.”

“That’s guaranteed, yeah.”

“Sweet dreams.”

“You expect me to sleep after that?” I sputter.

“No,” he murmurs. “I expect you to decide where you want me to kiss you tomorrow night. I might need a list. I can be very forgetful when I’m distracted.”

I don’t know how he makes me laugh so hard while at the same time thrilling me to the core with his sensual teasing.

It takes a while, but eventually I drift off into a swirl of dreams…all of them about the amazing man I’m in bed with.