Page 82 of The Promise Of Rain

In a bid for more time, I dragged him to a few more shops where I found treats for Maggie and Maxine’s boys, as well as fuzzy sleep socks with safety grips on the soles for Ansel and Darlene.Eventually, the cold won out, and my toes begged for relief.

In the car, Deacon cranked up the heat and placed my palm on his upper thigh.I pressed down, kneading the hard muscle as he drove.

By the time we hit the intersection heading into Moose Lake, I was done thinking, planning, or worrying about anything other than my desperate need for his touch.

I squeezed his thigh.“Can we go to your place?”

His eyebrows rose.“My place?”

“Is that okay?”

He furrowed his brow and prodded, “Do you want to stay the night?”

I shook my head.

He chuckled.“What are you up to, baby?”

I huffed out a soft laugh.

The truth was, I wanted to get my hands on him, but I didn’t want it to happen at my place.Somehow, I had to preserve my safe space while we explored this thing between us.I didn’t want the memory of this, our second first time, to be in my bed in my apartment to haunt me if things fell apart.

Especially considering the tripwires that lay in wait.Buried so deep, he couldn’t see them.But I did.

Guilt assaulted me.How could I let him walk right into them?At some point, I had to trust him enough to tell him everything.

When we got to his house, he took my coat and dropped to his knees to help me with my boots.

I grasped his shoulder.“Oh, you don’t have to do that,” I protested.

He looked up at me, those dark eyes steady on mine.“I don’t do anything I don’t want to do, Jenny.Not anymore.”

There was something about this big, strong, dark and dangerous man on his knees that did something for me.

It also scared me.

Made me want to shrink into myself and disappear, hide my unworthiness, at the same time as it urged me to put myself entirely on display.

Give my whole self over into his care.

His hands.

Only for him.

Before I could sort through the rubble of my thoughts, he rose to his feet.

Taking my hands, he walked backwards and gently pulled me through the kitchen.“I’ve taken orders long enough to know I need to be the one giving them.”

I smirked.“You going to order me around?”

His cheeks darkened.“Not in any way you won’t like.”He paused.“I hope.”

My brows rose.“You don’t sound sure.”

His lips twitched and then he grinned, and it was devastating.“I’ll ease you into it.”

“When?”I demanded as we reached the couch.

He pulled me down onto his lap and replied, “When you’re ready.”