He’s already shaking his head. “We don’t need it.”
“I can’t dance without music,” I try again. It’s my nerves talking. I should just shut up and enjoy having his arms wrapped around me.
“Damn it, woman. I just needed an excuse to have you in my arms, but if it’s music you want . . .” He begins to hum a tune I’m not familiar with, but it doesn’t dampen the moment. This is by far the most romantic thing that’s ever happened to me. During this trip, since I’ve met Michael, I’ve had more romance in my life than I have ever had before. How pathetic is that?
“Hey, you two, dinner’s ready!” Stacy yells over the railing of the upper deck.
Michael halts his humming and his movement. Leaning down, he places a soft kiss against my forehead. He says nothing more as he places his hand on the small of my back and once again leads me up the stairs.
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“Michael, this was so much fun!” Stacy says for the third time. Who would have thought that being at the helm of a boat would make such an impression on her?
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. What about you?” He glances over at me, before turning his eyes back to the road.
“It was a great day. I was worried with Lynn driving, but we made it back to land safely,” I tease. She reaches to the front of his Jeep and smacks my arm.
“Hey, we were never in any danger,” she scoffs.
Looking back at her, I grin. This causes her to stick her tongue out at me.
Michael pulls into our driveway and turns off the engine. Stacy is out of the car and walking toward the house, leaving the two of us alone. Taking off his seat belt, he turns in his seat to face me. Self-conscious with his eyes on me, I reach up and try to smooth away my windblown hair. Reaching over, he grabs my hand and brings it to his lips. The other takes over the job of smoothing my hair, tucking a few pieces behind my ear. It’s much more intimate when he does it.
“I enjoyed spending the day with you,” he tells me, those blue eyes never leaving mine.
“I had a great time, thank you for inviting us.” I remember my manners.
“It was my pleasure, thank you for coming along. It would not have been the same without you there.”
“Your eyes are . . . beautiful,” I blurt out. I cringe, knowing he’s going to hate being called beautiful. I can’t believe I let that slip. At least I spoke the truth.
Leaning his body toward me, he murmurs, “Beautiful, you say? Maybe you should get a closer look.” He leans in a little further. My body betrays me and leans forward as well.
We’re close, so close that I can feel his breath against my lips. “It’s dark. I can’t see,” I say stupidly. I know he knows that and is using it as an excuse to get closer. Gah! I’m such a dork. I don’t know how to act.
“Doesn’t matter, Paige. All that matters is that your lips connect with mine, sooner rather than later.”
“But I . . .”
“Can I kiss you, Paige?” He traces my bottom lip with his thumb. “Can I taste these soft lips? I need to know how they feel against mine.”
He doesn’t wait for me to answer before closing the distance and pressing his lips where his finger just traced. My heart jolts, and there’s a heavy rise and fall of my chest just from his touch. Michael growls and his tongue slips past my lips. His tongue dances with mine as our kiss grows more passionate.
I have to stop this before it goes any further. Placing my hands against his chest, I push lightly. He slows the kiss and eventually pulls away. “You taste so fucking sweet.”
WOW.
No one has ever talked to me like that before, never lost themselves in the passion of just being next to me, kissing me. “I was afraid if I didn’t stop you, I wouldn’t,” I confess.
“When you decide to let me inside you, I can guarantee it will not be in my fucking Jeep. You deserve better than that.”
“How do you know? What makes you think I deserve better?” Gah! I wish I could just keep my damn mouth shut.
Resting his forehead against mine, eyes wide open, he says, “Because I see you.” Pulling back, he softly places his lips on mine for a very brief final kiss before reaching for his door handle and climbing out of the car. I watch as he walks around the Jeep and opens my door, offering me his hand.
Chapter 6
Logan
It’s been two days since I’ve seen Michael. He stopped by yesterday, but we were already out and about. He left a note on the door to call him, or stop by when we got in. I made sure we were out the door bright and early and in late, spending the day shopping. I knew he would try to see me, and I’m . . . scared. Michael is a man’s man. He knows what he wants and he’s not afraid to take it. I’m scared to death that if I let things progress between us, he will eat me alive. I confide this in my best friend.
“Yes! Hell yes. That is exactly what you want him to do,” Stacy says.
“Stacy, come on. He would be disappointed, and besides that, I’m not a fling person. I’ve told you this. I just don’t have it in me.”
“You do. You also have all that fear that you’re holding onto. We’ve spent time with him. He’s a good guy. Hell, he called his best friend and had you talk to him. You need to live for you, no one else.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Michael’s deep voice causes me to shiver. Just the sound of it brings me back to his Jeep and the kiss we shared. I’ve never in my life been kissed with so much passion and need. I’ve never had a kiss turn me on from zero to sixty so quickly either. Mr. Triple T has made kissing an art form. Just another item to add to the long list of why I would disappoint him.
“Michael,” his name slips past my lips.
“Paige.” Nothing else, just my name on his lips.
“I’m going to go get some more ice for the cooler. Be back in a few.” Stacy winks at me and walks toward the house. Traitor.
Michael sits next to me on the sand. “Why are you avoiding me, Paige?”
“I’m not,” I lie. “We’ve just been busy.”
“I call bullshit, beautiful. I can see it in your eyes.”
I’m just going to throw it out there, so he can move on, so we both can. “I’m not as . . . experienced as you, and flings are not really my thing. Not only would I be out of my comfort zone, but knowing that you would be disappointed . . . well, I can’t deal with that. Avoidance is easier.” I cannot believe I just confessed that.
Reaching over, he grabs my hand. “Paige . . . it can only be for the time we’re here, but I would like to think that what we would share between us would be more than a fling. My career is . . . complicated. I wish things could be different. For the first time in my life, I wish things were different, but the reality is they’re not.” He brings my hand to his lips and kisses each of my knuckles. “As far as experience goes, you could never disappoint me. I know how to give your body what it needs to make you respond to me. I don’t want to watch you leave here in two days without knowing what it feels like to be inside of you.”