She sighed, and it was the sweetest sound he’d ever heard. Her fingers curled into the front of his jacket. “I really am sorry I underestimated you.”
“It’s okay. I can see why you were worried. I fumbled my romantic attempt, and I’m sorry about last night, but honestly, I think we’re lucky the neighbors didn’t call the fire department, because we are nothing short of combustible. I’m sure there was smoke from the inferno that is Dash and Amber.”
She laughed. “That would have been even worse. I hope you know you don’t have to give me presents to get me to wait for you.”
“I was only kidding about that.” He cocked a grin. “We both know I’m way hotter than any cowboy.”
“Hey now. Don’t get all cocky on me, or I’ll have to prove you wrong.”
He tightened his hold on her. “Are you trying to make me crazy?”
“Maybe I’m hoping you’ll try to convince me otherwise with more kisses.”
“Oh yeah, my sweet wild thing.” As he lowered his lips to hers, he said, “You’re going to make me crazy all right.”
Chapter Seven
AFTER SEVERAL SCORCHING-hot kisses, they made their way to Amber’s house. She sent Reno to do his business and snagged the letter from beneath the windshield wiper on her car. Grinning like a Cheshire cat, she clutched it against her chest and sang, “You wrote me a letter,” as they headed inside. Man, he loved that.
Reno trotted in after them, and Dash took in the hardwood floors running through the cozy living room, which was as warm and inviting as Amber. An earth-toned couch and matching armchair sat across from a painted brick fireplace. Dried flowers in pretty vases were artfully placed around the room, and magazines and paperback novels littered the top of a sleek coffee table. Beyond the living room was a small dining room that led to an open kitchen with the same soft lines and simple elegance as the living room.
“Nice place,” he said as they took off their jackets, and holy hell. He couldn’t take his eyes off Amber in a flouncy short black floral dress that showed off her long legs and tied at her waist. The dress had bell sleeves, and ruffled socks peeked out of the top of her black cowgirl boots. It was the kind of devastatingly feminine outfit that many girls would turn their noses up at for being too country. “Damn, sweetheart. That dress and those boots…”
She smiled a little bashfully as she hung their jackets in a closet by the door. “Do you mind if I read the letter real quick?” She was already tearing open the envelope. “Make yourself comfortable.”
He’d stayed up half the night reading and rereading the letter, contemplating the intelligence of putting his feelings in writing. If Amber were anyone else, he’d worry that the letter might end up as front-page news in a rag magazine. But if she were anyone else, he never would have written it in the first place.
As she read, every word played out in his mind.
My sweet wild thing, I’m sorry about the alarm and all of the embarrassment of last night, but I’m not sorry about kissing you. I sure hope you’ve changed your mind about being just friends, because after last night, I know without a doubt that friends won’t be enough. I’ve been feeling incomplete and unsettled for a long time, but I’ve had a hard time figuring out exactly what was missing from my life. Now I know it was you. I’ve spent so much time in a world where everyone wants something from me, and nobody is who they claim to be, I wasn’t sure an incredible woman like you even existed. How did I get lucky enough to stumble into a barn and meet you? You are the realest, most honest and challenging woman I’ve ever met, and you have reminded me of the man I was a very long time ago. I hope you’ll stick around and see what else we can discover together. I’m heading to New York for the day, but I’ll be back tonight and would love to see you if you’re not otherwise occupied. D.
She lowered the letter, gazing at him with the dreamiest expression he’d ever seen. “Dash…?”
“Now, that’s the swoony look I was hoping to see.” He went to her, and she set the letter on the coffee table as he gathered her close.
She wound her arms around his neck, eyes full of wonder and growing darker by the second. “Did you mean all of that?”
“Every word. I know it’s fast, but I don’t want to play games—”
“I don’t either,” she said breathily, pulling his mouth down to hers.
He stopped short of kissing her, answering the question in her eyes as he took her necklace off and set it on the coffee table. Then his mouth caught hers in deep, passionate kisses. His heart beat furiously against his chest, and he felt hers hammering out its own frantic rhythm. One hand moved down her back, clutching her ass, and his other dove into her hair, angling her mouth beneath his, intensifying their kisses. He wanted to lift her into his arms and find her bedroom, but this was sweet, careful Amber, and he didn’t want to rush her. They stumbled to the couch, devouring each other like they may never get another chance. He leaned into the kiss, taking her down onto her back. Her body was soft and eager beneath him as they made out like teenagers home alone for the first time. She felt like his first special girl, and he realized that was exactly what she was.
His hand skimmed down her side to her bare thigh, and she made a pleading, moaning sound into their kisses. The salacious sound shot through him, and he rocked his hard length against her center, the friction sending fire through his veins. The couch was too small for a big guy like him, but he wasn’t about to complain. He cradled her beneath him, and in one swift move shifted them onto their sides, laughing into their kisses.
“Much better.” He palmed her ass. “Mm. Lace.”
He nipped at her lower lip, giving it a gentle tug. Heat flared in her eyes, and he crushed his mouth to hers. The feel of her soft skin against his hand drew a groan from his lungs. She arched against his arousal, and he clutched her ass, holding her there, grinding slowly. He fought the desire to tear down her panties, knowing she needed control. Instead, he pushed his hand beneath her panties, holding her bare ass. Her skin was hot, her noises needy. When she whispered, “More,” urgently, he was so fucking glad, “Thank God,” slipped out, and they both laughed.
He moved his hand between them, teasing her through her damp panties, earning whimpers, her breathing hitching with every stroke. He tried to take things slow in case she changed her mind, but he was burning for more and slid his hand beneath the edge of her panties. She kissed him harder, rocking her hips forward. Fuck yeah. They were on the same page, and he didn’t hesitate again. His fingers slid through her wetness, earning a long, surrendering sound that pounded through him. He intensified their kisses as he teased her, making her wetter, and shifted her onto her back beside him as he dipped his fingers inside her. She gasped, her sex clenching around his fingers. He stilled, but he didn’t withdraw. “Do you want me to stop?”
“No.” Trust brimmed in her eyes. “It’s just been a long time.”
His heart swelled with the honor of that trust. Swamped with new, raw emotions, he kissed her slow and deep, loving her with his fingers. But as happened with them last night, he got lost in her, kissing her deeper, more possessively. He quickened his fingers, earning whimpers and moans as he stroked over the hidden spot inside her. His thumb moved to the apex of her sex, expertly teasing the sensitive bundle of nerves that had her grabbing his arm for leverage as she met each stroke with a rock of her hips. Her kisses turned desperate. “Come for me, wild thing,” he said more demandingly than he meant to, and reclaimed her mouth ravenously as she rode his fingers. Her thighs flexed, fingernails digging into his skin through his shirt. Her head fell back, and his name flew from her lungs like a plea. “Dash! Oh God…” She writhed and bucked, her body quivering around his fingers, a stream of indiscernible sounds filling the room.