“Hey, if that’s what it takes to keep them on a healthy path.” He kissed the tip of her nose and whispered, “Jealous?”
“After what we just did, I hope I don’t have a reason to be jealous.”
The humor in his eyes morphed to warmer, deeper emotions. “Sweetheart, you haven’t had a reason to be jealous since I first saw you across the barn.” His mouth came coaxingly down over hers in a penetrating kiss that had her writhing for more. He read her body perfectly, his hands and mouth traveling south, paying homage to every inch of her for a luxuriously long time, leaving her too spent and sated to move.
As his handsome face came back into focus, she whispered, “Am I still breathing?”
“I don’t know. I’d better do mouth-to-mouth, just in case.”
He kissed her until she was dizzy with desire, and he went hard against her, awakening her body anew. He grabbed a condom from the nightstand drawer and pushed to his feet, naked and aroused, leaving her confused.
She stood, reaching for his hand. “Where are you going? I thought we were going to…”
“Oh, we are.” He tossed her over his shoulder.
She shrieked. “What are you doing?”
“Taking my fair maiden where she likes it most.”
He carried her to the bathroom and turned on the shower, putting the condom on the shelf beside the shampoo. When he lowered her to her feet, he reclaimed her mouth with a fierceness that had her trying to climb him like a tree. They stepped into the shower in a tangle of kisses and gropes, but he slowed them down to an intensely passionate devouring. His hands moved roughly over her wet flesh, dragging needful moans from both of them. He kissed her so thoroughly, her knees weakened, but he was there to catch her, tightening one arm around her waist and backing her up against the wall, their bodies sliding and grinding against each other.
“I don’t want to ever stop kissing you,” he said between hard, possessive kisses.
He kissed her slower and sweeter than ever before, drawing out her need. She was trembling with desire as he broke away to sheathe his length. Then his mouth was on hers, kissing her harder, more urgently. He lifted her into his arms, lowering her onto his shaft as slowly as he’d kissed her, magnifying every sensation. Neither said a word, but their emotions were as loud as the pounding of their hearts. Their mouths came together desperate and hungry, and they found their rhythm. The feel of his thickness moving inside her achingly deep sent pleasure radiating outward from her core, shooting all the way to the tips of her fingers and the very soles of her feet. She clung to his shoulders, his arms, wherever she could find purchase, quickening their pace. He was right there with her, eating at her mouth, clutching her tightly as their bodies pounded out a frantic beat, the tease of an orgasm swelling and pulsing until she could taste it. She dug her fingernails into his skin, as it crashed over her, her body clenching, hips thrusting in sweet agony.
She cried out his name, and he sealed his teeth over the curve of her neck, sending her soaring to the peak, her body burning, aching, throbbing as he followed her over the edge in his own magnificent release. His muscles bulged and flexed. She felt his pleasure as her own, filling every iota of her being as they rode the waves of their passion. Their mouths came together, breathing air into each other’s lungs—and though she’d never been in love, she swore they were breathing love into their hearts—as they floated down from their high.
Her back met the tiled wall ever so gently, and his head tipped back, his eyes at half-mast. “First you suck me in with your sweetness.” He nipped at her lower lip. “Then you hook me with your secret seductress side.” He gazed deeply into her eyes with a tortured expression. “How am I ever going to leave you at the end of the week?”
As he came in for another kiss, she wondered how she’d ever let him go.
Chapter Thirteen
DASH TOSSED THE footballs into the bin as he and Sin put away the equipment after the last clinic late Thursday afternoon. His mind was miles away, on a certain brunette that had him tied in knots over leaving in a few days. He wanted to bring her with him, which he knew was ridiculous. It was a book tour, not a vacation, and she had a business to run. But hell if he didn’t want her with him every second. He’d finally called Hawk and Damon and clued them in about her earlier that morning, and he was sure he’d sounded like a lovesick fool the way he’d rambled on.
Sin locked the equipment room, and they headed for the exit. “How’s that whole slowing-down thing working out for you?”
It had been a fantastic week of football, getting to know Amber’s family and falling into each other’s arms at the end of every day.
“I’m loving it. I’ve got a great girl, I get to hang out with one of my best buddies, and I fucking love this town. I’ve never met such fun, quirky people. You’re going to check in on my ladies while I’m gone, right? Make sure they don’t get injured. Nana and Hellie try to push themselves. I swear they think they’re thirty years old.”
“I like how you call them your ladies. You know I’ll keep an eye on them, but it’s you they want to hear from. The whole town is talking about the big man and his motivational skills, which I think is code for how much they love watching you work out.”
“Hey, man. Whatever it takes to keep ’em healthy, right? Don’t worry. I’ve got them covered. I put together exercise schedules with pictures of certain exercises and daily goals for them to check off. That should keep them motivated. I just don’t want them overdoing it. This morning at breakfast I showed them how to video chat on their phones, and we made a schedule for video check-ins while I’m gone.”
“No wonder they love you. I grabbed a late breakfast at the Stardust this morning, and Winona offered me a Pennington Playmaker.” Sin shook his head. “I’ve lived here for a few years now. Where’s my namesake meal?”
The Pennington Playmaker featured hot cross buns, eggs, bacon, and sausage. Winona Hanson ran the Stardust Café and had presented the new menu option to Dash that morning when he’d had breakfast with Nana and Hellie.
“Winona’s a trip. I’ll put in a good word for you. The Sinful Sunday Brunch has a nice ring to it.”
“I wonder how Amber will feel about every woman in town having their hands on your hot cross buns.”
They both laughed.
“When I texted her about it this morning, she said Nana and Hellie probably put Winona up to it. That they were secretly finding ways to keep the weight on so I’d continue exercising with them.”
“She might be onto something.” Sin pushed through the doors, and they headed for the parking lot. “You said Nana’s been plying you with sweets.”
“It’s not just Nana. All the grannies come over to her house when I’m working on the barn. They park themselves in the grass, offering me treats, and complimenting our workmanship. But I’m onto them. They’re just trying to get the dirt on me and Amber.”
Sin stopped by his truck, giving Dash a serious look. “Everyone’s curious about that.”
“Even you? I told you I’m into Amber.”
“I know you are, and you seem a thousand times happier than I’ve ever seen you. I meant everyone else. I’m more worried about your inability to slow down. You came here to chill and immediately got roped into leading an exercise group, daily breakfasts with your granny fans, and working on a barn. Not to mention the work you’re doing with me and your relationship with Amber. You’ve had no downtime, and you’re about to leave for a grueling month on the road.”