“I get to see you smile when you laugh.” Her pulse quickened as her heart poured out. “I love your smile, and I love you.”
He closed his eyes, exhaling like he’d been holding it in all day, and his forehead fell forward, as if her confession had released the tension from his body. He opened his eyes, gazing deeply into hers as he said, “How can three little words change my entire world?”
Chapter Sixteen
DASH AWOKE WITH a start, a bead of sweat on his brow, his chest heaving. He’d been dreaming about yesterday, stuck in an endless cycle starting with the jolt of fear that had hit him when Amber’s vacant stare had registered and she’d begun falling. But in the dream, the woman wasn’t there to catch her, and he was running as fast as he could, but he wasn’t fast enough and she’d hit the bookshelves and gone down—over and over again.
He wiped the sweat from his brow. The bedroom was empty, the dusk of dawn creeping in through the curtains. He jumped to his feet in his boxer briefs. “Amber?” The bathroom light was off. He headed out to the living room, his heart hammering. If she’d had another seizure, surely Reno would have barked. “Babe?”
He found her in the kitchen, leaning over a half-eaten cinnamon bun, licking icing off her fingers, wearing his sweatshirt and those ruffled socks he loved. Her color had returned, and her eyes glittered again, all greens and browns and flecks of golds, and her sweet smile hit him square in the center of his chest as relief swept through him.
Reno lifted his head from where he lay at her feet.
“Sorry. I was starved.”
He slid an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. “No worries. Starved is a good sign, right?”
“Yes. I feel much better, just sore. Sorry I was so out of it last night.”
“Sweetheart, don’t ever apologize for that. I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
“I can’t believe how much food Patty Ann sent over. I want to hear all about the signing again. I’m sorry about missing out on dinner with Hawk and Shea. Have you talked to them? I need to apologize to them. Did you eat last night? This is delicious. Here, try it.” She held up the cinnamon bun.
He knew her nervous ramblings when he heard them, but he didn’t need to ask her reasons, because he felt it, too. He was leaving soon, and even though he’d see her again in a little less than two weeks to meet his family and go to the fundraiser, he wanted to blow off the tour and never leave her side. Eyeing the cinnamon bun, he said, “That alone is not nearly sweet enough.”
He set the bun on the plate, scooped icing off with his finger, and painted her lower lip with it, taking her in a deep, sensual kiss. She was sweet heaven and gracious earth, white-hot desire and soul-deep love, and he was so fucking glad she was feeling better. He needed her more than he’d ever needed anything. Needed to fill up on her taste, revel in the feel of her, drown in the sweetness that was Amber Montgomery. Their lips parted on a sigh, and her eyes fluttered open, full of want and need, dredging up all the emotions he’d been trying to chain down.
He buried his hands in her hair, his lips against hers. “I want to stay.”
“You can’t do that to me,” she said softly, almost pleadingly.
He gritted his teeth. “God, I’m going to miss you. It’s only twelve days until New York, but man, I’m going to hate it.”
“I know. Oh no. Dash.”
“What is it?” He pulled back at the pain in her voice.
“I can’t drive to New York. I have to be seizure-free for six months to drive again.”
“Okay. Can you fly? Will you fly?”
She nodded, looking uneasy. “Yes. I don’t have a choice, and I’m going to hate being away from you.”
“I’m sorry about having to fly. But I’ll book you in first class so you have more room for Reno. Hell, I’ll charter a private jet.”
“You’re so silly. I can fly coach.”
“Not after what you told me about the last time you flew. You’re flying first class.” He kissed her hard. “And I’m getting you an on-call driver for the next six months.”
“No, you are not.”
“You’re right. You only need a driver while I’m on my book tour. After that I’m not leaving your side. We’ll travel together for my speaking gigs and press events. They’re usually only a day or two.” He cocked a grin. “And we’re not done talking about Maui.”
“You’re crazy.” She wound her arms around him, laughing softly. “I don’t need special treatment. All I need is you.”
“You’ve got me for as long as you’ll have me.” His lips came down softly over hers, and she arched against him, making him hard. A growl slipped out as he drew back. “Are you too sore to…?”
“No. Just be gentle. I’m a little nervous about losing control.”
She pulled his mouth toward hers, but he stopped short of kissing her. “We don’t have to do anything.”
Her eyes darkened wickedly. “We’d better do everything.”
They kissed tenderly at first, but careful quickly turned to devouring. His thoughts began to fracture, and he tried to pull back, to make sure she was okay, but she clung to him, kissing him harder, telling him she was fine in her own sexy way. He lifted her onto the counter, wedging himself between her legs, and drew his sweatshirt over her head. His eyes raked down her gorgeous body to her skimpy lace panties. She wore some form of lace every day—socks, bra, panties, shirts. He’d never had such a visceral reaction to fabric before, but every time he saw it on her, fire and desire coalesced, giving her the power to take him to his knees. “You’re so feminine, you kill me.”
He reclaimed her mouth, slow and deep, his hands traveling over her hips, pressing against her ass, holding her tight against his erection. She moaned into their kisses, rocking against him. He tore his mouth away, lowering it to her breast, teasing and sucking, earning one sinful sound after another.
“Oh…yes,” she said urgently. She pushed her hands into his hair, holding him there, mewling and arching. “Feels so good.”
She yanked him up by his hair, bringing his mouth to hers, thrusting her tongue greedily into his mouth. He fucking loved her mouth. He needed more, needed to lay her out for his taking. He lifted her into his arms without breaking their kisses and carried her to the bedroom, the scratch and patter of Reno’s paws on the hardwood trailing after them. He lowered her to the bed and stripped off her panties, visually devouring her as he tore off his briefs. His hand circled his cock, giving it a few tight tugs, loving the desire burning in her eyes, the wetness glistening between her legs as she watched him.
She sat up on the edge of the bed and reached for him. “Let me love you.”
He strode forward, his cock swelling in his hand as she licked her lips. She held his gaze as her delicate fingers circled his shaft. He was mesmerized by the love in her eyes as she loved him with her mouth, slow and so damn perfect, he struggled to keep from coming. Her eyes fluttered closed, and he tangled his fingers in her hair, thrusting slow and deep. Her eyes opened, holding him captive as she put her hands over his, moving them faster, giving him the green light for control. The trust and love that took was overwhelming. She loved him right up to the edge of madness, and he gritted out, “Christ, baby.”