They gathered their things, and the group made their way up to the parking lot. After many hugs, thank-yous, and an I’m happy for you, man, from Grant, Brant and Cait headed to his truck.
“I had so much fun tonight,” Cait said as Brant put their things in the back. She put Scrappy in the truck. “Thank you for putting together such a great night.”
“I think you’re the one who’s owed a thank-you.” There were people all around them in the busy parking lot, but Cait was looking at him with desire and something new and different, so he didn’t hesitate to gather her in his arms. “I assume this is okay now?”
“Yeah.” She draped her arms around him, her soft hands touching the back of his neck. “Ever since I told you and my sisters about my past, things keep changing for the better. I feel like I’m seeing the world clearly for the first time. Even how I see you has changed. That veil of fear is lifting. It’s strange and a little scary, which sounds backward. But it made me realize that you’ve said and done some of the sweetest things for me, and I was too afraid to embrace them. I don’t know what’s around the corner, or when this evolution I’m going through will stop, but I like it, and I like going through it with you. I’m realizing that the great place I thought I was in was only a stepping-stone. When we’re together, I feel different, happier. And when we were close last night . . .” She shook her head, looking at him wondrously. “I felt fully alive for the first time in my life.”
“God, babe. I did, too.” He brushed his lips over hers, wrapping his head around all that she’d said. “I’m crazy about you.” He thought he saw a hint of trepidation in her eyes, but it was so much less than before, he let the truth come out in hopes of easing it. “I’m with you, Cait, no matter what it takes. Two steps forward, one step back.” He kissed her jaw. “One step forward, twelve steps back.” He pressed his lips against hers again. “Or a race to the finish line.” He gazed deeply into her eyes, the longing in them palpable. “I’m in this for the long haul.”
“Brant,” she whispered.
She pressed her fingers against his neck and went up on her toes, meeting him in a smoldering kiss. He tangled his fingers in her hair as he deepened the kiss, and she leaned forward, pressing her soft body against him. She felt like heaven, and like last night, she met his efforts with fervor. He wrapped one arm around her, keeping their bodies flush as they devoured each other, hips grinding, teeth gnashing. She made the sexiest noises, moaning and whimpering like she couldn’t get enough of him, and he definitely couldn’t get enough of her. Her knees buckled. He fucking loved that. He lowered her to the seat without breaking their kisses and heard Scrappy scamper to the far side of the bench, bringing reality slamming home.
They were still in the parking lot.
Fuck.
She was clawing at his back, feasting on his mouth, and grinding against him. He selfishly allowed himself one more mind-numbing minute of ecstasy before tearing his mouth away and gritting out, “Sorry, baby.”
She stared at him, lips glistening enticingly, skin flushed, eyes flaming with desire. She grabbed his shirt, tugging him closer, and whispered, “Take me home.”
Fuck yes.
“Scoot over to the middle. I want you next to me.” He closed her door, mulling over home as he went around the truck and settled into the driver’s seat. All his blood must have gone south, because his brain was too hazy to figure out if she meant his home or hers. He started up the truck. “Your place or mine?”
“Mine. No, yours. Wait.” She put her hand on his leg, smiling at him.
Damn she was sexy. What was she thinking with that eager smile? He hoped to hell it was how much she wanted him. “No pressure, Caity. Take your time.”
“Your place. I like it there.”
Done.
They stumbled into his cottage in a tangle of greedy kisses and urgent gropes, slowing only to close the door and unhook Scrappy’s leash. Then their mouths came together, and they stripped off their clothes between passionate kisses, leaving a trail to the bedroom. His eyes raced down her sleek curves as he tore back his blankets. She was waxed bare, tattooed down to her pubic bone. “Jesus, Caity, you’re the most beautiful work of art to walk this earth.”
Sparks glimmered in her eyes as he reclaimed her mouth, their naked bodies colliding as they tumbled onto the bed. His entire being flooded with desire and emotions too deep to name as he moved over her, and they devoured each other. Her skin was soft and hot, her kisses ravenous, and he ached to be buried deep inside her. But his heart spoke louder than his desire, and he forced himself to slow their kisses. He cradled her beautiful face between his hands, brushing his thumbs over her cheeks, and her eyes fluttered open. The tenderness gazing back at him took him by surprise and told him she had no hesitations. That sent his emotions soaring, but then he remembered what she’d said about sex.
Over and done. No chance for emotions.
“I don’t want ‘over and done,’ Caity. I want to obliterate all the heartache that came before us.”
Her eyes dampened, but her lips curved into a sweet smile. “That’s a tall order.”
It pained him knowing she was using humor to deflect her true feelings, but that was okay. What she felt toward him was inescapable, written in her mossy-green eyes and in her every kiss and hungry touch. But he wanted her to be free from all of her tethers and vowed to love her so thoroughly, one day her need to hide those feelings would go away, too.
“Trust me, Caity,” he whispered. “I’ve got you.”
Cait gazed into Brant’s honest eyes, and her heart felt full. Coming together with a man she felt so much for was as terrifying as it was exhilarating. But Brant put all the men of her past to shame, emotionally and physically. If ever there was a man she trusted to live up to his promises, it was him. She’d already taken several leaps of faith, but tonight was the biggest one yet. She hadn’t let a man take control in bed for years, but she wanted to bathe in Brant’s adoration, to let him show her how he felt in the ways he wanted. As he lowered his lips to hers, taking her in a deep, sensual kiss, she clung to that exhilaration, to that trust, with everything she had, hoping to keep old fears at bay. She wanted to memorize everything about these moments. The feel of him lying on top of her, of his muscles flexing, his breath becoming hers. But as always, their kisses consumed her, fracturing her thoughts until she couldn’t think at all.
“I want to learn everything about you.” He kissed a path down her neck, every press of his lips sending a pulse of heat to her core. “What turns you on.” He sank his teeth into her skin, sucking perfectly. She bowed off the bed as pleasure gripped her.
“That,” she said breathlessly. “Definitely that.”
He kissed the tender spot he’d sucked and said, “I want to know your dreams, Caity.” He kissed her shoulder and dragged his tongue along her skin, sending tingles down her limbs. He traced her tattoos with his fingers and tongue, kissing, sucking, and caressing her breasts, rib cage, and every inch of her stomach and hips, rousing passions she never knew existed. Desire raged through her with every graze of his teeth as he explored her body, murmuring sweet sentiments about how he felt, how beautiful she was, and how much he wanted to pleasure her. His words were as powerful as his touch. His hands were rough but tender, his kisses tantalizing persuasions, and the feel of his hard length rubbing against her was excruciatingly alluring. She felt him savoring every spot he touched, lingering, memorizing, claiming it as his own, and there was no fear in sight. There was only want and need flowing through her like a glorious river.