The better news was that she was reaching behind her neck and untying the halter part of her dress.
All without breaking their kiss.
He knew the instant the fabric fell away, and his hands immediately skimmed down over her jaw, her throat, her collarbone, until he was able to cup her breasts. The hum of pure pleasure was out before he could stop it. Her skin was so warm and soft, and Hunter couldn’t wait to explore the rest of her.
As if of one mind, they slowly maneuvered until they were both on the bed–stretched out, facing one another, and still kissing. And as with every other time his mouth was on hers, he lost all track of time. They could have been kissing for minutes or hours; all he knew was he couldn’t get enough.
But when one of Violet’s legs crept up and anchored over his hip and she moved impossibly closer, he began to feel his self-control slipping. Moving to rain kisses along her cheek before simply being bold and going directly to her breasts, Hunter smiled when he heard Violet breathlessly say, “Finally.”
Good to know she’s enjoying this as much as I am…
With his lips thoroughly enjoying kissing and licking and tasting more of her, Hunter let one hand wander to slide her dress down over her hips with Violet’s help. He allowed himself one brief moment to lift his head and look at her as she lay there in nothing more than a pair of soft pink panties.
“I think we need to work on getting some of your clothes off,” she teased, easing up onto her elbows to look at him.
“You think so?” he asked, even as he sat up and whipped his shirt up over his head, tossing it to the floor. Kicking his shoes off, he went to lie down again when Violet stopped him.
“Lose the pants, Jones.”
Laughing softly, he obliged.
This time when he went to resume his spot nestled between her legs so he could continue to kiss her breasts, she didn’t stop him. But once they were skin to skin, it was like hitting the launch button. The feel of her underneath him, of her soft hands smoothing up and down his back before going up and raking through his hair, and hearing her throaty, sexy as hell moans when he kissed or touched her someplace she liked made Hunter realize there was time for slow exploration.
Later.
Kissing his way back up to her lips, he forced himself to raise his head. “In my mind, I envisioned us having dinner…” He placed a light kiss on her cheek. “And then having dessert…” Another kiss. “And then slowly making our way in here.” And another.
“But…” she prompted, nipping at his earlobe as he continued peppering her face with tiny kisses.
“But…I underestimated the effect of having you naked beneath me.”
“I’m not naked,” she said huskily, biting his ear teasingly. “Yet.”
Groaning, Hunter rested his forehead against hers. “Next time,” he said, his voice low and gruff as one hand wandered down to her hip to toy with the edge of her panties. “Next time, I swear to go slow, but right now…”
“Hunter?”
“Hmm?”
“You had me at next time.” She grinned up at him before raking her hands into his hair and bringing his lips back to hers.
And damn if he wasn’t already looking forward to it.
Seven
It was almost noon on Saturday and Violet still felt like she needed to tiptoe back into Katie’s house. She knew she would look ridiculous, and yet she couldn’t help herself.
Then she screamed when Katie yanked open the front door. “Oh, my God! I have been waiting for you! I thought you’d be home sooner!” Taking Violet by the hand, she pulled her into the house.
Panic immediately gripped her. Spinning, she grasped her friend’s shoulders. “It’s okay. I’m here. Are you having contractions? Are you timing them?” She frantically looked around. “Where’s your bag? We said we were going to keep an overnight bag by the door!” With a mild cry of despair, she ran to Katie’s room and looked around. “Where did you put it?”
“Vi?” Katie called out.
“It’s okay! It’s okay…,” she said breathlessly as she ran back into the living room. “Did Rose already come and get Kira? Do we need to drop her off? Oh, my God…I parked behind you in the driveway! Gah! Why didn’t you call me earlier?”
Katie sat down on the couch.
“That’s good. You rest right there while I find that damn bag.” She power-walked to the kitchen. “Did you call your doctor? Is she meeting us there?”
“Vi…” Katie sang out.
“Kira! Are you here?” Violet called out, and sure enough, the sassy child came skipping into the kitchen.
“Hi, Aunt Vi! Mommy said we’re gonna bake cookies today, and you were gonna tell a story! But it was a special story you were going to tell her when I took a nap. Is it story time now?” Then she bit her lip. “I’m not sleepy yet.”
What the…?
Walking over to Katie–who looked ready to burst out laughing–she realized no one was in labor. There was no need to find the packed bag.
“I’m supposed to tell you a story?” she mocked.
And then her friend did laugh.
Hard.
Hysterically.
“Can I watch Frozen and have peanut butter and jelly?” Kira asked, completely unphased by her mother’s laughter.
“Of course you can, baby girl,” Katie said, coming to her feet. As she walked past Violet, she murmured, “But once the movie starts, I want all the details about last night.”
Yeah, Violet knew they were going to do this, she just didn’t think it was going to cause this much drama.
Sheesh.
Twenty minutes later, she and Katie were back on the couch–each with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
“That was like an Olympic event,” she murmured.
“Really? Sex with Hunter was that good?”
“Yes. I mean…no! No, I was referring to wrangling your daughter up and getting her situated with a sandwich and a movie. Good Lord…the demands! Her blanket, her dolls, her special chair, her special cup…how do you do it?”
“Well…I’ve had lots of practice and know if she’s watching Frozen, she needs all of her Anna and Elsa paraphernalia.”
“Yeah, well…maybe don’t buy the new baby so much…paraphernalia. You’ll need a bigger house for sure if you do.”
“Need I remind you how you purchased most of the items Kira requested?”
“Fine, I enjoy spoiling her. She’s my godchild. So sue me.”
“You know what I think?”
Turning her head, Violet replied, “No, what?”
“I think you’re stalling. I want to hear all about your date with Hunter and if it was everything you thought it was going to be!” she stated excitedly. “I mean…I don’t even remember what it’s like to have a romantic night and when Brian gets home, a romantic night will be the last thing on either of our minds because we’ll have a new baby and a four-year-old running around. So please…for the love of it…tell me about your date!”
It wasn’t like they hadn’t done this dozens of times before, but it was the first time they would be talking about Hunter.