words to sound like she was accusing him, so she asked, “Do you run as part of your training?”
They were halfway across the field, headed toward the woods. “Yeah, we get used to training in our turnout gear and breathing equipment—about one hundred fifteen pounds if you’re a roofman like me—then add in the weight of the hoses. Hell, I could carry you for miles, Grace.”
She frowned. Was he being nice? She knew she was heavy. “I’m not a lightweight anymore.”
He grinned down at her. “I think you’re gorgeous.”
His strength awed her. The need to wrap around him like a vine nearly overwhelmed her. After their phone conversation, anticipation had kept her up most of the night. Nestled in his arms was right where she wanted to be, but she needed to be clear headed where this man was concerned. He was important and she didn’t want to screw things up.
“I can walk.”
He paused and looked down at her. “I like carrying you.”
He shifted his handhold and slid a hand beneath her breast, grazing it. His touch sent her spiraling into another dimension where only the two of them existed and being held in his arms was the only thing that mattered. “I can’t think when you’re touching me.”
“You’re killing me, Grace.” He set her on her feet and took her by the hand.
“How much time do we have before everyone gets here for the game?”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you. The game’s tomorrow. I’m here just visiting today. Dan said he and Meg will be stopping by after they run errands.” He tugged on her hand. “Now’s our chance for a little alone time. Your father mentioned one of your favorite spots—that looks like it.”
She smiled. “My favorite meadow. It has the sweetest grass. I spent a lot of time there as a kid rolling in it and picking blades for my fairy houses.”
“That’s what he said. Let’s go.”
Pinpricks of awareness sparked between them as they walked. When they reached the meadow, he stopped to pull her against him. But instead of the tongue-tangling kiss she expected, he placed soft, tentative kisses along the arch of her brow and down the curve of her cheek. “You taste like lavender.” He paused to nudge her chin up and began to nibble the underside of it. “And rain.” He pressed his lips where he nibbled, leaving a trail of kisses from her neck to her collarbone. “You’re delicious.”
His quiet words flipped a switch inside of her, allowing her to finally give in to the overwhelming need to let him lead wherever he was going. Reveling in his every caress, she was rewarded when his lips slid along her collarbone and pressed against the hollow of her throat.
She breathed a sigh of relief and tilted her head back, giving him silent permission to do more, hoping he’d take the hint to continue down toward her breasts. She suddenly ached for more of his touch. When he pulled back again, she nearly wept with need. “You’re killing me.”
“Baby, you have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
“Tell me then.” Grace didn’t mean for her voice to sound so breathy.
“I want to make love to you until I’m blind, crippled, and crazy.”
She couldn’t control the giggle at his words.
“Trust me,” he said, tipping her head back so their eyes were locked on one another. “Once I get started, there will be no stopping.”
Grace wondered if it had been his intention all along to drive her to the edge of distraction and leave her wanting. “This might sound like a line, but it’s not. I’ve never felt like this before.”
***
“Ah, Grace.” He tucked his head beneath her ear and inhaled the fragrance that was already imprinted on his heart. “I feel the same way.”
Her soft sigh had him settling her against his heart, ignoring the demands of his body, showing her his ability to cherish and not just take. He’d been in relationships before that were all heat and no heart. He didn’t want that with Grace.
But would she
They were halfway across the field, headed toward the woods. “Yeah, we get used to training in our turnout gear and breathing equipment—about one hundred fifteen pounds if you’re a roofman like me—then add in the weight of the hoses. Hell, I could carry you for miles, Grace.”
She frowned. Was he being nice? She knew she was heavy. “I’m not a lightweight anymore.”
He grinned down at her. “I think you’re gorgeous.”
His strength awed her. The need to wrap around him like a vine nearly overwhelmed her. After their phone conversation, anticipation had kept her up most of the night. Nestled in his arms was right where she wanted to be, but she needed to be clear headed where this man was concerned. He was important and she didn’t want to screw things up.
“I can walk.”
He paused and looked down at her. “I like carrying you.”
He shifted his handhold and slid a hand beneath her breast, grazing it. His touch sent her spiraling into another dimension where only the two of them existed and being held in his arms was the only thing that mattered. “I can’t think when you’re touching me.”
“You’re killing me, Grace.” He set her on her feet and took her by the hand.
“How much time do we have before everyone gets here for the game?”
“Oh, sorry. I forgot to tell you. The game’s tomorrow. I’m here just visiting today. Dan said he and Meg will be stopping by after they run errands.” He tugged on her hand. “Now’s our chance for a little alone time. Your father mentioned one of your favorite spots—that looks like it.”
She smiled. “My favorite meadow. It has the sweetest grass. I spent a lot of time there as a kid rolling in it and picking blades for my fairy houses.”
“That’s what he said. Let’s go.”
Pinpricks of awareness sparked between them as they walked. When they reached the meadow, he stopped to pull her against him. But instead of the tongue-tangling kiss she expected, he placed soft, tentative kisses along the arch of her brow and down the curve of her cheek. “You taste like lavender.” He paused to nudge her chin up and began to nibble the underside of it. “And rain.” He pressed his lips where he nibbled, leaving a trail of kisses from her neck to her collarbone. “You’re delicious.”
His quiet words flipped a switch inside of her, allowing her to finally give in to the overwhelming need to let him lead wherever he was going. Reveling in his every caress, she was rewarded when his lips slid along her collarbone and pressed against the hollow of her throat.
She breathed a sigh of relief and tilted her head back, giving him silent permission to do more, hoping he’d take the hint to continue down toward her breasts. She suddenly ached for more of his touch. When he pulled back again, she nearly wept with need. “You’re killing me.”
“Baby, you have no idea what you’re doing to me.”
“Tell me then.” Grace didn’t mean for her voice to sound so breathy.
“I want to make love to you until I’m blind, crippled, and crazy.”
She couldn’t control the giggle at his words.
“Trust me,” he said, tipping her head back so their eyes were locked on one another. “Once I get started, there will be no stopping.”
Grace wondered if it had been his intention all along to drive her to the edge of distraction and leave her wanting. “This might sound like a line, but it’s not. I’ve never felt like this before.”
***
“Ah, Grace.” He tucked his head beneath her ear and inhaled the fragrance that was already imprinted on his heart. “I feel the same way.”
Her soft sigh had him settling her against his heart, ignoring the demands of his body, showing her his ability to cherish and not just take. He’d been in relationships before that were all heat and no heart. He didn’t want that with Grace.
But would she
Similar Books
