“Where are we going?”
Deacon lifted one shoulder. “You said you wanted to see my old haunts. I’m going to show you one of my favorites.”
“It feels a little like you’re taking me into the woods to dump my body.” I shivered a little as the evergreens blocked the sun.
“I thought you said you trusted me.” Deacon smirked. “Besides, babe, of all the things I want to do to your body, dumping it in the woods isn’t one of them. I promise.”
This time, my shiver was one of delightful anticipation.
“Usually, I’d drive my truck back here, but I think the T-bird can make it.” Deacon turned the wheel to avoid a hole in the road. The path twisted for a few more minutes before it ended at a break in the trees, opening to a beautiful crystal blue lake.
“Oh, my God, this is amazing.” I unbuckled my seat belt and rose onto my knees to see better. I glanced down at Deacon. “So this is where you used to come when you were a kid? Did you go fishing here?”
“Some,” he admitted, taking off his sunglasses and returning them to the case. “Before I could drive, when I was in junior high, a bunch of us would ride our bikes back here and fish as long as they were biting. Or we’d strip off all our clothes and jump in to cool off.”
My brow knitted together. “Are there gators in this lake?”
“Most definitely.” Deacon’s answer was offhand and unconcerned. “Just about any body of water in Florida is likely to have alligators. But we avoided them, and they were too lazy to be interested in us, as long as we didn’t bother them.”
“Hmmm.” I sat back down in my seat. “Did you keep coming back here after you could drive, too?”
“Sure.” He winked at me. “Only then, we didn’t come to fish. This was my favorite place to bring a girl in the summer, when school was out. If we were at a party and wanted to be alone . . . or if she was someone I met at the market.”
“And if you didn’t come to fish . . .” I tilted my head. “Under what pretense did you lure these unsuspecting young women out here to the woods?”
“Hey, there was no luring. I was always upfront and honest. And trust me, they weren’t at all unsuspecting. I’d say that I knew a perfect spot for swimming and for being alone. I never had anyone complain.”
“Because you showed them such a good time?” I teased.
“Always.”
“Did you bring me out for swimming? Because if you did, you’re doomed to be disappointed, buddy. Remember how I feel about snakes? That dislike extends to gators, too.” I shook my head. “Also, I know it makes me sound like a wuss, but I don’t like swimming where there are fish. They brush against my legs and freak me out.”
“You get a pass on being called a wuss because of your jerk cousin and the snake incident. I understand that would leave an emotional scar.” Deacon unlatched his seatbelt. “But it’s okay, because I didn’t bring you out here to swim. Even though I’d love to go skinny dipping with you.”
“You’ll have to find us a nice chlorinated pool, then.” I paused. “If you didn’t bring me here to swim or to fish, then I guess it must have been so we could be alone.”
“You’re a fast learner.” He slid one arm behind my shoulders. “That’s exactly why I did it.”
“And now that we’re alone, what are you going to do?”
“Hmmmm.” Deacon cupped the back of my head and angled me backward. “Maybe a little of . . . this.”
His lips came down to cover mine, probing and insistent. I opened to him, so ready for his touch, so eager for his kiss. Arching my back, I waited for his hand to wander down my body, dying for him to stroke my breasts and play with my nipples.
But he didn’t move beyond the kiss, and while I was enjoying the hell out of that, I was impatient for more. Since I’d never been a woman to simply sit back and wait for what I wanted, I decided that being bold was my best bet. Circling his body with my arms, I ran my hands down his back and slipped my fingers under the waistband of his shorts.
“Emma.” Deacon groaned my name. “Hold on a minute, woman.”
I tipped my head back to study him. “I’m sorry. Am I moving too fast for you? I thought usually, when a guy brings a girl out to his favorite make-out spot, it implies that there will be some making out. But maybe I misread your intent.”
“Not exactly.” He tucked a strand of hair behind my ear. “But I’m damned tired of kissing you until I’m about to explode and then having to say goodnight. I was hoping you were ready for . . . more.”
“Iamready. I am more than ready. I am so far past ready that I can’t even see it in my rearview mirror.” I patted his ass, keeping my hands safely on the outside of his pants. “That was why I was moving us along. Why did you stop me?”
“For a number of reasons.” He kissed my cheek and then trailed his lips down my throat until I hummed. “One, I don’t want to have sex with you in my car here. The Thunderbird is sexy, and she’s fast, too, but she’s not designed for what I have in mind.”
“I don’t know. I can work with what’s here.” I leaned around him. “If you crank this seat back, for instance, I’m sure I can straddle you.”
