“I might be able to.” Can’t make itthateasy on him. “What did you have in mind?”
“I wanted to take you riding. Now that Milky’s all healed up, I thought it’d be fun to go out for a picnic off one of the trails.”
That’s not what I expect at all. He’s asked me out a few times, but it’s always been for dinner or coffee. Things that could be brushed off as outings with a friend. This, though, is unquestionably a date.
“I—yeah. I’d like that a lot.”
There’s no point pretending like I don’t want to go out with him. I already invited him into my home. I was just waiting for him to show me he wants to put effort into this, too.
I was waiting for this.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” he asks, his voice just as soft as the grin on his face.
“You’re just sweet.”I’m in way over my head. “It’s good to see this side of you.”
He hesitates before answering, glancing away like he’s ashamed. A soft blush spreads over the bridge of his nose, and it’s more charming than I’d like to admit.
“It’s good to be seen. Especially by you.”
It’s a line. It has to be. The tentative hope in those blue eyes has to be an act. I can’t have found what I’ve always been looking for in Wayne Riggs of all people.
I cross the kitchen and stand in front of him, my whole body buzzing with anxiety and excitement. He straightens, the tenderness in his eyes morphing into hesitant interest. His fingers twitch at his sides like he wants to touch me, and I reach out to twine our fingers together. Everything feels like it ebbs and flows with the beat of my heart, and feeling Wayne’s pulse against my own makes me lightheaded.
“Can I kiss you?” I ask.
My voice is hardly a whisper, only audible because of how close we’re standing. Panic threatens to take hold of me, old memories of ridicule and mockery floating just below the surface. Giving him such an easy opportunity to reject me is terrifying, but no harsh laughter follows my question. Wayne’s hands stay in mine, and the smile that spreads over his face looks genuine.
The kiss he presses to my lips is gentle, almost innocent enough to be chaste.
That’s not what I want. Not tonight. I want to be wanted.
I step forward, pressing my body against his. He only manages to hold onto his self control for a moment before his hands drop mine and fly to my hips, tugging me closer. Our kiss goes from soft to frantic in a half-second.
Wayne flips me against the counter, pinning me there as he nips at my lips and drinks down the soft noises of pleasure he pulls from my mouth. No one else has kissed me the way Wayne does. Like he can’t think of anything else while his mouth is on mine.
I groan in disappointment even as I end the kiss.
“I know I said I was going to make dinner, but what do you say to … eating later?” I ask, heart hammering like a racehorse.
His gaze flits between my eyes and my mouth, and he licks his lips before grinning wickedly.
“I'd happily starve if I could get my mouth on you again.”
I giggle at the seriousness on his face, pulling him back in for another furious, hungry kiss. He tastes like wine and impatience, and I chase the flavor to every corner of his mouth. His hands don't stay still for a second, grabbing at my hips and hoisting me up with seemingly no effort. I wrap my legs around his waist and let him carry me to my bedroom as we kiss.
I didn'texactlyplan for this to happen, but I did make my bed. And shave. And I’m wearing a lacy little bra and panty set.
Okay, maybe I planned for this.
I really can't be blamed, not with the way Wayne’s hands grasp every inch of me like he wants to memorize the feeling. He lays me back on the bed, leaning over me as he continues our slow, mind-blowing kisses.
His hair is soft between my fingers, and I tangle a fist in it and tug. Not hard, just enough to get my own impatience across.
He's not the only one who's been waiting.
“You want this?” he asks, his lips a hairsbreadth from mine.
“I wantyou.”
