“First, you need to be as close as possible.” His arm looped around her shoulder and urged her head onto his chest. No resistance at all.
“Maybe even closer.” Lifting her legs, he draped them across his lap, so she was leaning on him and only her butt rested on the bench.
“This is canoodling?”
“Well, this is the start of canoodling.”
“I like it so far.” Burrowing into his chest, she sighed like a contented kitten.
After shifting the blanket on her shoulders to protect her from the approaching chill, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers.
“Is that part of canoodling, too?” she asked once he’d eased back.
“One of the best parts. But you have to do lots of it for it to actually be called canoodling.”
Her smiled grew into an impish grin. “Then, by all means, proceed.”
God, she was adorable. This. This mischievous side of her was what he’d missed for so long. They’d had such fun simply hanging out with each other, teasing and touching.
“As you wish, m’lady.”
Her lips called out to him and he listened, pressed his to hers and absorbed all the emotion she was sending out. The tiny sounds, whimpers, and sighs emanating from her drove him crazy. As their mouths mated and danced, he couldn’t help but run his fingers through her hair, along her neck and over her shoulders. The feel of her skin, her softness under his hands, had his heart beating like a disco rhythm.
“Oh, God, pixie.”
“Mmm, yes.” It wasn’t a question, simply her response. It was the one he’d wanted to hear.
Shyly, she stroked her fingers down the side of his neck to the opening of his button-down shirt. If he recalled correctly—and his memory of this was pretty danged good—she had enjoyed running her hand over his chest. Slipping two buttons from their holes, he repositioned her hand on his heated skin.
“You’ve filled out a bit in the time I’ve been gone.” Her voice was breathy and shaking.
“Are you saying I’ve gotten fat?” Pretty sure that wasn’t what she was saying, but he wanted to hear it from her.
“Hardly.” She laughed and continued with her exploration. “You’ve filled out nicely. There’s a bit more hair for me to play with.”
“Play away. I love having you touch me.” As her fingers twirled his chest hair around, he decided to do some touching of his own. Nothing that would get him too heated. His parents were right inside.
Shifting slightly, he concentrated on her tiny heart-shaped birthmark, licking and sucking until she dropped her head to the side. His lips drifted lower, and he slid the strap of her shirt over until it fell off her shoulder.
“Did you seriously not have a bra on all day?” he groaned, viewing the top of her rounded breast as it peeked out at him.
Half-mast eyes gazed at him. “This tank top has a shelf bra. It’s not like I need much more.”
“It’s a good thing I didn’t realize this earlier. I wouldn’t have been able to walk.”
Skimming his hand down her front, he kept it on top of the fabric. No way he could touch her that way and stay in control.
“Are you sure canoodling involves this?” She didn’t attempt to stop her journey inside his shirt.
“Oh, definitely. No doubt about it.” His own hands continued to knead her through the cotton.
“I can’t imagine your dad suggesting we do this.”
“Why not?” Another kiss to her neck, her cheek, a nibble on her ear. “We are legally married after all.”
“I still need to go home.”
“Wish you didn’t.”
