His smile bloomed. “Not a moment too soon for me.” He shifted and motioned for her to come to him. Sylvie crawled across the blanket until he pulled her into his lap and folded her into his arms. Alex leaned back against the trunk of the big tree they were picnicking under.
First, he stroked her face, taking her features in while he touched her. His thumb glided over her cheekbone as his fingers danced along the shell of her ear. He brushed her hair back from her forehead where it stubbornly wanted to lie, tangling in her lashes. His other hand spread across her back, holding her right where he wanted her—and right where she wanted to be.
Alex tilted his head and brushed his nose against hers, a surprisingly tender move. Then his lips met hers just as softly. A whisper of a kiss, as if it were their first. He moved his hand up into her hair and brought her head closer as he kissed her harder, parting her lips with his tongue. She let him in, loving the way his tongue stroked hers and how he kept such a tight hold on her. She’d never been held this way before, as if she were a treasure he didn’t want to lose. Sylvie played with his hair, running her fingers over the short tips and enjoying his shivers.
Sylvie felt his erection growing, pressing against her, which in turn made her soak her panties. There wasn’t enough privacy in the world for what she wanted to do to him right now. She made a little sound while he kissed her that she hoped conveyed the fullness of her desire, her need to be with him someplace where they could—
“Had enough hiking today, baby?” he murmured against her lips, interrupting her thoughts with exactly what she wanted to hear.
“I have.” Kiss. “I think we should hike on out of here, drop the pups off, and then head back to my place.” Another kiss. “Great view of the sunset upstairs,” she teased.
“Oh that’s right, you did mention the sunsets earlier,” he said, playing along. He pretended to think it over. “Though you’re right, we’ll have to drop off the pups first, and my house is closer to the kennels.”
“But how are the sunsets from your place?”
The skin around his eyes crinkled as mischievous light danced in them. “Probably not as good as yours, so we’ll have to find something else to do. I can think of a few things I’d like to show you there.”
It was her turn to shiver. He looked so serious all of a sudden and she wondered if his mood would turn on a dime once they were in bed.
Time to go find out.
CHAPTERSIX
Down boyAlex thought, and not at one of the dogs. He was trying to keep his cock under control as they left the park and headed for the Mustang. Sitting beside Sylvie for an hour without being able to do what he wanted was going to be agony.
But with what he had in mind, it would be worth the wait.
He marveled at how comfortable he felt around Sylvie, as if they’d known each other longer than the few weeks they’d spent in class. If they’d met anywhere else, he would have asked her out immediately. A little twinge of unease coiled in his belly when he thought of class. He was her instructor, and even though there was no written rule that they couldn’t see each other, he hoped that no one assumed favoritism.
Best to keep this quiet, just in case. He’d talk it over with Sylvie and get her thoughts. Then he remembered his conversation with Kyle. The Pup already suspected, but was discreet enough not to come right out and say it. If a relationship with Sylvie were a problem, he would have been blunt and shut it down, right?
Still, best not to take chances. He didn’t know what was happening at her end in the department. Frank seemed like a decent enough guy that he wouldn’t call her out, but who knew?
They got to the Mustang and packed up. Sylvie changed back into her espadrilles. Before She could start the car, she was in his arms for another kiss.
“I haven’t felt like this since I was a teenager,” she said, her voice breathless.
Alex chuckled and brushed her hair back. “Me too. I think it’s the car. Alison’s a bad influence.”
Sylvie cracked up. “Yeah, that’s it. Blame my hot car.”
“No, I’m going to blame hot you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Did that line work back in high school?”
“What do you think?”
Her gaze roamed over his body. “I think you didn’t need any lines back in high school.”
Instead of answering, he kissed her again. She didn’t need to know he’d been a quiet and geeky teenager who never dreamed he’d have someone as gorgeous, smart, and funny as Sylvie Madden in his arms.
She broke off the kiss. “If we don’t stop, we’re never getting out of these mountains.”
He couldn’t help it. He claimed her lips one more time before letting her start the car. They flew down the mountain turns like the Mustang had wings—more like Pegasus than a Mustang, I suppose, he thought to himself.
“If law enforcement doesn’t work out for you, there’s always stunt driving,” he joked.
“I am in complete control of my vehicle,” Sylvie replied in a clipped tone, but one without any real bite.
