“Oh. Right.” She sipped her coffee.
“Wecouldgo somewhere. If you wanted. So long as you don’t sneak away again,” he teased.
She looked around. “Hard to do that if I’m in your truck.” Wren turned her head and locked onto his gaze. “So, did you bring me out here to scold me?” She batted her eyes.
“Scold? No.”
“Spank?” And there went her lips fighting a laugh that was so contagious he almost—almost—joined her.
“Not enough room for that in here. And too much of an audience if I did.” He tilted his head toward the outdoor seating at the side of the coffee shop. “Though, you are fond of public nudity, so maybe you like an audience?” He set his coffee cup on the dashboard. “You’d prefer putting on a public show?”
“What gave it away? Wearing nothing but a sheet? The short-shorts? The pornographic kiss on your front porch where the neighbors could see? Honestly, I thought I was being subtle.”
Now he was grinning as widely as she, despite feeling the tiniest doubt that clutched at his chest.
Flaked out.
Did he have her all wrong? He thought she was playing a game, teasing him, stringing him along in the best of ways. But maybe not.
“What if I kissed you right here?” he tested. “How would that make you feel?”
Wren turned her full body in her seat until she was facing him. “Well,” she drawled. “Will it be a repeat of the porch?”
“Oh no. Much more pornographic, as you put it.” He stretched out his arm as an invitation. She slid across the bench, closing the gap between them. All he had to do was pull her over on top of him until she straddled his lap. He reached out and took her hands in his hand. always testing her reactions, looking for the slightest hesitation.
Wren giggled as her cheeks flamed. She dropped her chin then stared out the dashboard window. “I’d really hate to be arrested in front of my favorite coffee shop.”
Does that mean back off?
But instead of scooting back, she turned and studied his face. “But, it might be worth it.”
Wrong again. Damn, she knows just how to keep me on my toes.
Elias chuckled as he ran one hand up her arm and tangled his fingers in her hair. He gently guided her head forward until their lips were a breath apart. His heart decided somewhere along the way to turn into a jackhammer. He brushed his lips against hers softly, balancing his need to claim them—to claim her—and letting her control the situation.
A totally new experience for him.
Wren’s fingers brushed his cheek on their way to the nape of his neck. She hesitated just long enough to make him think she’d changed her mind. Then she kissed him.
This kiss was far more controlled than the one they’d shared on the front porch but that didn’t make it any less hot. Wren opened to him eagerly and he explored her sweet mouth as his fingers tangled in her hair. He was in serious danger of forgetting where he was and getting them both arrested for indecent exposure.
Elias ended the kiss to ask if she wanted to go somewhere private. All he could think about was getting Wren naked again. Instead, what came out of his mouth was, “Wren, I gottabe honest here. I’m getting mixed signals from you. Was it something I said or did?” He rubbed his chin, listening to the rasping sound it made. “Or, maybe it was the dogs?”
Wren looked surprised. “No, not at all. They’re adorable.”
“Then, am I pushing things too fast? We could stay here, or just go back inside and talk if that would be better.”
Wren took a deep breath. “The truth is, I’ve been trying to figure out myself why I left without telling you.” She grabbed his hand. “It’s not your dogs. It’s not you. I like you. A lot. Maybe I like you too much, too soon.” She let go of his hand as she looked down and away. “Sorry. I sound needy and that probably scares you off.”
Does it?It might have, coming from anyone but Wren. But Elias didn’t feel the need to run, or to joke in order to lighten the mood, or change the topic completely. Those were all things he’d done in the past with other women. Wren made him feel completely different.
“You know, normally it might make me think twice. But not this time.” He shook his head in wonder at how he felt. “I don’t bring women to my house, especially not on the first date. You’re the exception.”
“And I don’t go home with guys on the first date. Except for you.” Then she shook her head. “But at the end of the day, we’re just having fun here, right?” she asked lightly. “A good time?”
There she was, giving mixed signals again.
Elias should have been overjoyed that Wren wasn’t taking things too seriously. He never did and that kept things light and fun. The problem was, Elias wasn’t so sure if all he wanted was a good time.
