“Oh really?” Flora asked, walking up to him slowly. The constant heat that surrounded them built. Biting the inside of her lower lip, she dragged her slightly hardened nipples down his chest. The lack of distance between them would have anyone questioning whether they should be working together or not. She tried to remember he’d spent so much time with her because she’d hired him. Because he had to. As much as it crushed her, the truth was a reality she would have to accept. For now she didn’t have to, right? He seemed willing.
She wondered if she should step away. What if he felt forced this whole time? Tears welled fast behind her eyes as she made a move to step back. How unprofessional, how horrible she felt.
She wanted to have forever with him and here she was taking advantage of him? A harsh, dry swallow sliced down her throat.
“Dylan, I shouldn’t have —” She moved to step away from him.
Growling, he wrapped his arms around her body, smashing them together. No air could get between them, just the way she liked it. His glowing eyes bore into her, light brown and captive. How badly she wanted to stand on her toes and kiss him. She waited for him to make the next move.
“Flora, I want to kiss you. I’m going to kiss you,” he mumbled, waiting for a sign of refusal before leaning down and devouring her lips. Brushing up higher against his body, she met his lips with just as much force.
Finally, he’d kissed her. He kissed her.Hekissedher.No backing away, no waiting. Now she knew just how his lips felt and now she wasn’t sure if she’d be able to stop. Desperate to get impossibly closer, she ran her hands up and down his chest, deliciously trapped between his strong arms.
Flora’s head leaned to the side as his lips traced down the side of her face and along her jaw. He was kissing her, hard and…loving.
“You don’t feel forced to be with me in any sort of way, right?”
“No, you have no idea how much I want you,” Dylan said between kisses all over her face now. Their heat began drifting away as the steamy moment turned sweet.
“Dylan,” she laughed, as the attack of kisses continued. “I think it's time to get those snacks.”
“I’m having mine right now.”
“You deserve your cuddle time. Let’s go to the gas station,” Flora said, not making a move to break his hold.
“I guess, if I must.” He rolled his eyes sarcastically and stole one final kiss, setting her feet back on the floor.
“You still need that jacket though,” he said, grabbing his own hoodie over her head. “These nips are for my eyes only.”
“Oh my God!” Flora shouted out a laugh, enjoying the intense smell of Dylan surrounding her.
“What are you getting, kitty cat?”
“Chips of course, and maybe a few kisses. Are those for sale?”
“Those are free. Just for you.”
* * *
The crinkleof the bags packed with snacks, which Dylan refused to let her pay for, dangled between them as they walked back to the hotel. The crisp air wrapped around Flora’s ankles as she picked up her pace to keep up with Dylan’s long strides. Damn, she’d felt out of shape before but the chilling air and the cramping in her calves put her at a disadvantage.
“Oh my Lord, are we almost there?” Flora whined, stopping to bend over and stretch her aching legs. She guessed the use of a gym membership would’ve prevented this embarrassing moment of weakness.
“Come here,” Dylan said shortly, grabbing her arm and singling her over his back. Her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist as she took the bag from his hands. He held her up by her thighs, giving her the most comfortable piggyback ride she’d ever gotten. Being a bigger set woman, hips and thighs and all, she didn’t have the luxury of feeling small; well, before she met Dylan, that was. While his muscles didn’t bulge out like a bodybuilder's he sure could carry the weight of one. Cold wind caressed her face as she rested her head on his shoulder, smiling the rest of the way back to the hotel.
“Dylan,” she said as he carried her on his back through the hotel lobby and up to their room.
“Yes.”
“What movie do you want to watch?” Flora asked for the third time since they got back from the gas station. The mild argument had been going on for the last ten minutes. She was trying to give him the chance to watch something he wanted. She’d forced him to watch endless hours of reality TV drama and it was his turn to pick something. The only problem was that he also felt that it was her turn to pick something since he planned their last date.
“No, Flora, what movie doyouwant to watch?”
“Oh my goodness, Dylan, you pick. I’m sure you don’t want to watch my movies.”
“Since when do you care? Flora, I like what you pick out, now pick something,” he said, laughing as he plopped down on the floor in front of the small couch. Blankets piled around them, and the same pillows that once tried to separate them on the bed now lay behind them.
He was right though, Flora didn’t care what others thought, especially not when it came to her TV anyway. She watched her trashy shows proudly, but she wanted him to enjoy their time, too. As much as she did yesterday during their drawing date.
