“Good morning, beautiful.” He cupped one of her breasts, teased its nipple.
“Good morning.” She turned in his arms, drew his head down, and kissed him.
Last night’s sex against the wall had been fast and frantic, but there was no hurry now. Hands slid over soft skin, exploring, caressing, the two of them lingering over the tiniest pleasures, each lost in the wonder of the other.
A catch of breath. A whimper. A quick inhale.
Sasha came first, climax washing through her as pure and golden as sunlight, her heart bursting with love at the sight of bliss on Darius’ face as orgasm claimed him, too.
Her man. Her beautiful, wonderful man.
Afterward, they held each other, then showered and made breakfast together, the sky outside blue and cloudless.
As they finished their coffee, he slipped his fingers through hers. “What do you want to do today?”
“I want to climb. I want to spend the afternoon at the rock gym. It’s been two months, and I can’t wait to get vertical.”
He grinned. “I thought you might say that.”
A half an hour later, they were on their way toward Scarlet, Sasha’s bag in the back, Darius with his duffel packed for the weekend. Sasha sent a message to Megs, telling her she planned to climb today, then the conversation turned to the Town Council’s job offer and what it would be like if Darius moved to Scarlet.
“What would you do with your condo?”
“Keep it. Use it as a vacation rental. We can stay in Denver when we want to get away. It’s a lot closer to the airport, so you could stay there before and after you travel and skip the drive up the canyon.”
“Oh, I like that idea. Have you thought about where you’re going to live? I have lots of room at my place.”
“I don’t think we should live together—not yet. Who am I kidding? We’ll probably spend most nights together anyway, but I don’t want to rush this. You’re too damned important to me, Sasha. I want to do this right. I want us to have time to get to know one another. I haven’t lived with a woman since…”
He didn’t have to finish.
Sasha took his free hand. “I understand.”
“If you can still stand the sight of me in six months, then…”
“And if we break up?” Sasha didn’t want to think about this, but it was important. “Would you regret leaving the DPD and moving up there?”
He changed lanes and took the Boulder exit, leaving I-25 behind. “I’ve already thought about that.”
“Scarlet is small. We would run into each other a lot—at Food Mart, Knockers, the climbing gym. People might take sides.”
“I’ve already considered that, too.”
“And?”
Darius squeezed her hand. “I would rather risk it all and fail than miss out on this chance with you.”
Sasha’s heart soared.
They arrivedat the climbing gym to find the parking lot full to overflowing, cars parked along the street in both directions.
Darius chuckled. “I guess word got out that you were coming today.”
Megs spotted them and motioned to Darius.
He rolled down his window.
“Bowen and Jake saved you a parking space up front.”
