Light up the Night (Firehouse Three #2)(23)

“Sure does,” Drake said, leaning over and snagging the top piece. He popped it in his mouth with an approving noise.

“Care to use chopsticks?” Everly said drily, offering him a pair.

“Thanks,” he grinned, taking them and another piece of sashimi in one smooth move.

“You’re terrible,” she said with no venom, smiling as she pulled her chopsticks apart.

He agreed, but used his chopsticks to select his next victim, a spicy tuna roll.

They ate in companionable conversation, sipping wine as the sun set over the lake, red-orange fingers of light stretching toward them over the calm waters. When they were full, and the empty takeout containers were stacked neatly in the paper bag that had brought them, Drake reached over and stroked Everly’s cheek.

“I hope you’re having a good time,” he said, looking straight into her beautiful eyes.

“I am,” she said, her voice a little breathless as she stared straight back at him. “I’ve never been on a picnic like this before.”

“Neither have I,” he admitted as he leaned closer. Her tongue darted out to wet her pink lips. He liked that. Her skin was clear and beautiful, with no makeup at all. Her natural beauty lacked artifice, and as gorgeous as she was now, he couldn’t wait to see how she dolled herself up for their next date.

Because there would be one. He couldn’t face the idea of not seeing her again.

Closing the gap between them, he pressed his lips to hers.

She tasted of the sweet wine she’d been sipping, clean, crisp, and beautiful. His fingers threaded through the hair at the nape of her neck, the curls that had fallen from her ponytail kissed the sweet skin of her throat. She responded eagerly, as if she wanted the contact as badly as he did.

Stretched out on the blanket, with the end of twilight surrounding them, Drake let his hands wander the planes of her body. Her back was warm and smooth, her hips soft, and as he squeezed the slight curve of her ass, a sudden boom above them startled them apart.

“Look,” Everly said, snuggling against his chest.

Fireworks sparkled above the lake. As Drake held Everly close, and together they watched gunpowder and metallic sparkles light up the night, he was so grateful to be here. In this moment. With this woman.

The whole night stretched out between them, and as Drake kissed her deeply again, he couldn’t help but think that the fireworks between them would rival the ones they’d just seen for intensity.

He wanted her. And she wanted him.

It would be the first time, but certainly not the last.





8.

Everly wasn’t sure if the booming in her ears was the sound of fireworks or the beating of her own heart.

The sensation was encompassing her senses, the taste, smell, and feel of Drake surrounding her like a sensual fog. His mouth possessed her, his hands explored her, and she could only hang on for the ride.

Arching her back, she pressed her body closer to him as he kissed her deeply. His tongue forayed into her mouth, swirling against her teeth and tongue, leaving no place unexplored.

He pressed her against the softness of the blanket beneath her, the starry night sky a backdrop she could never have imagined for this moment.

“Everly,” he whispered against her throat, pressing sweet kisses down the column. She swallowed, fisting her hands in the blanket beneath her. “You are so beautiful.”

“No, I’m not,” she protested breathlessly.

“Don’t argue with me when I know I’m right.” The words brushed across her collarbone as he unbuttoned her polo. Just that extra inch of space made her feel bared to his gaze, and she shivered slightly as his sharp white teeth nipped at her tender skin.

“I wish I could see all of you,” he said, his hand running down her hip, to her thigh, hitching her leg high up against him. She gasped when their position showed her exactly how much he wanted her.

Damn.

His erection was pressed against the throbbing heat of her lower belly.

Everly shook—she couldn’t help it. The thought of Drake stripping her bare, exploring her body as thoroughly as he had her mouth, was doing delicious, terrible things to her. Moisture was gathering between her thighs as she thought of that delicious hardness pressing into her body, entering her, stretching her with a delicious burning ache.

Her nipples were as hard as diamonds inside her bra, and her mouth was watering as she stared into his eyes.

“Everly,” he said again, his head descending to kiss her once again. She had just barely opened her mouth to him when nearby laughter startled them from the haze of passion surrounding them.

Drake lifted his head and Everly followed his gaze as she sat upright. A group of teenagers was walking down the path, and their formerly secluded spot was no longer the haven it had been.

“It’s getting late,” Everly said as she began gathering the glasses to cover her embarrassment. Shit. Had she really just been caught necking like a teenager out by the lake? “We should get going before they close the park.”

“I wish I could say no,” Drake said as he reluctantly helped her gather their belongings.

The group of teenagers stood on the shoreline not far away, skipping stones across the lake as Drake and Everly began making their way back toward the truck. With every step Everly took, her body burned, reminding her of just how much she wanted Drake.