Redemption(18)

Standing here, with Dan’s arms wrapped securely around me, with my back to his front, I thought this might be safe enough to venture into. These were people I might be able to trust. Before I got too deep into the recesses of my mind, Dan drew me out poking me in the side.

“Our turn, Penny.”

I love the sound of my nickname whispered in my ear. It was private, just between us, and so intimate. The tone of his voice changed when he talked so only I could hear him, and it warmed me in all the right spots.

He patted my behind for me to lean forward, and I watched him stalk around the table looking for a shot. He had skills that were lightyears ahead of everyone else in our group. With a competitive spirit, Dan was playing to win. I leaned my chin on the end of my stick as I waited for him to set up. Just before he hit the cue ball, Annie burst out laughing, loudly.

“Lissa, you have blue chalk all over your neck and face.” That infectious laughter kept me from being self-conscious.

The more I swiped at my neck, the louder she howled. Dan missed his shot with the distraction, but when he turned to face me, his smile was filled with amusement.

“Stop wiping, Liss. Every time you move your hand you’re making it worse. You look like a Smurf.”

I joined in her laughter. There was no way for me to tell where the chalk was without a mirror, which I didn’t have on hand. I was afraid to brave the bathroom but thought I had no choice until Dan walked over to the bar, got a cup of water and a handful of napkins. He stalked back toward me and gave Annie a grimace who was bent over in gales of alcohol-induced hysterics. I straightened up with his somber approach and tried to conceal my incessant giggles. At that point, I was more humored by Annie than knowing I’d smeared blue chalk all over my pale skin.

Dan set the glass on the table beside me and dipped a couple of the napkins in. With one hand, he took my chin with his fingers, and the other wiped away the color. It didn’t escape me that Annie instantly stopped laughing in order to focus on Dan and watched the way he cared for me in rapt awe. I could see Brett from my peripheral vision and appreciated the gentle smile he gave his friend. Dan wasn’t paying attention to either of them, but I’d caught their reaction. I’d seen the shock, and then the happiness that replaced it, as they realized, I was more than a fling.



*

We left Brett and Annie several hours later.

“Come home with me.” Dan didn’t pose a question, he made a statement.

We had yet to spend the night together. Today had been the first time we’d had sex, and he wanted to take it further. I knew by agreeing, our relationship was going from casual dating to commitment in twenty-four hours. Sex, meeting the best friends, spending the night—it was all a recipe for a serious relationship. My mind struggled to acquiesce, but my heart wanted to go. Nothing had ever felt so right, not even with Matt, but I wondered if my heart were leading me down a primrose path I wouldn’t recover from. I hadn’t been honest with Dan. He didn’t know the skeletons in my closet, but he hadn’t revealed any to me either. The desire to throw caution to the wind was strong.

“I didn’t bring any clothes with me.”

“You don’t need any.” His heated gaze melted my remaining resistance.

He didn’t wait for my response. He turned his truck toward his house and took my hand while he drove. I stared out the window with a goofy grin plastered to my face. The lights were a blur as was the scenery. I was lost in a lust-filled haze until we pulled into his driveway. No sooner had he turned the ignition off than he appeared at my door to help me down.

I followed him into the house, through the foyer, past the living room, and down the hall to the bedroom. He was a man on a mission and didn’t bother to even turn on a light. With my hand in his, he led me to his room. The streetlight flowing through the windows provided enough illumination to see each other, but the blinds blocked out lurking eyes. He dropped my hand to take the neck of his shirt from behind, the way all men do, to drag it over his head. I watched in slow motion as the fabric unveiled the sculpted body beneath. His abs were impeccable, but the muscles on his sides, under his arms, were tiny etches in stone. Perfectly sculpted. He tossed his shirt aside and quickly ridded himself of his pants, while steeping out of his shoes when the jeans reached his ankles.

Standing before him, I remained fully clothed, and Dan stood in all his glory completely nude. He had an aversion to boxers although I had no idea what it was. It was sexy, and I didn’t care that he didn’t do underwear. In fact, it turned me on that he didn’t. He moved quickly, without faltering, stepping close enough to begin to undress me. But I halted him with my hand against his chest. He’d allowed me to watch, and I’d gladly do the same. He cocked his head to the side and smiled when I crossed my arms in front of my torso, taking the bottom of my t-shirt and shimmying it up past my torso and over my head. It quickly joined his on the floor. I sat on the bed, unlaced my boots, and slipped them off before lying back to unbutton my jeans. I wiggled out of the tight fabric and lifted my hips to get them over my butt before throwing them on the ground. All that remained were my bra and thong which I intended to remove quickly. He allowed me to take off the bra but stopped the removal of the lace that barely covered my most intimate spot.

He kneeled between my legs and spread my knees apart. “Lie back, Lissa.” The words were laced with need and hedonistic undertones.