Love, Tussles, and Takedowns (Cactus Creek #3)(46)

He stalked over to her, his voice low and simmering. “Do you know what happens when you plan elaborate, twistedly romantic tricks on a man who’s had a nearly two-month long hard-on for you?”

They’d gone over this. Not technically, no.

But she could fantasize.

Her breathing splintered when it became apparent that her fantasies paled in comparison to the man approaching her. “For the record, I’m not here because you rendered me homeless and escapeless for the night. And I’m definitely not here because my wimp of a cousin goaded me here.”

“No?”

“No. I’m here because I realized today that you’re a fire in my blood that’s not going to go away. You warm me on the coldest nights and flat-out make me burn when I least expect it. You make me smile when I wouldn’t normally, and make me crave the next smile right after. Because I know whatever you’ll do to inspire it will be the next shot of kerosene you pump into my veins.”

Oxygen. She needed oxygen.

“Honey, you make me feel things I’m still not entirely sure I’m worthy to feel. But with you, I want to fight to be worthy of that happily ever after. For you and with you. My whole life, I’ve trained myself on how to survive. But it wasn’t until I met you that I learned how to truly live. The way I feel when I’m with you…I can’t lose that. That, I’d never survive.”

Just then his eyes cut over to the pillow and blanket she’d placed on the couch earlier.

Exactly one hour earlier.

Surprise and something akin to adoration hit his features. “You weren’t trying to seduce me to take your virginity with that little three-act play of yours tonight?”

This time it was her turn to be surprised. Or try shocked. “I didn’t think that was an option.” Her heart sped up to dizzying proportions. “Are you saying that you’re taking me to ‘home base’? Finally?”

The last outburst had her blushing.

But no less triumphant.

She was sure she was lit up like a dang Christmas tree right now.

“Do you want me to be the man to take you to home plate, sweetheart?” he asked seriously. “I want it to be perfect for you.”

“Hudson, anything with you and the word ‘home’ in it sounds better than perfect to me.”



*



DAMMIT. EVEN OUTSIDE the ring she was still sparring with him. Pushing him. How the hell was he supposed to go slow after that quiet, heart-piercing comment? When all he wanted was to claim her as his own, and become the fire in her blood the way she was for him?

Looks like it was back to small talk.

While the woman took off all her clothes.

“What the hell did you do to my jeep?”

She paused, clad only in her underwear now and gave him a sheepish grin. “My friend Sienna, my bike mechanic, just tinkered with it a tiny bit. She has specific instructions to undo everything first thing tomorrow morning.”

“You’re certifiable.” He shook his head with a chuckle.

“Says the man who has been subjecting himself to a perpetual hard-on for the past few weeks.”

“I was trying to be a decent guy.”

“You were succeeding in being a putz.”

Okay, forget small talk. He picked her up and carried her across the apartment and followed her down onto the bed. “To be clear,” he kissed his way up her body. “I know you deserve things that I’m still not sure I can give you, but I promise you, I’ll—”

“Hudson, stop. You don’t have to promise me anything. Just be with me. That’s all. The future will bring what it’ll bring.”

He captured her logical arguments with a kiss…which she returned with a hungry intensity that damn near had him sliding into her right then and there.

Slow.

“I mean it, Lia. No more talk of a shelf life. No more expiration date for us.” He pulled back to make sure she was hearing him—the roaming of her hands a good indication she wasn’t even having the same conversation with him at the moment. “I called my boss on my stomp over here and told him I’m not taking the Canada gig. It’s too far and I already know I won’t be able to stand being away from you for that long. California is far enough as it is.”

“Hudson?”

Jesus. The way she said his name. “Yeah, sweetheart?”

“I love the romantic declaration, I do. And tomorrow morning, I’ll be swooning over it, I promise you. But if you don’t put on that condom you’ve been crushing in your hand for the past five minutes, there’s a very good chance I’ll flip you over and take matters into my own hand.”

“Christ, Lia.”

She’d taken him into hand alright.

“I’m trying to go slow. It’s your first time.”

“That’s it. Time’s up.”

With a leg sweep that was frightening close to some very vital-for-the-night’s-festivities-body-parts, and a sexy little roll, she managed to flip their positions and land herself atop his lap.

Where she was suddenly looking very nervous.

He slipped on the condom quickly, knowing his restrain was at nil, and pulled her down for a kiss.

When he felt her nervousness burn into hunger again, he gently adjusted her body over his, positioning her so she could take him at whatever pace was comfortable for her.