Chapter 15 #2
Whatever Casper saw in Laryn’s eyes had him wrapping his arm around her waist, pulling her against his side, and leaning down to whisper in her ear as they walked quickly toward the exit.
Neither said goodbye, but Amanda wasn’t offended.
If she had a man whispering in her ear, probably telling her all the things he wanted to do to her when they got home, she wouldn’t remember to say bye to anyone else either.
“Hey,” Amanda said. “Sorry if we took too long.”
“You didn’t. You sure you’re good?”
“Of course. I’m fine. Laryn and I were just getting to know each other better.”
One of Nash’s eyebrows quirked upward, showing his skepticism.
“Seriously. It’s good. I like her a lot. She’s pretty no-nonsense, which is awesome.”
“She didn’t scare you away? Having our first date with all my friends didn’t make you change your mind about going out with me?”
Taking a chance, Amanda stepped toward Nash, right into his personal space. His arms immediately went around her, holding her against him. “No way. You’re stuck with me, Nash. For as long as you want me.”
“That’s good, because I’m gonna want you for a very long time.”
Amanda could feel his erection against her belly, and all the desire she’d been attempting to control swept over her in a rush. Her nipples hardened, goose bumps broke out on her arms, and she leaned into him a little more. They stared at each other for a long moment before his head lowered.
He kissed her. Right there in Anchor Point. It was as if they were the only two people on the planet. Arcs of electricity shot from her lips straight down between her legs. Amanda shifted in his arms, wanting more. Needing—
“Get a room!” someone yelled, then laughed.
Amanda jerked.
“Easy,” Nash soothed. Then turned his head and yelled, “Fuck off!”
Amanda couldn’t help but giggle. He sounded so put out. She wasn’t exactly thrilled to have one of the best kisses of her life interrupted, but she also wasn’t ready to entertain the entire bar with their make-out session either.
“Come on, let’s get you out of here,” Nash said. He turned her so she was against his side and headed for the door. When they got outside it was pitch dark, and Amanda didn’t see Casper or Laryn around. How long had they been kissing anyway?
Nash led her to his car and opened the door for her. Once she was inside and settled, he shut it and went around to the other side. They were on their way in moments. Licking her lips, Amanda could still taste Nash on them. Her arousal had dimmed a bit, but it quickly ramped right back up.
“You want to come in and check on Rain with me when we get back to my place?”
“Sure,” he said without hesitation.
Amanda decided she was a grown-ass adult and she shouldn’t beat around the bush. She just needed to say what she wanted. “And since you didn’t get to the store today, and I did, how about instead of me sending something home with you for breakfast, you just stay and eat with me in the morning?”
She held her breath as she waited for his response.
“Be clear about what you’re asking, Mandy,” Nash said seriously. “I don’t want there to be any misunderstandings between us.”
“I want you,” she blurted, with more confidence than she was feeling.
“I missed you last night. The feel of you sleeping against my back. But it’s more than that.
I want all of you, Nash. I want to feel your bare skin against mine.
I want to feel you so deep inside that I can’t tell where you stop and I start. I want everything.”
The look he gave her was so intense, so full of desire, it was all Amanda could do not to jump him right there in the car.
But he didn’t say anything. Simply turned his attention back to the road…which was kind of freaking her out.
Until she noticed his white knuckles, the way a muscle in his jaw was ticking, and the erection in his pants.
“Nash?” she said quietly. “Too much too soon?”
“No,” he replied, the word deep and grumbly. “I’m just trying really hard not to blow my load in my pants right now.”
She smiled, feeling relief course through her veins. “So you’ll stay?”
“Oh, I’m staying,” he said firmly. “And I’m going to give you everything. You won’t regret this, I promise.”
“Of course I won’t,” Amanda told him.
The drive back to her place didn’t take nearly as long as it did to get to the bar. At least it felt that way. Neither said much, simply enjoyed the anticipation of what was to come. Literally.
Nash parked and said, “I’ll come around.” Then in seconds, he was opening her door. He took her hand and held it tightly as he practically ran toward her apartment building.
“We have to take Rain outside so he can pee,” she said, more to remind herself so she wouldn’t immediately jump Nash the second they got inside her apartment.
“I know. I’ll do it. It’s dark out. Not safe.”
Nash’s sentences were short and succinct, as if he was hanging on to his control by a thread. It was empowering to shake this man enough that he could barely get full sentences out. It felt amazing.
When she opened her apartment door, Rain was once again sitting in the small foyer waiting for her to return.
“Hey, boy,” she said happily.
His tail wagged furiously behind him, but it wasn’t until she crouched and said, “Come ’ere,” that he moved. Rain bounced forward, almost knocking Amanda over with his exuberance.
“He seems relieved that I came back,” Amanda said, as she did her best to not get licked to death. The dog with her now was a completely different animal than the terrified one they’d first encountered in the jungle. It was amazing how a little love could have such a profound impact.
Rain turned from her to greet Nash. Not quite as enthusiastically, but his tail was wagging just as fast. “You need to go potty? Come on, let’s go,” Nash said, reaching for the leash Amanda had hung on a peg next to the door.
It was obvious he was in a hurry to get the dog’s needs seen to, but then again, Amanda was just as eager to have him return as well.
“You want a snack or something?” she asked before he left.
“I want a snack all right,” he said. “You. I’ll be back soon.”
Amanda shivered at the promise in his voice.
As soon as the door shut behind them, she turned and hurried to her bedroom.
This wasn’t how she saw the night ending when she’d agreed to go out with Nash, but she wasn’t sorry.
Not in the least. She just hoped the sex would live up to both their expectations.