19. Caution and Wind
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Brooke
Caution and Wind
I f someone had told her last month that her first crush would have her pressed against her laundry closet door while she moaned his name, Brooke would have laughed. But here she was, ten minutes after getting Max to bed, and Dalton’s mouth was trailing kisses along her neck as she tried to remember why this could be wrong when it felt so right.
“I’ve been thinking about your mouth ever since you let me kiss you in my truck.” He nipped at her ear, sending another wave of shivers over her entire body.
“That’s odd, because I could swear you apologized for kissing me.”
She was rewarded with a growl against her throat, and his big hands framed her face as he pulled away enough to look her in the eyes.
“I meant I was sorry we were interrupted, and I was sorry that was the first time I kissed you, because I’ve been missing out until now.”
“Oh, you should try to be more clear next time” was all she got to say before his mouth was on hers again. His velvety tongue pushed along hers, tasting her. Then he was hiking her up to straddle his hips as he pressed her against the door. The coolness of the wood in contrast to his warm, hard body was delicious.
One of his hands slid between them, and his thumb moved to glide over the thin fabric between her legs—the only thing standing between her throbbing need and his touch. Back and forth, his thumb ran over the damp material, coaxing her body to arch closer. They could both feel how wet she was for him.
“We can’t have sex in here,” she breathed heavily.
“No, I wasn’t expecting this.”
His blue eyes had turned a dark blue with need for her.
“I’m not sure what I was expecting, but definitely not in my laundry room when Max is home.”
His mouth spread in a cocky smile. “I understand, but before you rule me out, let’s just test something.”
Then he slowly set her down, letting her back slide along the door until her feet hit the floor. But then he sank all the way to his knees. His hands started at her knees and slowly pushed back up over her thighs, which were now trembling. She should have been embarrassed at how obviously her body reacted to him, but she was too eager to feel what he would do next to care. It had been eight years since she’d been with a man, and her ex had never made her feel so adored. In ten minutes, Dalton had exceeded every experience she’d ever had with a man. She watched as he lifted her skirt. Next, he pulled her panties to the side and looked up at her as he leaned forward and he ran his tongue along the full length of her, licking her with gentle pressure.
Her gasp was followed by a whimpering sound she wouldn’t have known was her if he hadn’t licked her again and pulled more whining from her.
Her hands moved into his thick hair, encouraging him not to stop as he focused on tasting her. His mouth covered her as he began to suck and tease her swollen clit, his teeth grazing, and his hands cupped her bottom to pull her in closer. Then he began to flick his tongue while one of his fingers delved inside her, and she was lost. Her head was flat back against the door, and she was unable to do anything to stop her hips from bucking to bring him closer. With one leg hiked up over his shoulder he sent her over the edge with the most epic orgasm she had ever experienced in her life. The waves of pleasure were so acute that they actually made her mad at how much she had missed out on all this time. His hand had reached up and covered her mouth as her voice, husky with emotion, called out into the quiet space.
Her chest was heaving and her legs shook, but Dalton was there, holding her against him as the spiral of desire swirled around her. She felt both satiated and hungry for more of him. Like she hadn’t gotten the full extent of what he was offering.
He hummed and kissed her brow. “Can I see you again tomorrow?”
“What?” She shook her head, trying to focus on what he was saying.
“Can I please see you tomorrow night too? Dinner was good but dessert was better,” he teased.
She buried her face in his chest, not wanting to be shy but unable to pretend she wasn’t self-conscious about the fact that she just let Dalton give her the most intimate kind of kiss in her laundry room.
He lightly gripped her chin. “You’re sexy as hell, but it’s more than that. This craving I have for you feels like an invisible thread I didn’t realize until now has been tying us together.”
Her heart skipped and her stomach flopped. “I don’t need you to butter me up with compliments. I’m just a little rusty at this. But I definitely do want to see you again, much more of you if I’m being honest.” She was done denying herself this man.
His laugh filled the quiet dark space, and then his mouth was on hers, kissing her as his arms wrapped around her. He held her like she was the most important thing in the world. And it only made her want to try to get closer, like she could absorb him. She could feel the very large bulge pressing into her stomach and she wanted to give him as much pleasure as he’d given her.
“I want to touch you, I want to invite you to stay, but we need some ground rules,” she said, looking up.
His groan was tortured.
“Are you sure?” he asked, looking her in the eyes in the dim light.
“Yes, even if I shouldn’t be. But I can’t risk Max finding you here or the neighbors talking.”
He nodded and kissed her again. “It doesn’t have to be tonight; I just want you to be sure before this starts because I may never get enough of you.”
She gulped—that sounded way more serious than a summer fling. And they both knew he wasn’t staying.
“I don’t want to sound harsh, but I’m not interested in dating you while you’re in town. It’ll complicate my legal situation with Max’s dad, confuse Max, and get the town talking. But if you want to spend time with me privately, then I suggest you buy some condoms in bulk and we’ll have to figure out times we can be together without anyone knowing.”
“But you don’t want to be seen with me?” His brow furrowed, and if she didn’t know better she’d think she’d hurt his feelings.
She sighed but still clung to his warmth. “It’s not that. I mean, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t want to be seen with you, and claim you for their own?” She met his eyes, which studied her. “I don’t want the gossip, or Max thinking it will make us some kind of family, or his dad using it against me. I haven’t dated anyone since Tyler.”
“You haven’t been with anyone since your divorce?”
“No. But I can’t deny I want you, and I’m tired of trying. So if you can deal with my terms, then yes, I want to see you again.”
He nodded. “Okay, for now I can deal with these terms as long as you promise to be open to more.”
She was terrified of wanting more and knew that could never happen. So she would keep her feelings locked away and just enjoy this physical side of being with Dalton.
“Any chance you can get your sister to stay with Max sometimes?”
“So we can shack up at your gran’s house?”
He laughed and played with her hair.
“No, I moved into Levi’s place, it’s farther out on the property. Private and has a great view of the ocean.”
“It just so happens my folks have Max on Wednesday nights and get him to school in the morning. It’s their bonding time.”
“Sounds like it’s going to be our bonding time too,” he said, and kissed her.
It was the kind of slow, sweet kiss that made her wonder how a man as gorgeous as Dalton got away with kissing girls like that and yet he wasn’t married.
“I better go,” he whispered as he peppered more kisses along her jaw.
“Yah, before I change my mind about needing protection.”
“Our first time together isn’t going to be on the floor of a laundry room, even if it would be insanely hot. You deserve better than that.”
The intensity of his tone made her want him even more.
“Okay, then get out of here before I try to change your mind.” She stepped out of his arms.
“Wednesday,” he said, then kissed her again before opening the laundry door. He peeked out to make sure the coast was clear in the kitchen and then held the door for her.
It was quiet. Max was sound asleep, and they could easily slip into her room, but she didn’t want Dalton in her bed. She didn’t want that memory when he was gone. That was why she’d pulled him into the laundry room. It was on the opposite side of the small house from the bedrooms.
At the front door, he gripped her hand. “See you tomorrow.” Then he kissed her once more before opening the door and letting himself out. She watched as he walked down the short sidewalk to her driveway and left. He was exactly the kind of man she could spend the next few years hung up on and pining for, but no one else needed to know that in this small town, and neither did Dalton. He would be her little secret.