Chapter Thirteen
D ammit.
The words shot out anyway.
Sadie slapped a hand over her mouth as if she could somehow take them back.
What had possessed her to say that out loud?
But as the initial shock faded, she realized something surprising—she didn’t care. It was never a secret how she felt about him all those years ago and certainly nothing to be ashamed of at all. Despite Dale only being back in town for a few days, there was an undeniable connection between them, and the thought of taking the next step felt less intimidating and more right .
The shirt fell from his hands and his brows lifted as his gaze locked onto hers and he appeared to process her words.
For a sweet moment, he seemed torn, his internal battle playing out in the furrow of his brow and the tightness of his jaw.
But eventually, he shook his head. “Sadie, as much as I’d love to, it would be too dangerous.”
She blinked, not quite understanding. “Dangerous?”
“Yes, dangerous.” He gave her a rueful smile, stepping closer. “You’re too distracting. I need to keep my wits about me tonight, and if I was anywhere near you…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be my best idea.”
Although warmed by his admission, she still felt a wave of disappointment wash over her. Of course, she quickly tried to mask it. “Oh, okay. I get it,” she said, setting the pillow and blanket on the couch.
Dale noticed, of course. He always noticed. He stepped close and gently cupped her face in his hands, his thumb softly brushing her cheek. “Hey, don’t think for a second that I don’t want to take you up on that amazing offer. I’d love a raincheck, okay?”
She nodded, trying to smile despite the sting of rejection resurrecting memories of high school, and they weren’t the good ones. “Sure. A raincheck. You got it.”
When Dale released her and didn’t lean in for a kiss, she inwardly sighed, feeling an awkwardness settle between them.
Great. She needed to reel it in, although she’d thought, given the hot kisses they’d shared today that they were both on the same out-of-control page.
Apparently not.
“Goodnight, Dale,” she murmured, turning to head up the stairs before she made an even bigger idiot out of herself.
As she reached the top of the steps and turned down the hall, she continued to berate herself. That was stupid, Sadie. So stupid. What were you thinking?
But just as she neared the door to her room, she heard the quick, determined thumping of footsteps on the stairs. By the time she turned around, Dale was there.
“Sadie,” he murmured, using his body to press her gently but firmly against the hall wall. His breath was hot against her face as he whispered, “I changed my mind.”
Her heart leaped, then soared when without another word, he captured her lips in a long, deep, deliciously thorough kiss. His hands slid to her waist as he pulled her closer.
The tension, the doubt—all of it melted away as she kissed him back, losing herself in the warmth and intensity of the moment.
This was what she wanted. And, judging by the way Dale’s hold tightened, it was what he wanted as well.
Heat rushed through her as Dale’s kiss deepened, his hands gripping her waist with a possessiveness that sent delicious shivers down her spine. She responded with equal intensity, her fingers threading through his hair as she drew him closer to give back the bliss she was getting.
The hallway around them seemed to blur into the background, leaving only the two of them in a world where nothing else mattered.
His lips moved from her mouth to her jaw, then down to the sensitive skin of her neck. Each touch sent a thrill of excitement through her, causing breath to hitch in her throat. He was usually so controlled, so steady, but right now he was letting go, and the passion that had been simmering between them since his return now flourished with a vengeance.
“Sadie,” he murmured against her skin, his voice low and rough, filled with a longing that matched her own. “I’ve been trying so hard to stay focused, to keep things professional, but you—” He paused, pulling back just enough to look into her eyes. “You make it impossible to think about anything else.”
She smiled, her breath shallow. “Good. I don’t want you thinking about anything else right now. I’ve waited a lifetime for this moment.”
Dale’s gaze darkened, his eyes searching hers for any hesitation, any sign that he’d heard wrong. He hadn’t, and when he realized that, he surged forward, kissing her again with a fierceness that sent heat pooling low in her belly.
This time, there was no holding back, no second-guessing. The connection between them flared to life stronger than ever, and Sadie was swept away by the sheer intensity of it.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his, feeling the solid strength of the amazing man. Somehow, he seemed to ground her even as he made her feel like she was floating. Yeah, he was amazing.
Big, strong hands tugged her away from the wall to roam over her back, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. It was a dizzying, intoxicating feeling, one that made her forget everything but the here and now.
But just as the heat between them reached its peak, Dale suddenly pulled back, his breathing ragged, his forehead resting against hers. “Sadie,” he muttered, his voice hoarse with restraint, “if we keep going, I’m not going to be able to stop. You need to be sure about this. Are you sure?”
Her heart skipped a beat. He was so sweet. The heat blazing in his eyes spoke of his need, and yet he was willing to put it aside to put her first.
Good thing her need happened to be for him.
“Never been more sure of anything in my entire life.” Smiling, she reached down, grabbed her shirt with one hand, and tried to drag it up and off her body in one fluid motion like he had, except it got caught on her messy bun which, thanks to his hands, was now a messy ponytail.
Chuckling, he helped untangle it and pulled it the rest of the way off. There was no time for embarrassment as his amusement turned into the same lust eating her up from the inside.
His gaze took in her lacy, mint green bra and her heaving cleavage, because, yeah, she was breathing hard.
“So beautiful,” he murmured before he captured her mouth again, nipping, tasting, devouring until she could barely think straight.
This was finally happening. After more than a decade, she was actually going to spend the night with Dale Taylor.
At last.
He shoved his hands in her hair, the action snapping the band and freeing her waves. Groaning, he tipped her head to his liking before he slid his tongue into her mouth to sweep around. She moaned as a delicious thrill shot to her toes, tightening her nipples in a shock of need.
Yeah, she needed him to keep doing that.
She needed to do things too. Sadie slid her hands up over his broad shoulders to lace behind his neck and pressed her sensitive tips against his hard chest. More heat pooled in her belly.
When Dale finally drew back, he stared at her with so much hunger she shook. “I can’t get enough of you, Sadie.” He grazed his teeth down her jaw, his stubble deliciously rough against her skin. “I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you.”
That revelation righted her world, making all those years of yearning worthwhile.
He gently bit her earlobe, and she gasped.
“You drive me crazy,” she murmured.
In a heartbeat, his mouth was on hers again, tasting, devouring, destroying her strength. She lost herself in his incredible, thorough, mind-numbing kiss and trembled at the shockingly sensuous feel of his tongue stroking hers.
So good.
“Been thinking about this since the barn,” he murmured against her lips. “And your kitchen.”
“Me, too,” she admitted, trembling against him.
In a swift move, he lifted her up, and she gasped at his sexy, unexpected move.
“Time to take this to your room.” His voice was raw with the same need heating her body.
“It’s right here.” She nodded to her open door on his left, then used her mouth to nip playfully at his jaw while he carried her over the threshold.
Once inside her bedroom, Dale let her slide slowly down his hot, hard body. Very hard.
“Nice,” she breathed.
The feel of his skin against hers was amazing.
Not wanting to waste time, she kicked off her sandals, unbuckled her jeans, and pushed them to the floor before stepping out of them, giving him full view of her matching mint green panties.
“Damn, Sadie, you’re breathtaking.” Appreciation glittered in his dark gaze as he stalked her to the bed, his muscles and ridges just beckoning her lips and fingers to explore. And when her gaze snagged on the thick, mouthwatering bulge behind his zipper, her throat dried, and she licked her lips.
He sucked in a breath. “If you keep looking at me that way, I’m going to burst.”
He made her ache. She’d never ached for anyone but Dale.
Gaze locked with hers, he followed her down when she fell backward onto the mattress. “But I’d much rather take you with me,” he said against her neck.
She shivered as anticipation flooded her body.
“ Play…Play. ” The faint sound of one of Tesla’s buttons drifted up to them.
They both stilled, then chuckled.
“We are.” Dale grinned.
She smiled up at him. “ Dale…Need…Dale ,” Sadie said in the same tone she used to record Tesla’s words.
Laughing, he lowered his face to within an inch above hers. “Now, where were we?”
She wiggled beneath him, loving the way his eyes darkened and how desire replaced the amusement in his eyes. “Right here, I believe.”
“I’ll give you something to squirm about,” he muttered, dragging his warm, wicked lips down her throat before sinking his teeth into the curve of her neck.
“Mmm…” She didn’t just squirm, she moaned too, and arched into him.
He felt so good on top of her. So perfect.
That amazing mouth of his left her neck to kiss a path to her cleavage. He muttered something against her skin while his hands slid up her arms to her shoulders then slowly down to cup her breasts.
A second later, he pulled the lace aside to expose her beaded nipples. “Beautiful,” he murmured before he sucked one into his mouth and brushed the other with his thumb.
Loud, unhinged moans rippled up her throat and echoed around them, while he switched sides and drove her wild.
After several more blissful, teasing seconds, he said, “Lift up.” Then he slipped his hands under her back, unhooked her bra, and tossed it on the floor.
Sadie dropped back onto the mattress and watched his gaze devour her bouncing breasts before his mouth and hands took over. She gasped and closed her eyes, feeling the pull all the way down between her legs where she ached for him the most. Moaning, she shoved her fingers through his dark hair and clutched the back of his head.
A low, sexy sound rumbled deep in his chest while his teeth nibbled and nipped, sending liquid heat through her body.
Man, he was good.
The talented man had her blazing hot and tantalizingly bothered, and with only the top half of them naked, she felt a whole lot of naughty.
He released her nipple and kissed his way down her body, snagging his fingers under the band of her panties as he tugged them all the way off. Afterward, he glanced up at her body and his indrawn breath cooled the air between them. “You’re so beautiful, Sadie.”
Before she could reply, he kissed his way back up her body, taking one of her nipples into his mouth as he slid onto his side without letting go. The feel of his warm, rough hand brushing over her other nipple sent shivers over her flesh, but when he continued to skim his hand down her body, lingering just below her belly, Sadie held her breath.
His finger swirled a path lower and lower, upping her anticipation until he traced her center. Sadie’s heart rolled in her chest.
“Dale,” she uttered.
And when he slid his finger inside, she let out a low, needy sound that barely conveyed what she was feeling or needing.
“What do you want, Sadie? Tell me.”
It was hard to speak because she was having trouble trying to catch her breath. His movements, those talented movements were perfect, and her panting increased. Unable to stop her hips from thrusting, she let go of her control and matched his movements.
“That…more of…that,” she managed between breaths.
“You got it.” As he held her gaze, he added another finger, sliding in and out at just the right angle, just the right pace.
Somehow, the man knew her rhythm and within seconds, he took her to that blissful edge. Her head was spinning, and when he brushed his thumb over her center, Sadie burst into a million-and-one pieces. A million-and-two as he magically prolonged the best orgasm of her life.
It took several moments, or perhaps minutes, until she finally came back to herself, feeling wonderfully boneless and relaxed.
“Wow…” She turned her head to meet his gaze and smiled. “That was better than wow.”
Satisfaction blazed in his eyes and a sexy smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. “That was just the beginning.”