Chapter 13
DANIEL
I t was delightful to see how much of a hit Prairie was at the family dinner that had suddenly turned into a full on party. She made everyone laugh with her fun stories about art school, and asked insightful, interested questions about everyone else’s work.
Even though I was holding her against me most of the time, it wasn’t enough anymore. It was becoming impossible not to kiss her.
When I noticed that she was getting quieter, I asked, “Are you getting tired, baby? Should I drive you home?”
“I guess it’s about that time. Gotta get to sleep if I want Santa to come.” That adorable smile made me want to strip her clothes off right there. Keeping my hands to myself was getting harder and harder.
We said our goodbyes to everyone, and watching my sweet Prairie hugging Mom goodbye warmed my heart completely. I was also thrilled at how well she had hit it off with Robin and Sierra. There was no doubt that we would be spending a lot of time together over the years.
As we were pulling out of my parents’ driveway, Prairie said, “I think you mentioned that you guys have another house, right?”
“Yes, we’re going past it on the way to your place.”
“Can I see it?”
“Of course.” Just seconds later, I pulled into the long driveway, and parked beside Robin’s camper.
“Can I see your room?” Prairie asked.
I ran around to help her out of the truck, leading her into the foyer where we kicked off our shoes. Holding her close, I set my chin on top of her head for a second to make her laugh. She walked around the main floor for a moment, taking a look around.
“I know it’s plain,” I said, “but we haven’t really spent much time here for the past few years.”
Prairie nodded. “It could use a bit more life.”
“Maybe one of your amazing paintings?” I pointed to an empty spot in the foyer. “That piece you showed us with the waterfall would look amazing there.”
“Oh, I sold that one.”
“Really? Congratulations.”
“Yes, there was a guy at school who really liked my work, and he bought three of my paintings. He was a poet, and studying English literature.”
A strange, uncomfortable pressure crept up my spine. “A guy? Was he someone you were dating?”
Prairie’s light laugh as she shook her head instantly made me feel better.
“Peter? No way. I mean, we went out for coffee and to the movies quite often, but just as friends. There was zero attraction, if that’s what you mean. Just before classes ended, I was trying to fix him up with a friend of mine.”
I dragged the back of my hand across my forehead in a dramatic show of relief. “Phew. Good. I don’t want to think about you pining away for old boyfriends.”
Her nose crinkled adorably. “You can’t possibly be saying that you’re jealous?”
“Yes. I am.”
Pulling her against me, I tilted her head to nibble along the side of her throat. “I am fully aware that I have no right to be jealous of anyone you dated before me, but I can’t help it. I feel very possessive of you.”
Those huge hazel eyes looked up at me. “Sometimes I honestly can’t tell if you’re teasing me.”
Taking her hand, she followed me upstairs to the end of the hall on the right. I flipped on the light and sat on my bed so that Prairie could look around the room. I loved watching her face light up at small details of the wooden furniture, since I had personally designed this set myself.
The only colorful or artistic thing in the all gray and wood space was a huge photograph of the snow-covered mountain that hung over my bed. The bright blue sky dominated the frame.
“That’s gorgeous,” she said, stepping closer to take a better look.
“Thank you. I took a lot of photos when I was in my early twenties. Scale makes a huge difference, and the bigger the better, right?”
Something shifted in her eyes, and I realized that I had her alone in my bedroom. The last thing I wanted to do was to make her nervous.
“Prairie,” I said softly, reaching out my hand. She came to stand between my legs where I sat. She was so radiantly beautiful that the urge to tear her clothes off was all-consuming. “Baby, I think this bedroom represents me right now.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ve been sort of empty for years. Plain.
Waiting for a spot of color in my life.” I held her hands, giving them a little squeeze.
“Now here you are, with your strawberry hair and sweet hazel-green eyes. It finally feels like everything is falling into place.” Her luscious breasts hovered right in front of me, and I longed to bury my face in them.
“But I need you to know that just because we’re in a bedroom alone it doesn’t mean I want to rush you into anything. You already have my heart. Everything else can go at whatever speed you want.”
Prairie’s fingers reached up to run along the edge of my jaw. “Actually…” She hesitated, biting her bottom lip. “I think I’d like a bit of closeness.”
My hand slipped down her back to cup her incredible curvy behind gently. “Are you saying that I’m allowed to touch you, baby?”
“Yes.”
“Everywhere?”
Her grin showed a slight dimple on one side. “Absolutely. Anywhere and everywhere.”
My lips grazed hers gently, sending waves of lust through me.
“It was so hard not to touch you in front of my family,” I murmured, reaching up to unzip her dress. “I need to see my beautiful Prairie naked.”
As her chin tipped up and down I could feel my pulse in my uncomfortably hard dick. But this first physical exploration was not about me. I needed her to trust me. To understand how much I needed her. To care for her.
Those beautiful hazel eyes were riveted to mine as she whispered, “I guess if you really want to.”
I inhaled her scent as I nuzzled her throat, and she helped me by wriggling as her dress fell off.
“Sweet Jesus,” I muttered, pushing her back a few inches so that I could drink in the sight of her dark purple lace bra and panties.
Her skin was impossibly soft as I ran my rough hands across it. Tugging her closer, I kissed her deeper, until I heard a tiny whimper.
“You’re so gorgeous, Prairie,” I murmured as my hand skimmed around her hip and up her ribs. “So sweet and precious that I’m never going to get enough of you.”
We lost ourselves in the kiss, our tongues moving together as everything deepened.
My hand slipped across the lace of her bra, then moved inside to grip her round, firm breast. It was too awkward, so I unfastened her bra, tossing it aside so that I could trail my lips along her collarbone, then across the surface of each exquisite mound.
The rest of the world ceased to exist as I pulled her perfect nipples between my lips. I loved her tiny shiver as I tasted her exposed skin.
“Daniel,” she breathed, her fingers clutching the back of my shoulders. Hearing her say my name in such a sexy way made me ache for her.
As I trailed my lips all around her incredible breasts, I heard her breath catch over and over. I hated to pull away, but I needed to kiss her properly.
I moved back onto the bed, pulling her to join me. As Prairie lay beside me in nothing but her lacy panties, I took a moment to devour her with my eyes.
She looked so delicate. Feminine.
Her nipples were little pink points, and the swell of her breasts and hips created an intoxicating hourglass. Those pretty eyes were darker now, her pupils dilated as she trembled slightly.
“Easy, baby. I just need to touch you. You’re so beautiful that I just can’t stop.”
She blushed faintly, then whispered, “Are you going to at least take off your shirt?”
“Anything you like.” I sat up to yank off the black button-down shirt that was practically my uniform.
Remaining still, I let Prairie take a good look. It was strange to simply allow a woman to stare – her eyes raking over every hard-earned muscle. Her bottom lip quivered slightly.
“What is it, baby?”
“I just…wow. You’re incredibly fit.”
I couldn’t help laughing. “I lift a lot of heavy wood. Then I have to spend some time in the gym, so that I’m strong enough to lift heavier wood next time.”
Her fingers ran lightly up and down my bicep. “Is there a gym in Holly Valley? Maybe I should go.”
Gripping her hip in my hand, I squeezed her silky soft skin, troubled at the note I thought I had heard creep into her voice.
“There’s a small gym, but don’t think for a second that you need to work out unless you want to, baby.
I mean, do whatever makes you happy, of course.
I think they have yoga and dance classes if you want to have fun and make some new friends.
But please don’t think for one second that I would want you to change a single inch of this body. It’s perfect just as it is.”
Prairie didn’t look like she believed me, so I did the only thing I could. I kissed her while pouring every drop of love and lust from my heart and into my lips.
She had to feel how much I felt for her. She had to feel that I was already in love with her.
As I felt her soft sigh against my lips, I had to hope that she was feeling the same way.