33. Chapter 33
Chapter 33
Dawson
I almost took things too far. It’s been ages since Willow and I last kissed, but when we did, there were no boundaries. No stopping point until after we were intimate. If I hadn’t pushed myself away from Chloe, my hand would be up her shirt, which, one, is way inappropriate in a public setting, and two, is not what any respectable man would do on a first date.
When Liar-Pants-Chloe grossly overestimated how much kissing I needed to do in order to beat Finn, the only thing running through my head was gladly . As much as I was looking forward to going to our next activity of the evening, I’d have skipped it to head back to my place for the chance to kiss Chloe as thoroughly as I’d like, earning me way more than a thousand points. But I hadn’t anticipated the physical desire taking over rational thinking.
I’m not some hormone-driven male incapable of controlling myself. But my well of physical affection toward a woman dried up long ago, and I didn’t realize how desperate I was to refill it until Chloe found the weak spot on my neck. The one that starts my engine more than any other.
Focusing on my breathing, I exhale the desire I can’t act on and inhale the cool night air, calming my stimulated body. When I feel in control, I turn to face Chloe, who is staring at the ground, her arms curled around herself as if she’s in need of protection from me.
“I’m sorry. That was me, not you.”
She nods, but refuses to meet my gaze.
My gut clenches. I don’t want her to think I stopped because of her. My fingers itch to touch her. To take her chin between my thumb and index finger and raise it to look at me, but I’m not quite ready. My desire is down to a simmer from a boil, but it won’t take much to jack it right back up.
“Chloe,” I say again, part desperate, part pleading, part apologetic. Finally, she looks up at me. “Your kiss set me on fire. I had to cool things off.”
The flash of hurt in her eyes says she doesn’t believe me. As embarrassing as this is, I have to explain what’s happening. I can’t stand to lose her over this. “It’s been a while since I’ve kissed anyone. My body reacted like a match tossed on gasoline-soaked wood. If I didn’t step away, I’m afraid I would have taken things too far. You deserve to be treated better. Your kiss was amazing and I didn’t realize I’d have such a strong reaction to you.” I groan, scrubbing my hands through my hair. “Jeez, I sound like a frisky teen. I’m sorry, Chloe. Next time, I promise I’ll be more in control and we’ll slow things down. Okay? ”
She bites her bottom lip, which is not helping how desirable she is. “You swear on Finn’s life it’s not because of anything else?”
I hold up three fingers in a scout salute. “I promise.”
Her lips twitch like she’s suddenly fighting a smile. “My kisses turned you into Smokey the Bear?”
I cock my head to the side, not following her meaning. “What?”
“He warns people about the dangers of unplanned human-caused forest fires. You jumping away from me prevented you from combusting. I think your nickname is now Smokey. You’re still a teddy bear through and through, but when we’re alone? You’re Smokey .” She says “Smokey” in a sultry tone.
Again, not helping , Chlo. “Smokey? I accept. You’ve got to admit, Smokey and 007 sound cool together.” And Smokey is way better than Bear.
Chloe smiles at me in a way that says she forgives me. And our conversation is helping me focus on something other than my body…and hers.
“Like we’re partners in crime.” She shakes her head. “No, we’re better together, not criminals. Special agents? Operational partners?”
“Secret intelligence officers?”
Her eyes get big and her face lights up. “Yes! I like it.”
“Should we test our climbing abilities in case we have to escape by scaling a cliff or castle wall?”
“Absolutely. We can’t let our training slide.”
Feeling more in control of myself, I take a step closer and say, “Thanks for understanding. ”
Her face softens in a look conveying she gets it. Slowly, keeping eye contact with me the entire time, she takes a step forward. Then another. And another until she’s a foot away from me. “I appreciate you telling me instead of brushing it off. Let me know what I can do to help not push your limits.”
I grin at her. “Sucking at kissing would be a huge relief.”
She winces. “No can do, Smokey. We’ll just go slow and build your resistance.”
Slow and steady. An attainable goal. Placing a quick kiss on her forehead, I open the car door for her. “007.”
Getting in on my side, I drive us to the indoor climbing gym. Once I pay and we sign the waivers, we’re hooked up to harnesses. Staring up at the blue and gray wall towering above me, with different shapes and colors of handholds, my mouth goes dry. This is bigger than I expected. Am I about to make a fool of myself in front of Chloe?
“Want to make a bet?” Chloe asks, her fingertips grasping the fake orange rock in front of her.
I throw my head back and laugh. “I thought you were done with wagers after Cornbelly’s.” At least she lasted a few days before wanting us to compete again.
“Well, yeah, I learned not to make the consequence something I can’t do.”
I sigh, pretending I’m put out with her suggestion, though I need the competition to drown out my nerves. “What happens to the loser?”
Her head wobbles. “I’m torn between making dinner for the other person sometime next week or a foot rub. Do you have a preference? ”
One truth I will never share with Chloe: I have ticklish feet.
I found out when we got a puppy when I was seven. Ginger loved licking feet. Not hands or faces. Stinky, sweaty feet. Every time I came in from playing outside, especially in the summer, Ginger would wait until I peeled my socks off then she went to town bathing my lower extremities with her tongue. She loved getting between my toes, which tickled the most.
“Dinner is enticing. Your breakfast was fantastic. I can’t wait to see what you do for other meals.”
She puts her hands on her hips, cocking her head to the side. “You’re assuming you’ll win.”
Chloe’s fit, but my legs are thicker than hers. I’m banking on my quads propelling me faster up the wall. “No, I’m hoping for a night off from making Finn something to eat. Being the only one cooking gets exhausting.” Chloe also is the only one cooking for herself, but she can make whatever she wants and will eat it. Finn can be picky and his mind changes constantly.
“Well, dang, Smokey, when you phrase it like that, it makes me want to lose.”
My comment wasn’t meant to make her pity me, but I’d rather do laundry or wipe down the bathroom over cooking when Finn’s in a mood. If she’s offering to help, even for one night, I’ll do whatever it takes to win. “Your effort is all up to you.”
She sighs. “All right then. First one to ring the bell takes it? ”
“Don’t look so defeated,” I say, playfully punching her shoulder.
She shakes her limbs, loosening up. Her eyes get a determined fierceness in them. “Let’s do this. One. Two. Three!”
She scrambles like a monkey up a tree. I really, really would like to win this one. Focusing on my own hand and footholds, I use my legs instead of relying entirely on my upper body. In my peripheral vision, Chloe’s arm stretches right next to mine. We’re neck and neck. Briefly, I consider sabotaging her by saying something about how sexy she is, but I want this victory based on skill alone.
The desire to win thrums through me. Chloe’s hand reaches for the bell. Her fingertips just about graze the metal. Hanging onto the wall with only one hand, I yank myself above Chloe and smack the bell with a war cry. “Yes!”
Chloe whines. “I had that, Dawson.”
Releasing my rope, I propel myself to the ground. “I did too,” I say cheekily.
Chloe takes her time coming down.
“I like the view,” I say, appreciating her shapely derriere and the definition in her legs.
She looks at me over her shoulder, one eyebrow raised. “It’s only fair we switch places.”
“Win next time and you will.”
“I’ve met my match with you, Dawson Reed. Haven’t I?”
She absolutely has. With arms folded across my chest, I wait for her with a smile on my face. The second her feet touch the ground, I grasp her elbow and twist her toward me, planting a quick kiss on her soft lips. “You’re incredible.”
“Daily reminders will help me remember as much. ”
Slipping a finger around her harness, I yank her close and give her a playful kiss. “I can do that.”
She responds with a nipping kiss of her own. “I’d offer the same for you, but I don’t think you need it.”
I scoff. “Why not? My ego needs a boost like anyone else’s.”
“Trust me, Smokey. I’ll let you know in other ways how much I like you.” She leans in for another kiss. When her lips get close to mine, she says, “Double or nothing.” She pushes me, then scales the wall faster than before.
The tease.
Going after her, I empty my tank of energy and climb like a squirrel. I pass by her halfway up. “Take in the view, 007,” I say, pausing briefly.
She growls at me. “You know I hate to lose!”
I chuckle. Anyone who knows Chloe can guess as much within the first five minutes of knowing her. “I’m well aware. But as you said, you’ve met your match. It’s time you get used to me beating you.”
“Never,” she says with conviction.
I hear her close the distance between us. Before she can make up too much ground, I smack the bell a second time. My muscles burn, but I’ll take the pain in exchange for multiple dinners. “Sorry,” I fake sympathy. “Tell me what nights you want to come over and you can cook at my place.”
We lower ourselves at the same speed. Such a shame, Chloe’s missing her chance to check out my backside.
“What. Afraid I’ll poison it or something if I make it at my house? ”
Chloe may have sass and spice, but she’s not crazy. “No. But if you cook, I’ll clean. At my place, I know where everything goes. At yours, Finn might get bored and I’ll be going through all your cabinets trying to find where to put stuff away.”
“Fine by me. Your kitchen is bigger anyway.” She brings one arm across her chest, stretching her shoulder. “I think I have one more climb in me—at a leisurely pace. What about you?”
I jerk my chin in the direction of the arched wall. “You game for giving the curve a go?” I want to try it, but at the same time if Chloe says no, I won’t be sad. The wall is intimidating.
“Yeah. I’m going to need a ton of stretching when we get home tonight, though.”
An image of Chloe in a bunch of different yoga poses enters my mind. I like what I’m imagining, but I won’t be joining in on anything but basic stretches. I’m not flexible. “Same. Ready?”
“Let’s do this.”