Chapter 4
brIDGET
Iswear, Dash has me under some sort of spell. I can't stop thinking about him.
If Ansel hadn't shown up last night, I know we would've had sex. Except…it didn't feel like that. It genuinely felt like we were making love. Connecting.
As I finish my shift by cleaning everything in sight, my mind can't stop turning things over and over. Like when you're not sure if a pancake is cooked through, so you can't stop flipping it.
Our private date was perfect. The moonlight and the scent of the forest and his dazzling eyes all combined to break through the shield I didn't realize I'd been holding around myself.
After seeing how terribly Mom's relationship turned out, I've been justifiably paranoid. Yet Dash treats me like a goddess. Could it be that this could work?
"You're a million miles away," Lynn says quietly as she reaches past me to grab menus for the customers who just walked in. When she returns, she gives me one of her knowing smiles. "It's Dash, isn't it? Since the night he drove you and your guitar somewhere, you've been a bit…"
"Spacey? Distracted?"
"Falling in love." I've never actually seen Lynn smirk before, but her kind eyes are soft. "It's okay," she says, keeping her voice low. "It's adorable. He seems like a really nice guy."
"With a reputation," I murmur back. "His family is extremely well respected, but he's known as a bit of a…"
Lynn nods. "Apparently he used to date a lot. I know. But that was years ago." She stares down at the counter for a moment, nodding. "This is the problem with living in a small town."
"What do you mean?"
"If we lived in a huge city, if over the span of five years a guy went out with ten women, nobody would ever know. But because everyone knows everyone's business here, people are hyper aware of every single time a guy goes out for coffee with a woman."
"Wow. That's an excellent point."
She smiles. "Look out for us quiet ones. We're very observant."
It's true. Lynn is always catching details that the rest of us miss. "I'll remember that next time I need a spy."
She taps the side of her nose before returning to her tables. "Gotcha. Have a good night."
By the time I grab my purse, a familiar black pickup is already in front of the café.
Dash holds the door as I climb inside, his hand brushing my hip in a discreet motion that makes me quiver inside.
Once he gets in the truck, he pauses. "So, I could take you to dinner.
Or I could make you dinner back at my place. "
"Whichever you prefer, thanks."
His large hand covers mine as he gives me a pointed look. "Corbin is setting up some new shelves at Mom's house and staying there for dinner. So my place is empty for the next several hours."
"Your place." The words tumble from my lips before I can consider it any further.
His seductive grin tells me that I definitely made the right choice.
On the drive, we keep unearthing new facts about each other, as if searching for buried treasure.
Dash confesses that he won't eat peas because of the "pop and squish" texture, but at the same time he loves blueberries.
I share that I've always loved all kinds of music, but I've always been far more drawn to anything guitar-based, which is why I'm taking lessons.
Not that I think I'll become a great musician, but simply so I can appreciate the music more.
Dash apparently took piano lessons when he was nine, but didn't pay attention very well, leading to his Mom threatening to staple his shorts to the piano bench until he played for at least half an hour.
His home life sounds so…normal. Four rambunctious boys being messy and wild, yet becoming serious whenever their Dad took them out to their property to help fell and prune trees, clear fallen trees and branches, and maintain the land. They learned a lot while very young.
There's a wholesomeness around their family that I love.
Dash pulls into a driveway on a quiet tree-lined street where the houses are spaced far apart, and we enter his charming cream and white two-story house.
"I was so lucky," he says, as we kick off our shoes and I look around the living room. "The couple that lived here had just renovated everything, then they both suddenly got jobs in California and had to sell in a hurry."
His hands circle my waist, drifting down to my hips. I've noticed that he loves touching me there, as if drawn to my generous curves. "Are you hungry?"
We're finally alone, with access to both privacy, and a bed.
Dash is the most gorgeous man I've ever laid eyes on, and he can't stop touching me.
And he's suggesting we think about food?
"Why don't you show me the whole house?" I ask, hoping that he picks up my meaning.
From the twinkle in his light brown eyes, he does.
After a cursory tour of the main floor, with a peek through the dining room sliding glass doors that give off to a lovely back deck, I follow him upstairs. My heart thumps loudly, echoing in my ears as we pass two bedrooms filled with boxes. "I'm not sure what to do with the extra rooms yet."
As we step into the main bedroom, I'm relieved that he ignores the overhead light, flipping on the reading light next to his bed instead. Thank goodness. Shadows are about to be my friends.
"Here it is. The sleeping emporium."
"Where the magic happens?" Oh geez, did I actually say that?
Dash laughs. "I've had no 'magic' happen for several years, for the record." He steps closer, gently holding our bodies together. "I'm up for anything you are, beautiful. I don't have any condoms, but I'm sure we can find some other fun things to do, if you like."
"I'm on the pill." There's a flicker of something in his eyes that I can't read. "I haven't needed it yet, but better safe than sorry."
"You're a smart girl." Dash doesn't even try to hide his grin. "The thought of being your first is…" He lifts my hand and holds it against his heart. "No words, baby. For now, I'd just love to see all of you." He untucks my shirt, running his hands up my back.
"Um…" Hesitation takes hold. I want him. Need him to touch me. Yet now that we're actually here, I'm hit with a sudden wave of shyness about him seeing my naked body.
"Tell me what you'd like, beautiful." Such softness in his deep voice. "Anything you want. Nothing you don't."
He's so thoughtful that it's easier to open up to him. "Why don't we get under the covers?"
His expressive eyes flicker with…something…understanding?...then he nods. "You're right, I don't want you to be chilly."
Bending down to slip off my socks, he reaches over to turn down the lamp another click, then holds up the blankets between us, blocking his view. "Drop your pants and get in."
As soon as I do, he lets the sheet and blanket fall over me. While he pulls off his socks and jeans, I marvel at the strength and elegance of his muscular body. The way he yanks off his shirt with no self-consciousness whatsoever is incredible.
Dash slips in beside me, pulling me against him in a full body hug. Even though he's wearing boxer-briefs and I'm still in a t-shirt, bra and panties, I've never been so naked with someone before.
His mouth burrows into my neck, both kissing and inhaling. "You smell so good, baby. Delicious." His hands move slowly, caressing my hip and outer thigh, then sliding up my back, under my t-shirt. Giving my bra strap a playful tug, he grins. "May I?"
"Yeah."
Somehow he maneuvers his thumb in such a way that he flicks it open with one twist. My giggle shakes my suddenly looser breasts under the t-shirt as he glances down. "Baby, I would absolutely love to take your top off and get a proper look at you. May I?"
I can feel him shifting and thickening under his shorts. Knowing that I'm arousing a gorgeous guy like Dash is an unusual sensation. I've never once thought of myself as sexy. But his reaction is all the encouragement I need. "Sure."
I sit up a bit, making sure the blankets half cover me. He helps pull my shirt and bra off, then throws them onto his dresser.
His breath catches in the silent room. Large palms lift my breasts, squeezing and caressing as he ducks down to kiss my nipple.
Moaning softly as a shiver runs through me, I clutch the back of his shoulders.
Slowly, Dash eases me onto my back, tucking a pillow underneath me as he gently kisses and sucks at my breasts.
His low groan of pleasure sends a thrill up my spine.
He's completely riveted by a body part that I consider a slight nuisance half the time.
Our legs brush together, bodies moving closer as I stroke the back of his shoulders. Teeth graze my nipple, my head falls back with a sigh, his lips wander up my throat.
When he reaches my lips again, our kiss is different. Needier. Hungrier. My hands slip under to move down his side to his hip. I stop at the edge of his shorts, unsure. Then I realize that he's cupping my ass, squeezing and fondling every curve while moaning into my mouth.
He pulls back to stare into my eyes. "Bridget, should I slow down?"
I feel like he already knows my answer. "No."
"May I taste you?"
His question seems so casual, yet to me, it's a huge moment. Because this experience is the first thing I've ever really wanted for myself in a very long time.
"Yes."
Dash's sweet brown eyes light up as if I'd just given him the best present ever.
Ducking under the covers, he pushes the heavier blanket away, leaving just the sheet draped loosely over me.
A long caress of his stubble along my inner thigh makes me laugh and moan at the same time.
He peels my panties off lazily, tossing them toward a chair.
Then everything becomes a blur as I feel like I'm falling. His palms slide up my thighs, fingertips opening me so gently. Warm breath against my skin. Thumbs spreading me wider.