Chapter 25 #5
Austin holds my trembling form tightly to him with his left arm, kissing and licking up the side of my neck, and down my shoulder where his coat has slipped off.
His other hand nudges mine away from his cock, and I turn my head from where I buried it in the crook of his shoulder to watch him finish what I started.
He’s rougher than I was, and I’m entranced by the sight of him touching himself, the way his pulse flutters in his neck.
His deep groan of pleasure as he comes resonates through his entire chest, and I’m unable to resist capturing his lips in another kiss as if I might be able to taste the delicious sound.
The two of us are still for a minute, the only sounds our panting breaths and the rain just beyond the edge of the bus shelter. Eventually my brain comes back online enough that I reach over to grab my discarded wet t-shirt so Austin can clean himself up.
“Thanks.” He sets the shirt on his other side, then bands his thick arms around me, resting his chin atop my head, and I snuggle in even closer.
Now that I know Austin and I are on the same page, I’m done playing it safe.
I haven’t wanted anyone the way I want him for a long time, maybe ever.
It’s not just because he’s attractive, although he sure looks great in those jeans.
I feel safe with Austin. He’s nothing like the guys my publicist set me up with who were all more interested in talking about themselves than getting to know me.
Austin’s real and has zero tolerance for bullshit.
Of course, that might work against me if I ever decide to let him in on my secret, but he’s a practical guy—after the initial shock wears off, I think he’ll eventually understand my need for secrecy.
His hands ghost over the length of my spine. “Are you cold?”
“I’m fine. Well, after what we just did, I’m better than fine.” I smile, then place a quick kiss on his cheek just because I can.
Fondness shines in Austin’s eyes as he reaches up to stroke a stray strand of hair behind my ear.
“Hopefully the rain will stop soon. If it doesn’t, we might have to brave it anyway, but we’re still about two-and-a-half miles from town.
” He grimaces. “I’d rather you not be washed away before I have a chance to take you out. ”
“I don’t know, I’m starting to think the rain might be our good luck charm,” I tease.
He cocks his head and his brow furrows. “How so?”
Using my hand on his upper arm to count out each incident on my fingers, I begin, “We met because of the rain.”
His eyebrows shoot up. “You mean when you aquaplaned and crashed your car? In what way is that lucky?”
“Nobody was hurt, no serious damage was done, and it’s what introduced me to this grumpy bartender who would eventually succumb to my charms.”
He rolls his eyes but doesn’t deny it. Damn right. “Fair. What else?”
“You offered me a ride home because of the rain. I kind of had to admit you weren’t completely terrible after that.”
He snorts. “You sure know how to sweet talk a guy.”
“You wouldn’t like me as much if I didn’t give you shit.”
“And here I thought I might have spanked the sass out of you for at least an hour.” Amusement and satisfaction dance in his eyes, making my cheeks heat.
“You wish. Anyway, example number three—it was raining when you helped me through my panic attack. That was the first real conversation we had. Things changed between us after that. We were honest with each other.” I meet his penetrating gaze. “Which brings us to now.”
“Freezing our arses off in a bus shelter while we wait for the rain to stop?” he teases, feigning cluelessness.
I shake my head and reach up to cup his cheek, enjoying the feel of the soft hairs of his short beard against my palm. “No. Now you’re mine and I’m yours.” I raise my eyebrows daring him to disagree with me, but I needn’t have bothered.
In spite of the cold, the heat in Austin’s gaze is almost enough to keep me warm. “Damn right.” He smiles at me fondly, brushing a stray drop of water from the side of my neck with his thumb. “I should have known a woman who literally crashed into my life would be trouble.”
“You’re stuck with me now.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I’m not sure how long we spend making out like teenagers, but after a while the world around us comes back into focus and I realise the pelting rain has eased off to a light drizzle.
Seeing what I am, Austin presses one last, chaste kiss to my lips before pulling back.
“We should head back before it starts chucking it down again.”
He’s not wrong, yet I’m reluctant to leave the bubble of intimacy we’ve created here. Working to conceal the irrational wave of disappointment hitting me, I reply, “You’re right. Do you want your coat back?”
“No, you keep it. Pass me your sweatshirt?” he asks, unzipping his small backpack.
Quickly, I do as he says. “Thanks.” He wraps it around the t-shirt we used to clean up with, then puts the bundle in his bag while I do my best to dry the lenses of my glasses on the side of my leggings without much success.
“Ready?” He holds his large hand out for me to take.
Doing my best to keep my smile at a normal level, I slip my hand into his. “Let’s go.”
As we make our way back into town, we alternate between talking and comfortable silence. When we walk past the quaint wooden sign welcoming us to Pine Grove, Austin’s hand tightens around mine.
“I understand if you’d rather head straight back to the B&B to clean up, but I was wondering if you might like to come home with me instead?”
My heart flutters, pleased Austin seems as reluctant as I am to part ways. “I’d like that.”