Everything inside me softens, as she grows on me just a little bit more. “I’ll teach you to use the tractor tomorrow.”
“I don’t like to put people out,” she says.
“Good thing I like to put out,” I say with a wink, hoping to lighten things, but it doesn’t. Nope, it doesn’t lighten things at all. It just moves things in a different direction—a sexual one. Tension takes up space between us, so hot and volatile, it could burn down the orchard after a torrential rainstorm.
“Come on, let’s finish up.” We get all the animals secure, and with Alyson looking a little wobbly in her heels, I say, “Hop on. I’ll give you a piggyback ride.”
“You can’t be serious,” she says, her voice lightening with laughter.
“Unless you want to ruin your shoes. Which are ridiculous for a farm. Have we not been over this?”
She sticks her foot out to examine her heels. “I like these shoes and wasn’t planning on wearing them for farming. They were for helping Colin.”
“Which he really appreciates, and it’s something you’re good at; now hop on.”
Chuckling—and I like when she’s happy—she makes a run for me and jumps on my back, and the second she wraps her legs around my body, I realize I’ve made a huge mistake. I clear my throat, and her arms go around my body to hold on as I carry her inside. We reach her kitchen island, and I turn to deposit her on it. She slowly untangles her arms and legs, and I spin to face her, catch the desire reflecting in her eyes. Her sweet scent fills my senses, and as I breathe her in, more blood leaves my brain.
“Alyson,” I murmur.
“Yeah.”
Walk away, dude. Nothing good can come from this.
“I want…” I stop talking and brush my thumb over her bottom lip. Where do I start? Honestly there are so many things I want to do with this woman, starting with my mouth on her body. I let my gaze roam her beautiful face. She stifles a yawn, and it snaps me out of my trance. My brain screams abort, even though my dick is begging to calls the shots. I back up an inch, put a measure of space between us, hoping to dissipate the sexual tension.
“You’re tired,” I say, a statement, not a question.
“I am.”
“Let’s put you to bed.”
Her gaze latches on mine, holds for a long moment, and then, taking me by surprise, she reaches out, touches my T-shirt, and drags me to her. Her lips once again find mine, and her kiss is so steeped in desire, so delicious and needy, even if I knew better than to start anything with her—and I do—the reasons no longer matter.
“Bed,” she murmurs into my mouth. “Yeah, I like that idea.”
Chapter Eleven
Alyson
I have no idea what I’m doing or saying. Kissing and inviting a guy I barely know to my bed is so out of character for me. Playing hard to get is usually my thing, but he’s sweet and kind, and hot as hell, and my life is already a big black cauldron boiling over with mistakes.
I shouldn’t be taking my eye off my goals or bringing someone into my messed-up life—especially if I can’t keep it purely physical. I can’t lose sight of that. I won’t. But if I regret this hookup come morning, I’ll just add it to the growing list of errors I’ve made. Right now, however, as arousal takes center stage, I’m dying to touch him, see him naked, and have him touch me in return.
“Alyson,” he whispers, his voice a soft rasp as his mouth moves over mine softly, so tentatively and carefully, I fear he’s having second thoughts. I really should be, too.
“One night. You and me.” I know where he stands and realize he’s been hurt deeply and is not about to put himself out there again only to be rejected. To reiterate where I am on the matter, I say, “Nothing more.” Tonight isn’t about love or bonding or a future—and I’m not sure why I keep reminding myself that. It’s about calming the storm between us and snuffing the heat we generate whenever we’re in close proximity.
That’s a lie. My body heats just knowing he’s on the farm next door.
He groans into my mouth, deepening the kiss like a man starved of affection far too long. I know the feeling. I’ve not been with anyone since my ex dumped my sorry ass and got engaged