fast.
English Chester cleared his throat.
The ride back to my house was quiet, not because we’d run out of things to say, but rather because conversation didn’t feel necessary. I’d wrapped the blanket over both of our laps and took the opportunity to rest my hand on Leo’s warm thigh. Old Barney was in a much bigger hurry to get to the barn where his oats were waiting than he’d been to get to the hotel, so he kept up a steady clip.
“I’ll see you in fifteen minutes,” Leo promised as I hopped out at my place.
I knew it would take him a bit longer, and that was just fine because I had some primping to do. I raced to my bedroom and lit a few candles. Then blew them out because candles seemed kind of cheesy, but then I lit them again because now my room smelled like recently extinguished candles. The flames did lend a nice glow to the room, and heaven knew I could benefit from dim lighting.
I took all the decorative pillows from the bed and stacked them neatly near the wall, then pondered whether or not to turn down the bed linens. I went with yes, mostly so he wouldn’t see that my comforter had a big stain on one side from when I’d spilled coffee all over it. That’s what all those damn decorative pillows were for. To cover up the stain.
I brushed my teeth and spritzed another round of perfume on myself. I took off my shoes and tossed them in the closet and caught a glimpse of my new nightgown folded on a shelf. I halted and stared.
Oh, should I?
I could put on that new nightie. What would Leo think if he showed up and I was wearing that little number? I giggled and tapped my fingers against my lips. He’d probably like it. No, not probably. He’d definitely like it. But it seemed awfully forward . . . Then again, I’d rarely heard of a circumstance where a man complained about a woman being too eager for sex. But . . . I wasn’t really the kind of woman who opened the door of her house in nothing but a bit of lingerie . . .
Oh, there was a matching robe. Problem solved.
I stripped down and put on the slinky ensemble. Then I quickly took it off and pulled my jeans back on. Then I stared at the nightie on the floor. Debating.
“Oh, what the hell,” I finally said to myself, and pulled off the jeans once more.
Leo tapped on my front door not long after. I was barefoot, wearing the robe and nightie and had changed twice more before he arrived. But now it was go time. I opened the door, and his expression as he took in my apparel made me certain I’d made the right call.
“Well, all right then,” he said, stepping inside and pulling me into his arms. He kissed away all my doubts before he’d even taken off his coat.
“How about some wine?” I asked when he finally stepped away to remove a few layers of his own. He dropped his coat in the chair and kicked off his shoes while pulling his sweater off over his head. Now he had the striped shirt and his jeans still to go.
“Wine sounds great,” he said, but then grabbed me and kissed me some more, and in the back of my mind I commended my nightgown decision.
“Sorry,” he breathed against my lips. “I just needed to kiss you again.”
“I’m not complaining.”
My fingers were in his hair, pulling him closer. His hands moved to my backside, lifting and pressing me against him until I was dizzy with longing. No regrets. I wanted Leo as much as he wanted me. And that was a lot. He walked me backward until I bumped up against the door, and he reached down and turned the dead bolt.
“I’m not letting your dad in here tonight,” he said, his voice low and husky.
I might have laughed except I didn’t think he was joking. This Leo was all business. I could feel the length of him pressed against me and I lost awareness of anything but him. Wine was forgotten as I pulled him up the stairs and into my room. He took a moment to notice the candles and the turned-down sheet, and the sexiest of his smiles made my legs turn to noodles.
“Too presumptuous?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
“Very, very presumptuous,” he said,