Ranger - K.M. Neuhold Page 0,26

back. His fingers are warm and gentle, tender as he explores my skin, going slow and easy. What would it feel like to have him play with my nipple barbell?

No man has ever touched me like this. Hell, no man has ever kissed me.

It should’ve been Alex. As much as I love kissing Julian—and god knows I do—I can’t help but think that if I hadn’t been such an idiot, I could’ve shared my first kiss with Alex.

The thought makes me freeze, and Julian carefully pulls away. His eyes are full of concern as they meet mine. “Ranger?”

“Give me a moment,” I say between clenched teeth, and he does, sitting perfectly still while I will the darkness away.

I sigh when I have myself under control again. “I’m sorry.”

Julian climbs off my lap and takes a seat on the couch next to me. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. I wish I could tell you this won’t happen again, but…”

“Ranger, I’m well aware. I’ve worked with veterans for a few years now, and I’ve seen what PTSD can do. I’m telling you it’s okay. As long as you’re open and honest with me, we can make this work.”

Bitterness fills my mouth, a sharp contrast with Julian’s sweet lips. “You could do so much better than me, even for casual sex.”

Julian raises an eyebrow. “Your sales pitch needs some work, but you’re a great kisser, and you’re hot, so I’m willing to overlook that.”

Huh? I snap my head up. Amusement sparkles in his gaze. Oh, he’s teasing me, and my mouth curls up into a smile all on its own. “Thank you. I’ll work on it, I promise.”

“That’s all I’ll ever ask. Now, where were we?”

14

Julian

“Is that what it’s supposed to look like?” I ask PP, frowning at my rather flat and possibly burned lasagna.

She lifts her head, sniffs the air, and then sneezes. Wow, with critique like that, I may have to stop letting her watch Kitchen Nightmares when I leave her home alone.

Sighing, I check the time on the stove clock. Ranger is going to be here any minute for our first planned “hangout.” What said hangout entails is yet to be determined. Is he expecting me to answer the door wrapped in cellophane and immediately bend over for him? If he is, he might not be entirely on board with my “take things slow” plan.

I know slow and casual don’t usually go together, but considering the bit of kissing last time nearly triggered him, not to mention his lack of experience, I’m not about to jump straight into bed with him.

“Maybe a home-cooked meal sends the wrong message.” I pick up the spatula and poke at the blobby meal. “I don’t want him to think I‘m trying to push this into date territory.”

PP grumbles and rolls onto her back as if belly rubs will solve everything. Dogs.

The doorbell rings, and my stomach flips. With one last helpless glance at my mutant lasagna, I wipe my hands on a rag and hurry to answer the door.

My breath catches at the sight of Ranger, freshly shaved, wearing a pair of dark wash jeans and a tight white T-shirt I can totally see the outline of his nipple piercing through. I don’t give a bit of credence to virginity culture or any of that bull hockey, but the fact that I’m going to be the first man to ever touch him is a little intoxicating.

Fantasies fill my mind of dragging Ranger inside and straight down the hall to my bedroom, shoving him onto the bed and stripping him bare one item of clothing at a time, and then licking every inch of him until the only word he can remember is my name. My cock jerks and hardens against my thigh, and my throat goes dry.

“Can I come in?” He sounds uncertain and amused at the same time.

“Sorry, of course.” I step aside and wave him in, Benny right at his side as they step into the house. “I wasn’t sure if you planned to eat before coming over, so I made dinner. It’s semiquestionable but likely edible,” I tack on to prevent him from getting his hopes up too high.

“Semiquestionable but likely edible is my favorite,” he teases.

“Lucky thing for both of us, then. Why don’t you sit down and get comfortable, and I’ll dish it up?” I gesture at the couch.

“Okay.” His shoulders relax a bit. Benny is snuffling his hand and sticking close to him. Yeah, I’m not just imagining his