Page 52 of Meant for You

“Did you miss me?” I said, even as warmth hit my cheeks from the intensity of his gaze.

“Yes. Fuck yes.” He lowered his head and his lips came down on mine. Like the other times he’d kissed me, it was like we sparked off each other before being set alight, engulfed in an inferno of our own making.

I slid my hands up his chest, a thrill shooting through me when I felt those rings through his nipples against my palms. Unable to hold in my whimper when his tongue swept inside and one of his hands slid lower, over my butt, and he squeezed, I moaned against his mouth, opening for him, kissing him back just as fiercely.

That was the first time he’d touched me like that, had done anything beyond kissing me, and I loved it. I wanted more, so much more.

When he finally lifted his head, he smiled gently. “You look fucking amazing.”

“So do you.”

He chuckled. “Glad you think so.”

“Oh, I do.” This was so new, talking to each other like this, but I liked it.

“You ready to go?”

“Yes. Let me just grab my stuff. I thought I should bring something warm for later.” I grabbed my bag sitting by the door and pulled it shut.

“Good idea.” He took my hand. “Especially since we’re ticking two things off your list tonight.”

“Are we?” Now I was even more excited.

“We’re going to a party, and we’re sleeping under the stars,” he said, giving my hand a gentle squeeze.

My lower belly zapped. “We’re staying there all night?”

“Yeah,” he said as we reached his truck. “You cool with that?”

That’s when I noticed the mattress in the bed of the old Ford pickup.

I bit my lip and nodded. “Yep, I’m cool with that.” I went to open my door and Dane pulled me to a stop.

“Don’t overthink it,” he said. “You and me, we’re taking things slow, okay? We go at your pace. Just sleeping with you in my arms is enough.”

I nodded, and I was kind of relieved. I wanted Dane badly. But I was also scared of what would happen when we took things there. What if it was bad? What if it felt weird? Wrong? Dane had been my best friend for so long, what if it just didn’t feel right?

I shoved those thoughts from my mind and smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

He gave me another quick kiss, then opened my door for me and I climbed in.

* * *

Three hours later I stood by Dane, holding his hand, a beer in the other, at my first real party.

There was a bonfire blazing that someone had lit when the sun disappeared behind the mountains. People were standing around it or sitting on logs that had been made into seats. Someone had even brought an old couch.

There were a few Ramblers here, but they were younger—Dane and Grifter’s age—as well as some local Rocktown guys, not that I knew any of them, but Dane said they went to the same gym.

There were lots of girls as well, and a few make-out sessions were already happening around us.

Dane squeezed my hand, and I looked up at him.

“You good?”

I grinned. “I’m with you.”

His eyes slid to my mouth. “Yeah, you are,” he said, voice husky and sexy.