Page 53 of Sheltered

He shrugged. “What can I say? I want you all to myself.”

I was feeling so good about all that had happened today, I didn’t stop myself from leaning into the playfulness. So, I teased, “I am a lot of fun, aren’t I?”

“You have no idea,” Blaze returned, the smile on his face the biggest I’d ever seen.

Loving what was happening between us, not wanting it to end, I asked, “Do you have a plan for us for the rest of the day?”

He shook his head. “Beyond knowing I intend to spend the rest of my weekend with you, I don’t have anything specific planned. Why? Is there something you’d like to do?”

I nodded.

Blaze shot me an expectant look.

“Well, I was just thinking, if you’re okay with it, will you take me back to your place?”

The moment I got the question out, Blaze’s entire expression changed.

SIXTEEN

Blaze

Over the last three weeks, I’d learned to expect the unexpected where Harlow was concerned. But today I felt as though I’d been handed a double dose of disbelief.

It all started with the words she’d said to me in the parking lot beside my truck after we’d gone paintballing this morning.

I already had her heart.

I hadn’t woken up this morning intending to hear anything like that, but I wasn’t going to complain that I’d gotten that from her.

I couldn’t begin to describe how it felt to hear her say that to me. I knew she’d been growing more and more comfortable with me, but that was something I hadn’t been prepared to hear from her three weeks into this.

It meant everything to me.

For that reason, I’d have been utterly content for that to be the only thing I got from Harlow today. I didn’t need anything else beyond knowing how she felt about me.

But it seemed that Harlow wasn’t quite done yet with making me feel like I’d won the lottery. Unless, of course, I’d just heard her incorrectly. “What did you just say?”

Uneasiness washed over her, and she clammed up a bit. “I… well… I was just… it was only a suggestion,” she stammered. “I was wondering if you’d take me back to your place. I’d love to see where you live.”

I gave myself about half of a second to stare in disbelief at her, but I quickly snapped myself out of it, pulled out my wallet, and threw some cash down on the table. Then I stood, held my hand out to Harlow, and urged her to her feet.

The next thing I knew, Harlow and I were in my truck, and I was driving us back to my place. Silence filled the cabin, but there was so much noise already inside my head.

It was during that drive when I realized I needed to find a way to contain how I was feeling. Sure, this was a step in the right direction for us, but Harlow probably meant for this to be completely innocent.

And it was fine if that was the case. I loved where we were. I loved how things had been progressing between us.

But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want more with her.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t think daily about what it would be like to have her.

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t go home after spending time with her and need to find ways to relieve the sexual tension.

I’d be lying if I said she didn’t drive me wild with just one look or a simple touch.

Most of all, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel anything for her.

Because the truth was that I felt more for her than I’d felt for any woman who’d come into my life. And there was nothing I wanted more than to be able to show her how much I felt for her, to be able to do that by connecting with her physically.

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