Page 16 of Slippery When Wet

“What if I want you here?” I asked, letting my heart take the reins for the first time in my life.

“Open the back gate,” he dared in a deep, low, gravelly tone. My eyes moved toward the darkness that led to the side of the house where the gate was. “Or don’t. It’s up to you. There’s absolutely no pressure.” His tone softened, and so did my heart.

He was giving me an out.

Trying not to push me too far out of my comfort zone. Almost like he knows you better than you think? I shook my head and stood up. My feet, with a mind of their own, made their way toward the dark creepy alley that led to the door. The lightbulb on the side of the house had burned out a week ago, and I hadn’t had time to change it.

I hated the dark. It was creepy. Logically, I knew everything that was between where I stood and the back gate: two trash bins and my beach cruiser. That was it. But your head liked to play tricks on you with the darkness. Hearing his steady breathing on the other end of the line, I didn’t stop to let my imagination run away from me. I took a step into the darkness. Somehow, knowing I’d find him on the other end made it easier. Less scary.

Take a chance, a soft voice whispered. It’s time to live out loud. Color outside the lines. Be wild. The little peptalk replayed over and over in my head. My cell phone in one hand, the other touched the fence line until I made it to the door. I opened it and gasped softly. Not out of fear but happiness.

“You’re here,” I whispered.

I couldn’t make out his features with the streetlight behind him, but he pulled me out and toward the light.

“You didn’t use your flashlight?” He took my cell from my hand.

“I didn’t think about it.” I’ve been in too much of a hurry to see him. His lips quirked up, making him look even sexier. I liked that look on his face. Abel’s big hand rose and touched my cheek. The moment his palm caressed my skin, I leaned in, loving the warmth and roughness of his calloused fingers.

“My brave girl,” he praised. His words, his sentiment, washed through me like the coziest feeling ever, leaving me feeling all warm and fuzzy. “Come on.” His hand dropped from my face, and he extended it for me to take. Our fingers tangled like two puzzle pieces perfectly shaped to fit the other.

“Where are we going?” I asked, and he smiled brighter.

“Trust me?”

“Yes,” I answered with confidence I felt all the way down to my toes.

“Good.” He grinned; it made him impossibly handsome. I had no idea how a man his size moved so fast, but he did. One moment, my feet were touching the ground, and the other, my legs were wrapped around his narrow waist, and he was carrying me to his truck like I weight nothing more than a sack of flour.

There were a million and one questions running through my head, not to mention the fact I wasn’t dressed to go out in public. But I didn’t think about that. I didn’t think about anything but how happy I was to be with him.

I simply smiled at him and for the first time in my life just went with the moment.

Abel

I had no idea what the hell I was doing.

This had not been part of the plan.

Not that I’d ever been that great at making them. Not with women at least. In the past, I’d dated. Nothing serious, mostly casual relationships that had usually fizzled out. Being in the Navy, I was never in one place too long to build anything serious. I’d been good at making money, seeing opportunities that would pay off in the long run. Usually, that had always and only been regarding fattening up my bank account.

But Abby was different.

My curvy princess brought out a side of me I’d known existed, but not in the way she brought that part the surface. I’d always liked what I liked behind closed doors. Dominating a woman, her handing over her submission, giving you her trust to bring her pleasure? Fuck, it’d always been something I had craved. I’d played at different clubs and with different women. But I’d never had a little girl. I’d never wanted to protect and love and cherish a woman the way I wanted to when it came to Abagail Rivas.

Abby brought out the daddy in me and tripled him.

I’d waited until she had left to follow her home, then sat in my truck parked across the street from the duplex she shared with her sister, Karol, and just waited. I had wanted to take her for a hike in the morning to get some quiet, uninterrupted time alone with her while trying to push her out of her boundaries.

I should have gone home.

I should be in bed.

She should be, too.

Instead, I was driving through Poppy Beach with Abby tucked beside me, thanks to the bench seat in my truck. I’d hated the thing when I first bought it, but now, I loved the fact she was so close. She smelled good, too. She must have taken a shower after the pool since the scent of the chlorine no longer stuck to her skin like it did with me. She smelled like peaches and honey, and my mouth watered for a taste. Her dark hair fell in waves over her shoulders a little more unruly than she usually wore it. Like she’d let her hair airdry, and I fucking loved seeing her this way.

Not to mention the pajamas she wore.

---