Page 41 of Fastlander Phoenix

“Fuck,” he murmured, tracing the tip of the wings of her tattoo. He looked absolutely floored.

“Do you want to tuck me in before you head for your tent?” she asked, testing.

“I would rather tuck you in and sleep beside you for the next hour. I have to wake up soon for work.”

“Come here,” she said, repeating the gentle command he used with her.

He followed her down the hall, slipping his hands to her waist from behind as she walked slowly to his bedroom. Her phone was in the bathroom, and probably completely dead by now, but that wasn’t important. The moon was full enough, and her eyes were adjusted enough, that she could see the bedroom.

There was something so intimate about existing here in the quiet dark with Wreck—like the world didn’t exist outside of these shadows.

It was just them.

His lips brushed the side of her neck, and she rolled her eyes closed as he guided her to the bed. The air had a chill to it, but he reached forward and shot a spark from his fingertips, and the fireplace near the bed ignited. Smoothly, he turned her and walked her backward toward the bed, his eyes trapping every ounce of her focus.

“Did you mean it?” he asked softly, his voice barely audible.

“Mean what?” she asked on a breath.

“You’ll help me rebuild this place.”

A wicked smile took her lips. “Yes, but you won’t enjoy the process.”

“Mmmm. You can do what you like with this place,” he said as he pulled her T-shirt over her head.

She was still holding his T-shirt, and this was the part where she was supposed to get dressed for bed, but screw it. She tossed his T-shirt on the floor and fell back onto the bed, watching the hungry look on his face as he dragged his gaze up her shorts-clad legs to her bare stomach, and then to her forest-green lace bralette. It was translucent. She’d worn it on purpose for their dinner date, just in case.

He stood there, all tall and strong—muscles rippling, abs flexing with each breath. She wanted to touch him again, but a hunter required patience.

“I don’t know what to do with you,” he murmured, cocking his head to the side.

And that was answer enough. He’d been through a roller coaster today, and allowed himself to connect with someone,and that could be a draining and overwhelming experience. Clearly, he was still unsure.

She made it easy for him and offered him an out. “How about you tuck me in, and then you can go. You can sleep for an hour, and when you wake up, there will be no regrets.”

“That’s what you’re thinking? You think I will have regrets?”

She didn’t know how to answer, so she remained quiet. She leaned down, grabbed his T-shirt, and pulled it over her head. He stood there and watched as she did the girl-rocket-science move and modestly took off her bralette under the shirt. She shimmied out of her shorts and tugged the hem of the oversized T-shirt down to her knees, then stepped forward and gave him a hug, squeezing him up tight. Before he even moved, she released him and slipped under the covers of his bed.

It should stink of smoke in here, but it smelled of fresh pine and earth. She knew magic existed now, because of Wreck.

She laid on her side as he watched her, pulled a pillow to her stomach and hooked her leg over it, then smiled up at him. “Goodnight, Wreck.”

He shifted his weight to the other side, and then he slowly peeled off his sweatpants, set them on the end of the bed, and walked around the mattress until he was at her back. She felt the covers peel to the side, and cool air hit her spine. She shifted forward so he would have more room on the queen-sized mattress.

The butterflies in her stomach turned to dragons as his arm slid over her waist. He dragged her back against his warm chest and curled his body protectively around her. The fireplace in the bedroom was a nice addition to this little single-wide, and the fire warmed her cheeks as she watched the flames. She wondered aloud, “Do the flames comfort you?”

“They are a comfort, yes. Familiar. I fall asleep better to the sound of the wood burning.”

“You fall asleep better to the soft sound of destruction,” she murmured.

“I wouldn’t have regrets. I don’t want you thinking that. I just want to give you plenty of opportunities to leave before it gets too deep.”

“I suppose intimacy would be very deep.” With Wreck.

“With other women, I could always flip that switch and take away the feelings, but I don’t know if I can with you.” He leaned closer and whispered in her ear, “If I taste you, I will want more.”

A shiver of excitement trembled up her back. She nestled closer to him and arched, pressing her ass more firmly against him. She could feel his readiness, and it made her want to explore his body more. She wanted to know every inch of his fiery skin. She wanted to feel his muscles when he wasn’t tense, or angry, or uncertain. She wanted to know the way he smelled when he slept. She was holding his hand tightly against her chest, nuzzling his knuckles with her cheek. “I will want more, too.”

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