Page 10 of Big Timber

“I almost didn’t recognize you earlier,” he says, reclaiming my hand as soon as I let go of my hair. “Between the helmet and the gear you had on the other day, I had no clue how small you are.”

“And yet, I’d be able to pullyouout of a burning building,” I snap back my usual remark when people comment on my size; immediately groaning as I remember his friend. “I’m sorry. It’s just that my whole firehouse teases me over my height, but I passed all the same tests they did.”

“You look plenty tall when you’re standing next to your mom,” he says, softly placing his lips against my temple before nuzzling my hair. “You smell good.”

“I hate the showers at the firehouse, so I always take a long one when I first get home,” I nervously blabber away, enjoying the warmth from his body. “Can I tell you a secret?”

“Mmm-huh,” he murmurs, stroking my leg.

“Rick removed the flow restrictors from the shower heads, so the water pressure here is amazing.”

While initially met with dead silence, Tarak eventually throws his head back to release a bellowing laugh. I frown up at him, annoyed at his reaction, especially since I was displaced from the warmth his body was emanating.

“Just you wait until you try the shower!” I say, pulling his arm back around me and cuddling into his side again.

“That doesnotcount as a secret,” he replies, toning down his laughter.

“It does so! It’s against federal regulations,” I insist, knowing that should end the conversation.

“Honey, telling me you never wear panties is a secret. Bragging about your shower heads is right up there with saying you’ve never cut a tag off a pillow before.”

Well, I wear panties, so where does that leave me?I think, enjoying the warmth of his body and the feel of his finger tracing a circular design over the top of my hand.

It’s dark out when I jolt awake and Tarak’s body tenses beside me.

“What? Did you hear something?” his sleep roughened voice is deeper than usual, but alert, nonetheless.

“No. I don’t know,” I sputter out, trying to get some semblance of what time it is. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

“I could do a lot worse than having a woman like you curled into my side,” he replies.

“Come on, I’ll make the bed for you,” I say, reluctantly leaving him to go set up the Murphy bed.

“Can I tell you a secret?” Tarak asks from the doorway to the den, and I narrow my eyes at him, expecting him to tease me again. “I want you to stay down here with me.”

Giving myself a moment to weigh my decision, I turn my head to focus on jerking a pillowcase over one of the overstuffed pillows that my brother ... eww. I briefly consider my bed, but know that’s unfair to Tarak, given his ankle.

Without another word, I toss the pillow into place and reach down to pull my nightshirt over my head. As I’m lowering my pajama bottoms, I hear his belt buckle rattling and know that’s he’s undressing behind me.

“Shit,” he mutters, and I turn my head to look at him. “You don’t happen to have a condom, do you?”

“Are you clean?” I ask, feeling disappointed since I know I don’t have any. “I’m on the pill.”

“I am, but we’ll skip that part tonight,” he says, his eyes darkening again. “Sorry, and I do not want to offend you, but I won’t take the chance.”

Reading his expression, I pause to consider why I even made that offer to him and why his tone hardened. Kneeling on the bed, I scoot to the far side; silently telling him,I’m all right with that.

Unsure of what to expect, I’m surprised when he only removes his jeans and slides in, pulling me against him. The warmth of his body sends a cascade of shivers down my spine, my nipples tighten in response and I, again, wonder what I’m getting myself into.

His lips touch mine, softly at first, but as the minutes tick away and I wrap my arms around his neck, the light kisses take on a more demanding tone. When his tongue slips into my mouth and his arms tighten around me, I realize I haven’t been kissed like this in years.

Then I admit to myself how much I’ve missed just making out with a man.

He’s not rushing things along to get his dick inside of me.

It’s almost like a date except we’re not sitting at a restaurant asking each other a dozen questions. We’re getting to know each other as our tongues dance and explore. His hands gently stroking my shoulders and neck—even as I arch my back, pushing my nipples up against his shirt, in desperate need of some attention.

As his lips travel across my jawbone to my earlobe, I jerk in surprise as he touches a sensitive area, and he draws back, smiling down at me and brushing my hair away from my face, smoothing it out on the pillow beside me.

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