Page 8 of Tempting the Tender Guy: Imperfect Heroes

I’m twenty-eight and haven’t slept with a guy on the first date in a long time. With Mack I’m going to make an exception. Besides, it’s not as if we’re strangers, we’ve known each other for two years.

Two wasted years that we could have been dating.

And fucking like bunnies.

My nipples tighten up from more than the chill in the air.

“There,” Mack says loudly in my ear as he points.

I pull back at the unexpected volume of his voice and follow his pointing finger. Rex, the wolf, has emerged and is walking around. Walking on three legs he is less graceful than when he was running, but I’m spellbound by the majestic beauty of the large wolf.

Glancing over at the man by my side, I’m just as awe-struck by him and the fact that we’re here together.

CHAPTER FOUR

MACK

Walking around the sanctuary with Sadie, I’m in a daze. I’ve been looking forward to this date since Yvonne called me. Part of me also can’t help wondering how I’ve gotten so lucky. This is completely out of the blue and it’s hard to trust things that seem too good to be true.

My life has been rather boring. Uneventful childhood, got into an apprentice program with a great mentor, later took a job at that shop before moving to a new one for several years and then landing a spot at where I currently work, Ink Expressions.

Even my past relationships have been pretty low-key. I’ve dated casually, had a few relationships that lasted a couple months to a year, parted amiably, and went on with life. No great love affairs or anything close to finding the so-called one. My attraction to Sadie has been the first spark in my life that flared unexpectedly and brightly.

Her confusion over our date momentarily threatened to extinguish that spark, and real pain lit across me with the speed of a sucker punch. Thankfully, things were straightened out and now here we are walking hand in hand around as darkness moves in.

As we walk, discovering all the animals that have found refuge here, Sadie chats about each one and I smile at her enthusiasm.

The lights around the sanctuary keep the worst of the darkness at bay, yet as evening turns into night there’s no escaping the looming dark nor the fact that our date is rapidly coming to an end.

All too soon, an announcement comes with the warning that they will be closing in fifteen minutes.

The small gift shop is already closed when we leave. I don’t miss the quick flash of disappointment on Sadie’s face. We’ll definitely have to come back here another time and plan to come earlier.

The parking lot is deserted, with just our two vehicles remaining. The employees must have a staff parking lot.

Walking Sadie to an older boxy tan car that has seen better days, I try to reconcile the fun and bubbly woman at my side with her choice of rides.

We face each other and all the words I want to say are bottled up and stuck in my throat as I stare at her lovely face. Her blue eyes shine brightly and even in the overhead parking lot’s harsh yellow lights her skin looks creamy and utterly soft. My eyes drop to her lips and the urge to kiss her is almost unbearable, yet I hesitate, not wanting to rush things.

Sadie doesn’t seem to have the same inclination as she rises on her tiptoes, grabbing ahold of my vest and yanking me down to her level. Suddenly those lips that I’ve fantasized and dreamed about are pressed to mine, molding and curving in a delicious way that sends blood surging down to my dick in a rush that should leave me lightheaded.

Taking confidence from her initiative, I palm her face and lower my head so she’s not straining as much to reach my mouth. Our lips grasp and glide, teasing and tasting as pleasure sings hotly through my veins.

As one our mouths open, her tongue meeting mine and a wet and passionate duel commences.

My back hits her car as she presses against me, her fingers anchoring in my hair, while her other hand clutches at my neck. The writhing of her body making it clear that she’s as into this as I am, I don’t even attempt to hide my erection from her. I grind myself into her soft stomach feeling the hot slide of my pre-cum sticking me to my boxers.

I love how forward and sexy Sadie is. I’ve been dreaming and longing for this for so damn long that now that she’s in my arms, her tongue stroking mine, it all feels like at any moment I’m going to wake up alone in my bed.

My fingers tighten on her face when her lips leave mine before I regretfully let her go.

“This has been fun, Mack. Why don’t we continue things at my place?” She playfully rakes her teeth over her wet lower lip, making me ache for another taste of her sweetness.

My dick throbs in my pants, fully on board with that suggestion. If it were any other woman, I might go and whatever happens happens. But not with Sadie. Now that I have a real chance with her, I want to explore our mutual interest and not risk blowing it by rushing into sex.

“Better not.”

The warmth in her eyes drains away as her face tightens. She moves back, putting some space between us, and immediately I miss the contact of her body against mine.

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