Page 48 of Elsie's Strong Shelter

Heat flashed in his eyes. His tongue licked out to wet his bottom lip. “I have a few ideas on how we can do that.”

She grinned, desire flaring to life inside her. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” he echoed then dropped his hands to her hips, hoisting her up to sit on the counter.

Her legs went instinctively around his waist, her arms looped around his neck.

He groaned as her middle pressed against his.

She grinned, loving the sense of feminine power that washed over her. She didn’t have a ton of experience with men, but instinct told her Dean was about to awaken something inside her. Something that would make her forget all her pain—at least for a little while. “I’d love if you can show me those ideas. I have a funny feeling they just might help me relax a little.”

His groan morphed into a growl and he swooped forward, taking her mouth in his. His tongue pressed through her lips, deepening the kiss.

She squeezed her legs tighter around him, bringing him closer. Raw, hot lust shot like flames through her body. Tingles of excitement burst along her skin. Her breath became ragged, and she fisted the back of his shirt in her hands. She wanted it off, wanted all barriers between them to disappear.

Breaking away, she dipped her hands under his shirt and worked the fabric up his torso before slipping it over his head and tossing it to the floor. Rock hard muscles stared back at her, and her palms rested on his chest. Her fingers itched to roam the rest of his body, to find out what lay beneath his clothing.

He trapped her hands with one large palm while his other hand slid under the front of her shirt. “Two can play at that game,” he teased, his voice so low and husky it skimmed across her skin.

He trailed his fingertips up her side, sending shivers down her body, then flipped the cup of her bra down to release herbreast. He flicked the pad of his thumb over her nipple, rolling the tender bud until it hardened.

Throwing back her head, she moaned.

Dean pressed kisses against her neck, up her jawline, until he found her mouth once more.

“Dean,” she whispered, flattening her palms against his cheeks.

His hand stilled, and she thought her body might scream out in protest. “What is it? Are you okay? Do you want to stop?”

She stared into his earnest eyes. Tenderness melted her insides. This was what she needed—what she wanted. A man who not only desired her, but cared enough about her to stop and make sure everything was all rightfor her.A man who wanted to give her everything, even if it meant he got less. A man who valued her for exactly who she was.

Her heart ached in a beautiful and terrifying way that told her she had fallen hard for Dean Kingston and there was no turning back.

“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I definitely don’t want to stop. I was just thinking maybe we should take this somewhere a little more comfortable.”

“Sounds good to me.”

Gripping her ass, he molded her against him and carried her down the hall to his bedroom.

She held on tight, her pulse thundering in her ears, and prepared to make love to the man of her dreams.

19

Forty minutes later, every inch of Dean’s body screamed to turn the truck around, gather Elsie in his arms, and take her back to his bed. A bone deep satisfaction settled in his soul unlike anything he’d ever felt. Being with Elsie had been magical. Had opened his eyes to what he’d been missing, and all he wanted to do was continue that magic over and over.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option. Not when Jimmy and Elsie’s parents waited for them at the park.

Sliding his truck into a spot between two cars, Dean shut off the engine and hurried out to open Elsie’s door. He didn’t want to be away from her. Not even for the few seconds it’d take for her to unbuckle her seatbelt and meet him outside.

Nestling her palm into his hand, she smirked and accepted his assistance down. “My, my. What a gentleman.”

“Don’t get used to it,” he teased. “I have to be on my best behavior in front of your parents. Once I get you back to my place, I plan on being very, very bad for as long as you let me.”

She laughed and slapped at his chest with her free hand. “Sounds like I freed a little bit of a beast.”

He grinned. “You have no idea.” He tugged her closer and placed a kiss on her cheek. “But don’t worry, the beast will be in check until the right time.”

“Elsie! Dean!”

---