Page 12 of The Keeper

“Nervous?” he guessed, his voice laced with amusement.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, and I nodded before admitting, “A little. It’s been a while.”

His expression softened, and he reached over to cup my jaw, guiding my face toward his. “Hey, we don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Piper,” he said, his thumb stroking along my cheekbone. “Let’s take things slow and just talk.”

Something about the gentleness of his touch, so at odds with his imposing presence, calmed my racing heart and settled my rolling stomach. I took a deep breath and nodded. “All right. What should we talk about?”

Dane shifted, pulling me closer until I was nestled against his side. The heat radiating from his body seeped through the lightweight cotton of the robe, easing some of the tension from my shoulders. “Tell me about yourself. What do you do when you’re not serenading men with power ballads or entertaining stalkers like me?”

“Discreet admirer,” I corrected with a soft laugh before adding, “I’m a baker. Well, technically, I’m a pastry chef working in a bakery, but six of one, half a dozen of the other.”

His eyebrows lifted in surprise. “A baker… Not what I expected.”

“What, can’t picture me in an apron?”

“Oh no, I can picture it just fine, darlin’,” he said, a slow smile spreading across his face. “You look damn good in it too.”

My breath caught at the compliment, and I struggled to keep my voice steady as I said, “I’ll have you know I’m quite talented in the kitchen. In fact, I’ve been saving up to open my own place someday.”

“Don’t doubt that for a second,” Dane murmured, lowering his gaze to my lips. “How close are you to making it happen?”

“Pretty close, actually,” I said, unable to mask my excitement. “I’m hoping to have a lease signed on a building by the end of the year.”

He nodded approvingly. “Impressive. Takes a lot of grit to start your own business.”

I relaxed into his side, my earlier nervousness fading. “It does, but it’s worth it. There’s a certain romantic aspect to taking everyday ingredients and creating something amazing. It’s like, in some small way, I get to be a part of someone’s big moments, you know?”

As I spoke, his hand began tracing lazy patterns on my arm. “What’s your favorite thing to bake?”

“Honestly?” I bit my lip with a grin. “Cinnamon rolls. They’re super time-intensive, but the results are so worth it.”

“God, I can’t remember the last time I had homemade cinnamon rolls. My baking skills are limited to toaster pastries.”

“No way. Store-bought doesn’t hold a candle to these. I could teach you how to make them,” I offered, then immediately felt foolish. What was I thinking, offering to bake for a man I would never see again after tonight?

“The biker and the baker,” Dane mused with a low chuckle. “Pretty sure I saw an author selling that exact story at the event.”

“Not to brag, but I snagged the last copy,” I said, getting up to grab it from the book cart. “Thought it might be a good place for us to start.” I bent to retrieve it from the stack before sauntering back to the couch, hips slightly swaying.

Dane kept his eyes on me even as he reached down to adjusthimself. That and the hard set of his jaw were all the motivation I needed.

“Here.” I handed him the book before loosening the belt of my robe. His breathing shifted as the fabric slid down my shoulders, the fabric parting just enough to reveal the tops of my breasts.

In one fluid motion, I straddled his lap, my knees sinking into the couch cushions on either side of his muscular thighs. His erection flexed under me, and my lips parted on a strangled moan.

“You okay?” I whispered, leaning down to nip at his ear.

Dane latched onto my hips and lifted me off his lap. The feral growl that tore through his chest as he forced me to my knees had me pressing my thighs together in anticipation.

Instead of reaching for his belt, his fingers slid into my hair, carefully unraveling the messy bun until the dark strands fell in loose waves around my shoulders.

“What?” I asked, suddenly self-conscious under his intense scrutiny.

He exhaled a quiet laugh and shook his head. “Just admiring the view, darlin’. You’re so goddamned beautiful. Been waiting all day to see you down on your knees for me.”

My cheeks flushed at his praise, a mixture of pride and desire swirling in my belly as I reached for his belt buckle.

Because he was absolutely getting a blow job.

---