Page 6 of Texting the Handyman

The drive to the restaurant is short but filled with conversation. As we get seated at our table, Harvey admits with a shy sort of smile, “I looked you up. Couldn’t help it after finding out about your job. It’s damn impressive, the following you’ve built.”

I smile, pleasantly surprised by his reaction. A lot of people completely dismiss my job or assume no real work goes into it, but Harvey’s right. I’ve worked hard to build my career, and it is impressive. “Thanks,” I say, “It took a lot of trial and error, but then my fashion content just sort of took off, and I’ve never looked back.”

“Well, you’ve clearly got a talent for it,” he praises, and I can’t help but find myself preening a little.

“I might be good at that, but you should see me try to put together IKEA furniture,” I joke, grinning.

Harvey’s eyes shine with unspoken implications as he says, “Good thing you’ve got me for that now.”

My heart pounds in my chest at the way he says it, like we are truly meant to be together, like he feels the same way I do.

The waiter comes to take our order, and not long after, the food arrives. We chat about work and family and all the get-to-know-you things we skipped before he had me screaming his name for the first time. I discover that his favorite color is yellow, hehas two younger brothers, and he’s an adrenaline junkie who has jumped out of a plane. That’s my worst nightmare, but he’s grinning so widely when he tells me about the experience that I almost want to try it for myself—almost.

The food is amazing, but the company is even better, and even though I’ve only had one glass of wine, I feel light and bubbly, like I’ve drunk a whole bottle—affected so much by the man across from me. I want him so badly that, for perhaps the first time in my entire life, I consider skipping dessert just so we can get out of here sooner. But then Harvey suggests splitting the fudge brownie I’m eyeing up on the menu, and that sounds too perfect to pass up.

Harvey doesn’t even give me a chance to offer to split the cost, and I’m beginning to see the gentlemanly side of him underneath the rugged, flirty exterior. Learning all these new aspects about him just makes me want to get to know him even better, to discover every little quirk he has, every scar on his body, and inside jokes.

He takes my hand as we exit the restaurant, holding onto me tightly in a way that makes me think maybe he doesn’t want the night to end just as much as I don’t. He helps me into his car again, but for a long moment, we don’t drive away.

“I’m not ready for this night to end,” I say, throwing caution to the wind. Then again, given what happened between us yesterday, I feel pretty safe saying what’s on my mind with Harvey. I want to make him fall apart like he did for me, and I cannot stop thinking about it.

“Me neither,” Harvey says. “Though, if I’m being honest, I don’t think I’ll ever be ready for what’s between us to end, even for the night.”

I feel myself blush yet again, a response I can’t ever seem to control around Harvey. “If I’m being honest,” I say, echoing him, “I feel the same way.”

Harvey grins. “Thank fuck for that because I have no plans of letting you go now. You’re mine, gorgeous,” he says, the possessive tone of his voice making me shiver. “So, my place?”

I nod immediately, not even caring how eager it makes me look. The car rumbles to life, and Harvey pulls away, leaning over a little to take my hand in his as he drives. Our fingers twine together as one of my favorite songs comes on the radio, and I catch Harvey singing along to the words. Laughing, I join in, loving that this man has no qualms about singing the lyrics to a pop song about falling for a bad boy. Between his humor, his good looks, and the way he’s already shown he wants to take care of me, Harvey is a dream.

One I don’t have any desire to wake up from.

Thankfully, it isn’t a long drive to Harvey’s place. His apartment is in a new, well-kept block, and we pass a few of his neighbors on the way up to his place, though I can’t remember any of their faces because I’m too full of anticipation.

Harvey’s apartment is exactly like I pictured it would be. Utilitarian gray and black furnishings but with a few photos on the wall that make it clear he’s tried to make it homey.

“It’s nowhere near as pretty as yours, but I’m at work most of the time and haven’t had the time to do anything else to it,” Harvey says a little sheepishly. It’s cute, honestly.

Besides, it’s not his home decor I’m here for, anyway. Harvey locks the door behind us then comes to take my coat, his hands skimming down my arms as he slides it off my shoulders, leavinggoosebumps in his wake. I kick off my heels and place them by the door, getting butterflies over the way our things look side by side, imagining a future where my heels and his work boots sit next to each other every day.

“You’re so fucking gorgeous,” Harvey murmurs as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to him. My hands go to his chest on instinct, feeling the ridges of muscle beneath my fingers. “The whole time we were eating dinner, all I could think about was how much better you’d taste.”

“I couldn’t stop imagining how you’d feel inside me,” I whisper. I’ve never dirty-talked before, but something about Harvey makes it impossible for me to keep my thoughts to myself. From the way he growls and tightens his hold on me, my words hit their mark.

Neither of us can wait a second longer. I don’t know who moves first or if we move at the same time, but we crash together with all the pent-up tension of the evening and the last day between us.

The kiss consumes me, scrambling my brain and lighting every nerve ending of my body on fire. I feel my panties dampen and need coils low in my stomach, my body begging for more. I whimper against Harvey’s lips as he lifts me, walking us through his apartment. I’m too caught up in kissing him to pay attention to where we’re going until my stomach swoops as he lays me down. I bounce a little on the mattress, squealing with disorientation and then laughter, realizing he’s obviously taken us into the bedroom.

I get a brief look before I get distracted again, pleasantly surprised by the softness of the blue sheets beneath me and the variety of books and small collection of trinkets on the shelvesin the corner. Any other time, I’d take the chance to be nosy and snoop a little, but then Harvey unbuttons his shirt, and I lose the ability to focus on literally anything else but his abs.

I knew Harvey was ripped from what I’ve seen and felt beneath his clothes, but the low light in here casts shadows over every ridge of his stomach and chest, making my mouth water with desire. My gaze trails lower to the sizable bulge pushing at his suit trousers, and my thighs squeeze together in anticipation.

I expect Harvey to lean over and kiss me again, but instead, he kneels down and trails his hands up my thighs, gathering the silky material of my dress as he goes. He pushes the skirt higher and higher until it’s bunched around my waist, and my white lace thong is on show. I slide the zipper at the side of the bodice down and sit up, pulling the dress off completely as Harvey watches with utter lust, turning his blue eyes a shade darker. It’s not the kind of dress I need a bra with, and Harvey curses softly under his breath as the fabric falls away and leaves me bare but for the thong.

“Are you trying to kill me, Hailey?” he jokes, his voice raspy with want. “Because fucking hell, I don’t think my brain can handle this much beauty all at once.”

I giggle, leaning forward on the bed to wrap my arms around his neck and tug him onto the mattress with me. “Stop thinking and just kiss me,” I tease, trailing one hand down his chest and stomach to his pants. I unbutton them and tug them down, and he helps me by kicking off the remnants of his clothes. A quick glance tells me my guess was a hundred percent right—Harvey is big. I have a brief moment of worry that he won’t fit, but then again, I’ve always loved a challenge, and I’m sure as hell willing to try.

This time, when Harvey kisses me, there’s nothing between our bodies, nothing preventing us from exploring and discovering each other’s bodies. My hands roam his chest, nails scraping over his abs and making him shudder, his cock pressed hard against my lower stomach as his hands trail up my sides. I gasp against him as he cups my breast, rolling my peaked nipple between his thumb and forefinger, sending sparks of pleasure through me straight to my clit. My back arches as his other hand grabs my hip, his thumb tracing the crease at the edge of my panties, the skin sensitive and desperate for more. Just when I think I might explode with desire, he bunches the side of my panties in his fist and yanks. The lace audibly rips, and he tears them away from me, making me gasp out loud.

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