Page 24 of Personal Disaster

ChapterNine

Poppy

There’ssomething serious in the way Marcus is holding me. Kissingme.

Serious and a little desperate.

We could get lost in that need, and for a few seconds, I do. I let his kisses consume me, a rolling riptide of sensation.

But we’re not going to get to do this again for…four months. And that’s if everything goes well. If we continue to like each other, if we keep in touch, if the world doesn’t implode…

I trace a finger over his bearded jaw, then let it drop onto his shirt as I peel myself off his body. I really do like his uniform. “So let’s count our dates,” I murmur as I trace the buttons in a line. “Dinner last night—firstdate?”

“Not lunch?”

I shake my head. “That waswork.”

“But dinner…”

It didn’t feel like work. “I think from the second you came to my room, that was adate.”

His eyes darken. “Agreed. And coffee this morning. Not a great date, but we kissed. That counts.”

I smile. “A mini date, and it was fantastic. That’s two. And lunch just now was date number three.”

“Was?” His lips twist. “Is our date over? Because you’re in my lap right now. In my books, that’s a good sign for a date progressing.”

I sigh regretfully—which takes some serious effort—and press my hand against his chest. “Was. Past tense.” I stand up and smooth my hands over my skirt. “If you leave food out on your desk, will the bears break in and destroy your office?”

“I generally try not to leave food out, yes. Why?”

I step back. “No reason. I just thought maybe our next date could start with a chase.”

And I turn and sprint for thedoor.

After I finished writing my story, I took a shower. I shaved my legs. Then I put on a dress, and by some small miracle, I chose my flats.

I hear Marcus behind me. He swears under his breath, then he scrambles to pack up our lunch. That was mean of me. But I’ll need the head start, because I don’t know where I want him to chase me to. I stop at the rise and look left and right. Forest in all directions. It probably doesn’t matter.

The door to the little log cabin office thumps open, and I take off again.

I’m at the edge of the forest by the time he catches me. He swings he around, his arms banded about my waist as he hugs me from behind. I laugh as he brings me to the ground in a controlled tackle, then sigh as he rolls onto his back and pulls me, effortlessly, up to straddle his waist.

“Just like this?” I ask as I wiggle against his erection behind me. “This is what you wanted to do to me yesterday?”

He sets his hands on my knees. Warm, calloused fingers stroke my bare skin as he looks up at me with undisguised lust. “Prettymuch.”

“Whatelse?”

His grin is pure wickedness. “Show me your panties.”

I lean just enough to catch the hem of my skirt. Instead of rucking it up my thighs, I lift it into theair.

Beneath me, Marcus shudders.

I’m not wearing any panties.

My cheeks burst into flame as his fingers stroke up my legs, but I don’t move. I hold my delicate perch above him as his big hands curve over the tops of my thighs. His thumbs graze the sensitive skin where my legs meet my sex, and his fingers press into my ass as he urges me to shift forward.

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