Page 27 of Raspberry Cake
“I know.” She opened her door and leaned over for her chair.
While she transferred out of the car, Renley was already placing her second chair on the passenger seat. “Will you be able to get it out like that?”
“Looks perfect.” Renley followed her inside, but she paused when she realised that he wasn’t taking off his boots when she did. “You’re not staying?”
“Woman, if I don’t walk out of this door in the next ten seconds, the only place I’m going to end up is in your bed, catering to your every need.”
She tilted her head. “Does that include breakfast?”
“It sure does.”
“I’m not sure that I see the problem there. Perhaps you can enlighten me.”
Renley cocked a brow at her, jaw clenching. “I’m not joking. This is our first date and I’m not about to fuck your brains out after it.”
She bit her lip and grabbed the hem of his shirt, hauling him closer. He gave in almost immediately. With a cheeky grin she snatched his hat and placed it on her own head. “Now you have to stay. That’s the rule when you take a cowboy’s hat: he has to come home with you, right?”
“Kitten,” and though he probably intended to scold her, it was more of a primal rumble, like a lion’s purr. “You deserve better than that. I can’t control myself around you.”
Wrapping his shirt in her fist, she pulled down until he knelt in front of her. “How about you leave that sweet gentleman on the street?” She cupped his jaw, thumb stroking his silky-softskin. “I promise you won’t ruin my virtue by spending the night and doing very unholy things to me.”
“Eveline,” he puffed, breath warm against her mouth as she leaned in.
Her next words brushed against his lips. “You don’t have to stay, but don’t leave because you think that’s what I want. I have a pretty good idea of what you will do to me if you stay and I’m more than willing to consent.”
Then she swooped in, stealing their first official kiss. He was hers the moment she asked for it, his hand on the nape of her neck fisting her hair while the other cupped her cheek. Her heart pounded in her chest, Renley’s fingers leaving fireworks dancing across her skin. He was the one to pull back and chuckled when he saw her frown.
“Breathe, kitten.”
“You’ll stay?” she panted.
“Yes.” He stiffened, then peered between them—the cats had decided to join the party. “Oh, hello there.”
She clicked her tongue and then laughed, sweeping Luna into her arms. “Meet Luna, the one with the always awkward timing.”
With a bright grin, Renley scratched Luna behind her ear. “It’s nice to meet you, Luna. Do we need to distract these two before going to the bedroom?”
“Food will do.”
“Lead the way,” he demanded, straightening to his full height.
Flake came running the moment the can opened, but dinner was more important than their guest.
With shaky hands, she showed Renley to the bedroom, where he paused at the door and leaned against the frame. Hands in his pockets, he indicated the bed with his chin.
“Lose the clothes and sit on the edge of the bed.”
“Y-you’re going to watch?”
“Yes, kitten.”
Swallowing hard, she tried to ignore the lump in her stomach and set his hat on the mattress next to her. “It’s rather unsexy.”
“Nothing you do could turn me off, Eveline.”
She hid how her hands trembled as she removed her socks and moved over to sit on the mattress. Then, slowly, trying to make this experience as intimate as possible for him, she wiggled the hem of her dress free and lifted it over her head until the fabric fluttered to the floor.
“You look breathtaking,” Renley hummed in that intoxicating rumble that she was growing to love. Pushing off the frame, he came closer, one slow step at a time. “And allmine.”
