Page 30 of Hidden Dane
Dane took her hands and spun her in a dance. They seamlessly found each other’s bodies in harmony with the music. He said, “I never talk about any of that, with anyone ever, Em. Don’t you know how special you are to me?”
He was the only guy she’d ever given a bit of her heart to. No other boyfriend had been that close. She made a decision to live in the moment as she adjusted his collar. “Dane, that’s the sweetest thing you’ve said since we met.”
“I only speak the truth.” He pressed closer.
She stood on her tiptoes and let the enchantment of the evening wash through her as she whispered into his ear, “Let’s go to my room.”
He missed a step, then brought her closer, keeping her next to his heart. Tonight was theirs and she’d hold onto him for as long as he’d let her.
Chapter 10
Waking up in Dane’s arms made her body hum. Last night, Dane had proved all the ways he’d become a man. No one had rocked her like this, ever. She curled into him.
He groaned a little and kept his eyes closed as the sun must have started rising outside their heavy curtains that blocked the light. A few more minutes alone with Dane, was good.
He sighed. “I’ve missed you, Em.”
“Seriously?” Her heart skipped a beat. If only… no. She couldn’t think about tomorrow right now. Instead she hugged him and let his body heat warm her in the chill of the room.
He ran his hand down her naked back and cupped her backside. “Yeah, you… alone… like this.”
Emily smiled and vowed she’d stay in his arms for as long as she could. “I bet you say that to all your naked women.”
He opened his eyes, glanced down at her willing body, and then laughed. “Not at all. That’s usually, ‘It was nice to meet you. Goodbye’.”
Dane was the type to leave but it didn’t stop her attraction for him, at all. Emily curled her leg around his and tapped his muscular chest. “You’re bad!”
He rolled her beneath him and kissed her forehead. “No one else compares.”
Every cell in her body came alive. Dane made her believe in happily-ever-after when she was in his arms. She sighed and said, “Let’s say I believe that for a moment-”
“You should.” He stilled, propped himself up on his pillow with one hand, and stared down at her. “You can ask Brady, who was briefly a roommate when we were getting our PhDs.”
She’d never shared much about herself with her other ex-boyfriends. But Dane knew her, and accepted that she hadn’t turned into some savvy business woman, like her younger sister, while still in college. He seemed to like that they had history in common. The large gates around her heart were unlocking for him. She glanced at his muscular body and said, “Even if I do believe you… I just wanted to say, I’d like to see you again after all this is over.”
He brushed her hair behind her head on her pillow. “Maybe my university is hiring.”
A laugh escaped her lips though she had those sparks inside her just from the gleam in his eyes. She shook her head and said, “I’m pretty sure Harvard hires Ivy League.”
He stilled. “Why didn’t you go for an Ivy League college? We both know half of getting in is your bank account, and who you know.”
He spoke with the belief she was smart enough to get in and the rest was money or politics. She squeezed his hand and shrugged. “I liked going home to see my family. Gainesville was far but not so far in case of an emergency.”
“I haven’t been to see Michael in years.” He didn’t move a muscle.
Right. Her sister’s husband. His father. Everyone in her family knew Dane. She swallowed and said, “I know.”
He traced her arm and shoulder. “Maybe after we return the jewels, you’ll go with me?”
Home? With Dane? Every cell in her body sparked with the idea they might have a future. “I’d like that.”
He caressed her body, lowering the sheet. “Me too.”
“What do you plan to do with your life, now that you’ve finished getting your PhD? You didn’t send me an invitation to your graduation.”
“You wouldn’t have come and I didn’t have your address.”
“Do you have some professor gig waiting for you in Florida?”
