Page 10 of The Art of Loving Lacy
“Here,” she whispered.
Dane was unsure if it was a question or a statement. What was he doing? He might not be certain of what was between them, but he knew Lacy wasn’t a girl he wanted to forget—or could forget. He needed a distraction to keep his lust in check.
“We need to walk,” he said with a wavering voice. He took her hand and walked down the beach. “I’m sorry. I know I’m hot and cold, and I’m not usually like this.”
“Is it me?”
He heard the worry in her voice and stopped abruptly, looking her in the eye. “Yes. It’s you, Lacy, but not in a bad way. Believe me. I want to make love to you here and now, but I told myself we’d take it slow. It’s just…” He rubbed his forehead, wondering how he could possibly explain what he didn’t even understand. “Lacy, I’ve got months of fantasies racing through my mind. Images of what I wanted to do with you, thoughts of touching you. I can practically feel you beneath me.” He pulled her closer. “All those intimate thoughts and pictures are chased by my wanting to slow down and get to know you better.” He searched her eyes again, looking for a clear indication of what she felt. What he saw was something he didn’t expect—surprise.
Lacy let out a long breath. “Dane, that’s exactly how I feel, like there’s all this pressure to make those thoughts come through, but then there’s the other side of wanting to get to know you, so it doesn’t feel so…I don’t know…dirty.”
“You’re anything but dirty.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and she smiled. “Although, we could be dirty if you wanted to.” He raised his eyebrows in quick succession.
Lacy’s jaw slacked and her eyes opened wide in an exaggerated fashion.
“I’m kidding,” he said quickly.
“I know. So was I. Didn’t you get my over-the-top gawk?” she teased.
He pulled her to him and kissed her again.
“You surprise me so much.” He touched the soft skin of her jaw and kissed her again. “So, we should take it slow?” he asked when they parted. “Get to know each other?”
“I think we should just let nature take its course.” She leaned in and kissed him.
All it took was that one kiss to send his desires careening out of control. He took her hand and, while still kissing, they stumbled up the beach to the dunes, where the grass grew in tall tufts. He pulled his lips away long enough to find a path up the sandy hill.
He threw his jacket on the sand, and before he could reach for her, Lacy was in his arms, kissing him again. Her tongue probed his mouth with urgency, as she pulled the tail of his shirt from his pants, then slipped her warm hands underneath. He heard himself groan and winced, not wanting to seem too eager, but she met his groan with a moan, and it spurred him on and kicked his steely resolve to go slow out with the tide. He untied the halter of her dress with trembling hands—he’d waited so long to be with her that his breath caught in his throat. He kissed the tender spot at the base of her neck, reveling in the taste of her, and trailed kisses across her breastbone as her dress dropped to the sand. His gaze swept over her sexy curves, remembering every word they’d spoken over the previous months, every secret they’d shared, every intimate desire they’d whispered in the dark.
“You’re beautiful, Lace.” In all the months he’d dreamed about seeing Lacy again, he couldn’t have come close to the way his heart seemed to swell within his chest at the sight of her and how his body ached for more as he tasted her sweet flesh.
THE SHOCK OF the brisk air against Lacy’s bare skin sent goose bumps up her arms. Dane wrapped her in his arms, held her against his chest, and kissed her until she could barely think. Months of restrained desire fueled her need to feel his skin against hers. She drew back, nimbly freeing him from the buttons on his shirt. Her fingers traveled over the rough hairs on his chest. She’d waited so long to touch him and knew she should go slowly, but his skin was hot beneath her palms and she couldn’t help herself. Her hands moved down his body, feeling the ripples of his rock-hard abs, and quickly unbuttoning his slacks.
He stripped off his clothes, and gathered her close. Their bare chests came together, every breath rushed and needy. His mouth found hers again, and he kissed her with a force so strong it took on a blaze of its own. They lowered themselves to the sand—missing his jacket altogether.
“Lacy…” he said breathlessly. His eyes were pitch-black as he stared into hers.
Lacy trembled beside him. His hand slid over the crest of her thigh, and Lacy froze when his fingers grazed the scar that covered her upper thigh.
“What’s wrong?”
She didn’t answer as she moved his hand and he kissed her again, touching her sensually. Thoughts of her scar fell away. The sand scratched her back and shoulders, reminding her of where they were. She had a fleeting worry of being caught on the beach, and pulled herself from her reverie long enough to look around.
“What is it? Did I hurt you?” he asked.
“No.”Why is my voice trembling?“I just don’t want to be caught…you know.”
Even in the darkness she could see Dane’s adorably sexy smile and realized she didn’t really care if they were caught. She was not going to stop what they’d started.
“We’re pretty deep in the dunes.” He kissed her softly. “And we’re far from the building. I don’t think anyone will see us, but I don’t want to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. Want to go back to the hotel?”
Heck no!Lacy reined in her desire long enough to settle her voice. “No. It’s okay.”
Dane wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and drew her into another deep kiss, then licked her lower lip as they separated.
“Still nervous?” His voice was warm and comforting.
“A little,” she admitted.
