Page 118 of Small Town Firsts
“Taste?” He covered my mouth again and I sucked in a startled breath at how earthy I tasted on his lips. Salt and more that I couldn’t identify. “Taste of sunshine,” he said against my mouth. “My Sunshine.”
“Ronan…”
Everything I wanted to say was just stuck in my brain and seemed inadequate in response.
“I made all the ciders, Kira. I finished them and they loved them.” He brushed his beardy jaw along my cheek and nibbled on my ear. “You broke it all open last night.”
“I did?”
“You did.” He moved back to my lips, grinning against my mouth. “You can let go of me now. Unless you want to go for round two.”
I unhooked my knee from his hip and set my foot down. “Right.” I pushed him back then smoothed out my dress. I was wrinkled beyond repair.
He tipped my chin up to look at him. “I really did bring you in here to tell you about the ciders.”
“Did you need to bring me into the shed?”
“Nope.” He shrugged and threw a devilish grin at me. “I just needed a second with you alone.” He moved to the large, center tank and patted it lovingly. “I did set this bad boy up for a full batch. We’ll be able to keg it up a few days early. Make sure everything is smooth behind the bar.”
“Oh. Really?” I fixed my belt and tried to focus on the fact that I went from zero to orgasm and back to work in the space of a few minutes.
He came back to me, invading my space again. He slid his knee between my knees. “You inspired me last night in more than one way.”
“Back it up, Viking. You’re dangerous.”
One eyebrow spiked. “I don’t mind hearing that.”
“That’s not why I’m here.”
He lowered his face to mine, brushing my nose with his. “That’s true. I did miss you though.”
I licked my lips. “I missed you too.”
The smile that spread across his face made my stomach flip and my chest tighten. He really was the most beautiful man.
He reached beyond me to open the door. “So, I brought Beckett and his brothers out here to try out the ciders.”
“Plural?”
“Yes. I finished them all last night.”
“All?”
“They were all nearly ready, just needed the flavor profiles. Now I have them. Because of you.”
I shook my head. He really had no clue how amazing he was. Some of that was on me. I was so afraid to tell him just how much he meant to me. To let him see inside me because I was sure I was the one who was lacking.
But all along, he was here. He was standing for me in every way. “No. It’s because of you, Ronan. Always has been.”
He shook his head. “You were the key. Since the first day we met.”
I lifted my hand to his flushed face. “The things you say to me.” Happiness and pride shone so clearly in his dark eyes. Sure, he was a little buzzed on the actual alcohol content of his work, but he wasn’t that inebriated.
Would he still feel the same way if he knew the truth about my family? About the things I allowed to be hung on me to protect them? Especially since they didn’t deserve my protection. I didn’t want to burst that happy bubble he was in.
He covered my hand with his. “They’re all true. I came here for a fresh start. The minute I stepped foot on the threshold of this workshop, I knew it was special. Then I met you and everything clicked.”
“I—”
