Page 81 of Take Me Home

She clapped her hand over my mouth, laughing. “Absolutely not.”

I licked her palm like a kid in a fight to make her let me go. She squealed and moved her hand.

“You bit me,” I said, my voice playful.

She grimaced. “Oops. Yeah, sorry. Got caught up in it.”

“Don’t apologize. I like you caught up in it. Makes me even more convinced that we’re a good match. We’re gonna have a lot of fun together,” I said, pulling her down to me for a kiss. And then we couldn’t stop kissing. I rolled us so we were both on our sides, our bodies parting but the kissing continuing. When we finally broke apart, I looked into her eyes, love drunk. My hazel brown on her midnight woodsy brown. I played with her hair as she stroked her fingers on my side. Darcy looked at me seriously.

“So did I have an accent when I came?” she deadpanned. Not what I was expecting her to ask me, and it got a warm, full laugh from me.

“I don’t know if screams and moans can have an accent. Though I guess you did say my name the way you usually do, just with more enthusiasm. I guess I’ll have to try again and listen more closely.”

“I think I’ll probably give you a chance to try again,” she said, smirking.

I ran my thumb over her lips, turning more serious again. “It’s my favorite way to hear my name, by the way.”

“When I’m coming?”

I chuckled. “Well, definitely that. But specifically out of your mouth. My favorite voice is yours.”

Darcy looked touched, her eyes going soft. She took a deep breath and sighed it out, like she wanted to say something, but didn’t. She closed the space between us for a long, slow kiss, then stared into my eyes for a while longer.

I got a tingle in my gut, one beyond just butterflies, because it was at that moment that I knew for sure: I loved her. I knew it was stupid to think about love after you just had sex with someone for the first time, but there it was. It scared me, and it comforted me, too. She was it for me. I was in love. I wanted to hold that moment in her bed forever. I could see a fully formed future with her: taking vacations together, kissing before going off to work, taking care of each other on sick days, going to family stuff together, inevitable fighting, making up, and hopefully even having kids.

But I don’t call her Bambi for nothing. I wouldn’t tell her how I felt until the time was just right.

I dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “Stay here. I’m gonna deal with the condom.”

“I should pee,” she agreed. “Meet you back here.”

I didn’t bother putting on clothes since no one could be around with the flooded creek. I shuffled downstairs to use the bathroom, then poked out on the porch to get the rest of the gas station goodies I’d picked up the night before. I beat Darcy back to the bed. She had the bathroom door open and I watched as she checked out my handprints on her ass in the mirror.

“Did I do a satisfactory job?” I asked.

“More than satisfactory,” she laughed, turning off the light and coming back to the bed. I laid on my side seductively with the convenience store bag behind my back. She giggled upon seeing me, butt-ass naked and sprawled out with a huge grin.

“Sweet or salty?” I asked, feeling very pleased with myself.

“Hmmm. Sweet.” She crawled over to me on the bed. That sight alone was enough to start my engine for round two. I focused.

“Okay. Still or bubbly?”

She deliberated. “I think right now, still.”

“Ta-da!” I announced, flourishing a package of Swedish Fish and a bottle of water to her.

“Damn. Amazing sex and killer snacks, too? How’d I get so lucky?” She was joking around, but she was also beaming. I loved being the reason for her smile.

“You’re with me now, babe. Gotta level up to the VIP experience,” I said, holding a Swedish Fish between my teeth for her to take. Her laugh was downright musical as she bit it out of my mouth. We lay there for a while in our sweet afterglow, exchanging quiet jokes, touches, and snuggles while we snacked. An overwhelming sense of peace came over me, like that was exactly where I was supposed to be and who I was supposed to be with.

“Neither of us got much sleep last night,” Darcy said, setting her empty water bottle on the nightstand.

“No, we didn’t. It’s tragic,” I cooed. “How about,” I leaned on my elbow and kissed her shoulder, “we have a little nap and cuddle,” kissing her collarbone, “replenish ourselves,” kissing her neck, eliciting a moan from her, “probably check on the farm because it’s an actual disaster outside,” kissing her jaw, “and then come right back to bed for more?”

Darcy grabbed my chin for a kiss. “I love that plan,” she said. “Big spoon or little?”

“Oh, you are definitely being little spoon,” I laughed, turning her over and wrapping my arm around her waist. I kissed the spot that I fully consideredmyspot: the space between her jaw and ear.

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