Ignite (Wildwood 1)

Running her hands down the front of her dress, she shook her hair behind her shoulders, took a deep breath, and slowly opened the door.

West stood on the doorstep, clad in jeans and a black T-shirt, a bouquet of wildflowers clutched in his hand. His eyes went wide upon first seeing her, scanning the entire length of her body. “Hey.”

She smiled. “Hi.”

He took a step forward, thrusting the flowers toward her. “These are for you.”

“They’re beautiful, thank you.” She took the bouquet from him and brought the flowers to her nose, inhaling deeply their sweet scent. “Come in, let me put these in water.”

He followed her inside, shutting the door behind him as she went into the kitchen. She was nervous, having him so close, so many unspoken things shimmering between them. She wanted to grab him. Kiss him. Tell him she missed him, but she was still feeling a little unsure.

So instead, she grabbed a vase from the cupboard and filled it with water, then arranged the flowers carefully, her fingers drifting over the soft, colorful petals. She could feel West enter the kitchen, his magnetic presence making her shiver, and she went completely still. She was trying to come up with something to say when he was suddenly behind her, his big hands engulfing her hips, his warm mouth close to her ear.

“It about killed me to follow your grandma’s orders today,” he murmured, his lips brushing against her neck and sending tingles scattering all over her skin.

She placed her hands over his when he slid his arms around her waist. “What were her orders?”

“Don’t contact you. No texting, no calling, no nothing. Just show up here at seven and take you out. Bring flowers.” He paused. “That’s exactly what she told me to do.”

Aw, her grandma was the best. Though it had been a slow form of torture, not hearing from West all day. “Why didn’t you just give in and call me?” She leaned against him, loving how his solid, lean body cradled hers.

“She said it would be better this way. I think her exact words were anticipation is key.” He kissed her neck again, his lips lingering. “I think she might’ve been right.”

Harper absolutely couldn’t take it anymore. She turned, slipped her arms around his neck, and rose up on tiptoe, pressing her mouth to his. West immediately cupped the back of her head with one hand, keeping her there, not that he had to. His mouth devoured hers and he tilted his head to the side, taking the kiss deeper in an instant. She moaned at the first touch of his tongue against hers, overwhelmed by the way he took total command of the situation.

“Is your grandma here?” he asked a few long, delicious minutes later, his lips brushing against hers as he spoke. He’d gathered the skirt of her sundress in his fingers until her butt was practically exposed and now he thought to ask if her grandma was around? “I’m about to throw you on the kitchen floor and get you naked if I don’t watch it.”

A thrill shivered down her spine at his dark words. “She’s gone for the night.”

He smiled, his fingers pulling the skirt higher, cool air hitting her backside. She tried to swat his hand away, but he was too quick. “So are you saying I can get you naked in your grandma’s guest room? Or is that too crazy?”

It wasn’t too crazy. She was just as eager to have him. She withdrew from his arms and took his hand, smiling as she led him back to her temporary bedroom. “Come with me.”

He rushed her into the small room, slamming the

door behind him and gathering her into his arms. She went willingly, laughing when he fell onto the bed with her. He rolled over so that she was pinned beneath him, his knees bracketing her hips, his hands pressed on either side of her head.

“I probably should’ve done the right thing and taken you to dinner first,” he said, his gaze roaming over her face as he studied her. “But I couldn’t wait. It’s been too long since we’ve been alone. Really alone.”

She was rendered breathless by his admission. “I’m glad you couldn’t wait.”

West bent down and kissed her, his lips lingering, warm and soft. “I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.”

“I want you.”

Harper smiled, tilting her head back when he slid his lips down the length of her neck. She closed her eyes, losing herself in the delicious sensation of his mouth on her skin. “I want you too.”

“I think I’m falling in love with you.”

She went completely still as all the air lodged in her throat. Her eyes popped open and she stared up at the ceiling. His admission threw her for a complete loop. Could he really mean it? West wasn’t one to just toss out careless declarations. She knew this. But still . . .

He lifted his head, his somber gaze meeting hers. “I meant what I said, Harper. After what happened yesterday, it made me realize just how much I care about you. You’ve always been a part of my life, and I took that for granted. I was a jerk to you in the past and I regret it so damn much. I came back here to Wildwood, and you should’ve treated me like shit for leaving you like I did, but you didn’t. Not really. And somehow, you allowed me back into your life, and you worked your way into my heart.”

She reached for his face, drifted her fingers along his smooth-shaven jaw. “You’ve always been in my heart, West. For years, you’ve been there, even when you shouldn’t have been.”

Closing his eyes, he leaned into her palm. “I know, and I took advantage of that when I kissed you that one night. But no more. You deserve to know how I feel about you.”