Next Guy Through the Door

As we ate, I tried not to notice the way he stared at me so intently. “So, you do the sets for TV shows?” I asked. “That must be interesting.”

“It is,” he nodded, popping a fallen almond chunk into his mouth. “We also do specialty pieces for movies, commercials, theater, whoever needs things built. Steve and I have a lot of connections, but the work is a little unsteady sometimes.”

“I guess some of it must be seasonal,” I said.

“Yeah, sometimes. Other times everything happens at once, and we’re afraid to turn any job down these days. So we might have a week where we’re working eighteen hour days, then the next week will be a very civilized eight hour day.” He shrugged. “You get used to it.”

I nodded. “My hours are pretty regimented, but once a month or so there will be a couple of late nights where we all pitch in to get a massive project done.”

He peppered me with questions about my job for a while, and I realized that he was checking to see how safe I was there.

“The guys in your office all behave themselves, right?” he asked. His voice was casual, but his eyes were intense. It gave him that dark, almost dangerous look again.

I couldn’t help laughing. “Trust me, if anyone got out of line, Mr. Donnelly would kick their ass before HR even had a chance to speak with them. It’s a very respectable place, and he values the reputation of his company. There’s absolutely no funny business, and no one would ever consider it.”

“Good,” he said, nodding. “I’ve heard stories of those corporate guys taking advantage of young ladies in the office.”

Staring down into my almost empty coffee mug, I didn’t know what to say. It was adorable that he was already looking out for me.

Dale reached over to take my hand. “I can’t help it, Lindsay. I feel very protective of you. You seem quiet, so I want to make sure that you would speak up for yourself if you needed to.”

“I think I could,” I said honestly. “I’ve been working on it, a little.”

Dale laughed. “You certainly made an impression when you came over to talk to me.”

Shaking my head, I grabbed my napkin to remove the last of the bagel crumbs from my lips. “I still sort of can’t believe that I did that.”

“I’m very glad that you did,” he said. Turning in his chair, he took both of my hands and hands. “You feel this, don’t you? That this is real?”

I nodded.

“Now, I’m going to ask you a question,” he said, leaning in close to kiss along the side of my neck, making me giggle. “I need to kiss you until you make that soft little noise again. Would you be more comfortable on the couch, or in the bedroom?”

It felt like my heart thumped too hard for two beats, then stopped.

I’d never felt this comfortable around a man before. He obviously listened to me, and cared for me. He made me feel things I couldn’t believe. And he also made me feel more aroused than I’d ever been in my life. Taking a chance and being bold had worked out pretty well last time.

“Bedroom,” I breathed.

He stood up, taking my hand and leading me to the bedroom. After a quick look around, he smiled down at me. “May I undress you, gorgeous?” I nodded, trying not to tremble too hard.

He slowly pulled off my t-shirt, then his lips fell to my shoulder, kissing along my skin as he pulled my bra strap down, teasing me. Reaching behind me, he unfastened it and slid it off completely.

“Damn,” he muttered. His large, rough hands circled my breasts, squeezing and fondling until I thought I was going to moan again.

His hands slid down to my hips, sliding into my skirt. I was still trying to decide how far I was ready to go, but the second I asked myself the question, I knew.

He unbuttoned my skirt, sliding it down my hips. The way he was taking his time, being so gentle with me, made me need to give him everything.

Dale leaned in, his breath mingling with mine as he teased me, making me stretch up for the kiss I needed so badly. As our lips met, I felt my thighs clench as my body announced its desire.

“You are so sexy, sweetie,” he murmured, bending down to slip off my panties, dragging them down my thighs until I was naked in front of him.

His hand skimmed around my hip, and I felt him shiver. I almost couldn’t believe that my round, soft body turned him on so much. But it obviously did. He laid me back on the bed, tearing his own clothes off while staring at me, licking his lips to make me giggle.

My eyes felt wide as saucers as I took in his thick arms, chiseled abs, and broad chest. Carpentry and construction must be more physically demanding then I’d known. I didn’t know if it was rude to stare at the thick shaft that caught my eye, but he grinned. I’d never seen one up close before, and it was sexier than I would have expected.

Dale laid over me gently, kissing me delicately, as if he was testing my reaction. I felt his palm rest gently at the base of my throat. Such a strange, possessive gesture, even though it was light as a feather.