Until Arden

Chapter 10

Arden

Iparkinfront of Dash’s house and cut the engine. My insides feel fluttery, like I have a million microscopic creatures inside me, fighting to break free. A week ago, I sat in this very spot, stunned by the sight of another woman on Dash’s porch, but today, my apprehension comes from a very different place. Just the thought of seeing Dash again causes my heart to beat faster and my throat to tighten.

Last week, he was honest and vulnerable with me. Granted, his revelation wasn’t something I had expected, but hearing the emotion in his voice as he openly confessed the mistakes in his past spoke to the man he is now.

It hit a nerve.

My fingers tremble as I reach for the door handle and step out of the car. A warm breeze whispers across my skin, and I close my eyes for a moment, breathing in the fresh air.

As I make my way across the driveway to the porch, I wrestle with that lingering voice of doubt. I’ve been looking for a way to push Dash away since the moment we met because, subconsciously, I can’t help but compare the details to Shane.

My heart thrums wildly in my chest as I head up the steps and lift my hand to knock, but before I can, the door swings open. Dash stands in front of me, wearing a black Disturbed t-shirt and jeans.

He leans casually against the doorframe with one hand tucked in his front pocket. “You know, if you keep smiling at me like that, I might...”

I lift my brows. “You might what?”

He closes his eyes, and a faint smirk plays across his lips, then he reaches for me, taking my hand and pulling me inside and toward the kitchen. “We have tacos, burritos, and I got the orange Jarritos you requested.”

He reaches for one of the glass bottles, but I stop his hand, stepping in between him and the counter. “You never finished your statement.”

He places his hands on the edge of the counter, one on each side of me, trapping me in, and leans down to face me. “I might get in trouble.”

“With who?”

His breathing is strained, and he looks away for a moment.

I twist around in the narrow space he gives me between his hips and the counter and peek through the bags. Not that I can concentrate on food when his hand grips my hip, and his hot breath moves through my hair.

I don’t know where my brazen attitude came from or how long it’ll last, but I intend to use it to my full advantage. “You have any condoms?”

“What?” Dash straightens.

Looking over my shoulder, I take in his wide eyes and my heart skips a beat.

“You’re making me a little crazy and I’m not sure you said what I think you said.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure you heard correctly.”

He growls against my neck, his hands traveling down my sides and around my stomach. Kisses flutter across my neck and I grab onto the counter to keep myself upright.

“Yes,” he whispers against my neck. “Are you sure?”

“I am.” Although I’m paralytically nervous, I’m definitely sure. He’s let me set the pace for this entire relationship, and I’d be lying if I said I couldn’t see him struggling to do just that. But I had convinced myself that once he had what he wanted, he’d be out the door.

Without warning he spins me to face him. “I like this side of you.”

I hold the back of his head, pulling his lips to mine. His tongue slips inside my mouth, and he kisses me deeper.

I tense when I feel his hand slip under my shirt. He brushes a strand of hair away from my face and tilts my jaw up to look at him. He breaks our kiss, and his eyes are filled with desire. “If something makes you uncomfortable or you need to slow down, just tell me.”

“Don’t slow down. I’m anxious, yes, but I want this.” I move my hands from his hair, down his neck, and across his shoulders, feeling the hard ridges of his muscles beneath my fingertips.

He pulls me into his arms and crushes his lips to mine. The intensity of his kiss leaves me breathless. I feel him smile through our kiss and he pulls away.

He takes my hand and leads me down the hall. He pushes open the door, and takes me by the hips, moving me to face him. His mouth crashes against mine and our lips and tongues move in unison as he backs me toward the bed.

I tug up the hem of his shirt and he quickly grabs it behind his neck, ripping it off in one quick motion. I get a glimpse of his chiseled chest before he pulls me in tight and lifts my shirt off, tossing it to the side. I lift onto the balls of my feet and kiss his neck.

He moves us to the bed, and lays me down, gently trailing soft kisses across my chin and down my neck. His hands travel down my body, and I feel his fingers hook into the waistband of my jeans. I lift my hips while he pulls them over my hips and down my legs to my feet.

I reach between us and unbutton his jeans, tugging on the zipper. He hovers above me, his face inches from mine, as my hands slide inside his jeans, over his hardness. I watch as his breath hitches. His eyes roll back in his head, and he drops his forehead to mine, as I explore him.