“How about we race to the finish together instead?” I breathe.
He leans forward and presses his lips softly against mine. His body moves closer until he’s up against me. I hook my ankles around the small of his back as he deepens the kiss.
I moan into his mouth; the contact glorious but not quite fulfilling. I need more.
His tongue swipes past my lips. He wraps his arms around me again and draws me even closer.
I’m surrounded by Peck Ward.
He tastes of warmth and wishes, of heat and happiness. There’s no rush, no urgency to his sweet kisses. It’s as if he has all the time in the world to commit this to memory.
The song changes. Peck slowly breaks the kiss.
I sag as his lips separate from mine. Air is pulled into my lungs, and I search his face, desperate for more.
“That wasn’t ten minutes,” I tell him.
“Change of plans.”
My dress is lifted, and on a gasp, my panties are removed. Sinking to his knees, he presses his silky lips against my inner thighs. I lean back on the counter, propping myself up on my elbows, and watch him watch me enjoy his touch.
“Ah,” I eke out as his hands run up and down my legs.
I’ve missed this feeling of being so desired, so wanted, that my partner just can’t wait to have me. I don’t even think I had this with Charlie. Not even once.
He bunches my dress at my waist and licks up and down the inside of my legs. Just when I’m about to lose my mind in the feel of his tongue stroking closer and closer to the apex of my thighs, he stands.
“What are you doing?” I ask.
He calmly opens a drawer next to me. “I need to flip the steaks so they don’t burn.”
“I’m burning over here. With desire.” I half-laugh because it’s only half-funny. “You’re just going to leave me here?”
“Don’t worry,” he says, clapping the tongs together. “I plan to get back here with plenty of time to take the checkered flag.”
“I don’t even know what we’re talking about anymore, but that better mean what I think it does.”
He opens the back door. “It does. Relax.” The door closes, and I sigh in frustration. There’s no way to actually relax like this—not with my body staging a riot for some kind of relief.
The door opens again, and he tosses the tongs on the counter. He stands between my legs, and I sit up.
“Now, where were we?” he asks.
“If you don’t know, I’m not telling you.”
“That’d be the first time you don’t try to tell me what to do.”
I smack at him, but he captures my hand. I’m quickly scooped into his arms and kissed as he carries me to my bedroom.
“Is this okay?” he asks.
“If it makes you remember where we were, then it’s perfect.”
He grins.
I turn around. Lifting my hair above my neck, I ask, “Do you mind unzipping me?”
He kisses the nape of my neck and plants a few random pecks down the side. My skin tingles with anticipation as the zipper slides down my spine. The right side is taken down my shoulder and then the left before the dress puddles at my feet. I step out of the dress, turning around to face him.
His shirt comes over his head, and all the fun, the teasing, and the games we were playing have been left in the other room. Gentle touches and soft kisses replace the laughter as his hands cover my bare back for the first time.
The reserve that usually constrains my physical interactions with him doesn’t exist between us now. Everything he’s done is to show me how he cares and that I’m safe with him. So I begin to unbuckle his belt while he reaches around to unfasten my bra.
When his jeans come down and my bra comes off, we don’t hide from the sunlight streaming in through the window. We take our time to appreciate each other.
I’ve never felt more beautiful than I do under his gaze, a smile that’s genuine and kind, and hands that touch to explore, not rushing to the next step.
I watch with rapt attention as his Adam’s apple bobs with a heavy swallow. His eyes cast down, and when he looks up, I see a struggle in his eyes. “I did this wrong, Dylan.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I should have taken the time to kiss you more.”
“We kissed in the kitchen, Peck. Checked that box,” I say, bringing a finger down and then back up in a check mark motion in the air.
He grins. “But not like I wanted to.”
“Then kiss me now.”
Strong hands take hold of my face with such care that I cover his hands with mine, feeling weak in the knees. I close my eyes just as our lips press together for the first time in a caress. Our tongues meet, and I wrap my arms around his shoulders, never wanting this moment to end.