Mission For Love (Love By Design 6)

“I got it.” He reached above me and pulled out the vase setting it on the counter. It felt like more, as if he were saying he got me and not just the silly vase. Those damn butterflies that only came out in David’s presence were back again to torture me.

“Thanks.” I murmured standing perfectly still afraid to ruin this moment or turn it into something else. I swore his ab muscles rippled behind me and my body caved like the salivating puppy, she was ready to follow him anywhere.

I felt the flick of his fingers on my shoulder. Was the air thinner today? Was I getting enough oxygen to my lungs and brain? My heart pitter-pattered and I couldn’t decide.

“Any reason why you’re wearing a beacon of torment today?” David whispered in my ear. His lips grazed the side of my cheek and I leaned into

him on instinct. His hands moved from rubbing small circles on my hips to resting on the kitchen counter caging me in. He made me feel small in his embrace like he was protecting me even though I swore like a sailor, bucking at anyone protecting me. This time I didn’t fight him, mostly because I don’t want to, but I don’t even know what to say.

“What are you talking about?” The words are breathy, borderline seductive and if my sisters heard me, they would accuse me of auditioning for a job as a phone sex operator.

“This dress is going to draw so much attention and I don’t know how I feel about that.” The timber of his voice deepened making me quiver as I stood in my kitchen trapped by his embrace. His blunt fingers traced the spaghetti strap giving it a gentle tug. The motion made my breasts tingle as his finger followed a path down the center of my back. We’d been intimate before, plenty of times, but this... This. All of this continued to feel like we were heading in a direction I didn’t have a map for and that terrified me.

“I’m sure I’ll blend in fine. It’s a barbeque and oddly seventy degrees in fall.” I turned in his arms drinking up his good looks. Typical GI Joe of David. His hulking mass was dressed in an olive green t-shirt that stretched indecently tight over his chest with big black letters announcing his Army affiliation to the world. If anyone was going to stick out like a sore thumb it was going to be my non-date and his juicy ass in cargo shorts. I did wonder what he kept in all those pockets…

David huffed and muttered, “Pineapple in a bland fruit salad.”

“Pardon?” I asked unclear I had heard him correctly. Was this man comparing me to food.

“Yeah, delicious, sweet, juicy, and special.” He grunted as his hands resumed wrinkling my dress in his fists. At least he meant it in a cute, he wanted in my pants sort of way.

I pressed my hand against his chest in a fruitless attempt to stall him. “We’re going to be late, He-man.”

“That’s why I came early.” He chuffed dipping his head in my neck, sucking on the skin sharply. He was going to leave a mark for everyone to see and the last thing I needed was more questions from my nosy family.

“David.” I wiggled and he counter-moved. Clearly this man was intimately familiar with torture because I was putty in his hands.

“One kiss and we’ll go.”

One kiss that lingered and turned into two which turned into me backing out of the kitchen struggling to remind myself why we should even bother going to the BBQ anyway.

25

David

Getting out of her house was pure torture. As in, my dick had no place to go in my shorts if I didn’t rein this in. I thought about everything, but Kiara, and how smooth her skin felt under my touch or how bright her dress was, but it was no comparison for her smile.

I was in deep.

We arrived at the fire house where the BBQ was underway getting set up. Guys I knew in high school were there and considering our small town it was no surprise. Rookies were out washing the fire truck and spraying girls who got too close with the hose. It was harmless fun and the laughing crowd good naturedly took it all in.

I held onto Kiara’s hand as we walked up to the open bays where tables had been set up. She pulled away, but I stepped closer. She scowled, and I grinned back until she gave me a shy smile.

We were a work in progress.

“There’s my baby sister.” We turned around as Kiara’s brother walked over to us. He dressed similarly in shorts and his t-shirt read New Paltz Fire Crew. He held out a beer to me and I recognized the brew as one of Andy’s concoctions and smiled.

“And who is this tall drink of water?” He smirked teasing my girl.

“This is David. Easton. We work together and you’re drinking his brother’s beer.” A look passed between the two of them and I don’t know if it meant he already knew of me or if I had been a source of contention for them. Kiara was still nearly impossible to read at times. Her brother though, he radiated a friendliness that also said if I hurt her he was gunning for me. Fair enough. I liked knowing where I stood with the people important to her.

“Am I?” He looked a bottle and nodded. “Tell him that Landon Roberts approves. This is good stuff. We also have a keg over by the table.”

“Let me know if you need more, I’m sure I can make a call.” We clinked bottles and Landon smiled.

“I like this guy, Kia. Don’t mess it up, and do me favor, please.”

“What’s that, Lando?” She replied.