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Doug nodded. “It’s really cold just above the water-line. I’ve done it before in a pinch.”
Pixie reached over with her good hand and squeezed Doug’s arm where it still encircled her. “You’re pretty adaptable, aren’t you?” she posited.
Doug snorted. “That’s not something anybody’s ever said to me before, but I’m going to do my best to make it a reality from now on…with everything.” He knew his eyes held a promise, and Pixie, understanding, didn’t back away.
“We’ll do our best, together,” she assured him. Then right in front of everybody, Doug placed a kiss on her temple, a spot he’d been eyeing since it was one of the only places on her face that was free of trauma.
Pixie sighed again and snuggled closer. “What do you say? Can we head home now?”
Doug’s chest filled with a euphoria he’d never before experienced. Pixie had just called the cottage, home. “We can.” He kissed her again, then reluctantly moved his arms away to stand. The guys would fill in the rest of the wedding guests on the particulars from their part of the day, so he didn’t need to hang around.
Doug gazed down at Pixie’s feet. “Looks like you might need a ride,” he stated.
Pixie giggled. “And with you it’ll be a lot more fun than piggy-backing out of the woods on Barry’s back.”
“You… He…did that?” Doug didn’t know whether to thank Guilfoyle for taking care of Pixie, or beat him up for touching her. But…not knowing what to do with those thoughts and feeling the need to let it go, he simply grunted, then leaned over and scooped Pixie off the couch. She weighed about as much as a feather, and Doug could have walked all the way home with her in his arms. That’s how right it felt.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
As soon as they got to Doug’s cottage, he carried Pixie inside, directly to the bed she’d ogled before. She settled in, laying back on top of all the poofy blankets, andyes, it was just as comfortable as she’d imagined.
“I’m going to go get the food in the truck that Ellen sent home with us, then make us some plates,” Doug said, turning at the door to give her a long, intense look. “If you want to get out of your dirty dress, I…kind of liked the way you looked in my shirt the other day,” he told her huskily.
“I liked wearing it,” she told him.
He walked over to the single bureau in the room and withdrew the piece of clothing. It looked like the same shirt she’d worn previously. “Is that the one?” she asked.
A little color flooded up Doug’s neck, and she thought he wasn’t going to answer, but he surprised her.
“I, um, liked the way it smelled after you wore it, so I might have slept with it the last two nights.”
“I love that,” Pixie breathed, suddenly ravenous for something other than food. “Can you…come help me put it on?”
Doug’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed thickly. “If you think you need help,” he responded.
Pixie shook her head. “I don’tneedhelp, Doug. Iwanthelp,” she told him. Which wasn’t exactly true. Talia had zipped her into the dress, and she wouldn’t get it unfastened by herself.
Doug slowly approached the bed clutching the shirt. Pixie sat up and leaned forward. “You can unzip me,” she said. And was that her voice, all low and raspy?Damn.The thought of Doug’s strong fingers baring her back had her flushed and needy.
Doug dropped the shirt to the bed, then went to a knee on the mattress, moving in behind her. Slowly…ever so slowly, he lowered her zipper. And when she felt his lips between her shoulder blades, she nearly melted into the mattress. It was the last thing she’d expected.
With infinite care, and more kisses to her skin. Doug swept the flimsy material off her shoulders, and the dress dropped to her waist. She wasn’t wearing a bra, because the dress had some built-in support, so her breasts were bared; her nipples standing at attention the minute they hit the air.
Doug kissed his way around her neck until he was looking over her shoulder. “Pink,’ he intoned with a reverent hush. “I wondered what color they’d be.”
“Well, blonde,” she waved a hand at her head. “So that’s pretty much a given.” She snorted. Were they really having a conversation about her nipples?
One of Doug’s hands snaked down over her shoulder, and his fingers slid under her breast, cupping it. “So soft.” His other hand mimicked the first, until he cradled both.
Pixie leaned her head back on Doug, her spine arching to give him freer access, and she’d never felt so turned on in her life. Imagine. If Doug could take her to the edge of orgasm by simply cupping her breasts, what would actual sex be like?
Actual sex… The thought brought her crashing back to reality. Doug wouldn’t want that. Sure, he was taking these baby steps, and it was glorious, but to do anything more…
“Hey. Where did you go?” Doug asked, bringing his thumbs up to bump against her nipples, all the while nibbling on her ear. She could barely make herself speak.
“I…I’m wondering how far we should take this. I knowmycomfort level—”
“Shhh,” he said. “It’s okay. I didn’t get a chance to tell you, but I had a session with Will. The one where I did mushrooms.”
