He didn’t try again. We stared at each other for several long seconds.
“I like looking at you.”
“You say things like that all the time,” he muttered.
“Does it bother you?”
“No,” Beau said quickly then changed his answer. “Maybe. I don’t understand talkin’ so freely. I need to get better at it, I guess.”
I gave another ridiculous roll of my eyes for dramatic effect. “Oh, right. You have to be used to people telling you how hot you are. Your body’s like a solid muscle…”
Beau laughed at me and turned away to stare up at the sky. “No one’s told me I’m good lookin’. I had a friend back home that developed a crush on me, but she just kept sayin’ she’d be my arm candy when I went to the NFL, and she wanted to spend all my money.”
I barked right out loud. Who said things like they plan to spend all of someone else’s money?
“Let’s share rosters,” I said. Beau’s head whipped toward mine. If I gauged the confusion on his face, he’d been very serious when he said he wasn’t ready to take the next natural steps by being my boyfriend. I didn’t let it go. “What? It seems like an important relationship question.”
“How many people have you been with?” Beau blurted.
“Like penetration?” The expression on his brow turned intense and vulnerable.
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Zero. I told you that last night. I was seeing if you paid attention.” The instant relief of Beau rolling his shoulders, pushing away the tension said it all, in my opinion. I decided having sex was most likely a big decision, that neither of uswould go at willy-nilly. “I’ve kissed a few guys. My first time was about four years ago when I played spin the bottle at a school party. I’ve done some heavy…petting, I guess that’s what I’d call it. It was a guy who came home from college last year during Christmas break.”
“Do you see yourself as a top or a bottom?” he asked.
“Versatile all the way.” With all certainty, I wanted to go both ways.
“Why didn’t you do it with the Christmas dude?”
“I don’t know. I feel like the first time needs to be special. If I’m going to remember it for the rest of my life, I at least want him to be someone I care about,” I said, trying to explain my reasons without sounding like a dork. “Is there really no one else for you? No girls in your past I should know about?”
“I’ve done nothin’. I’ve known about my twisted ways since I was young. It’s only in the last couple of years that it became a problem. I’ve been freaked out about the repercussions. It’s made me close up, puttin’ space between me and my life. Then you came along and changed everything.”
“Yeah, that same connection is what drove me back here last night. Can I kiss you?” I asked.
Beau’s gaze skidded to mine again. The passion in the stare was palpable. His chest rose and fell steadily, letting me know how much he cared. He answered my question with action. It was funny to think he kept himself hidden, because I could read him like a book.
Boldly, or at least it felt that way, I turned to my side to place a hand over his heart. His gaze stayed fixed on me. “We can wait. I’m just really, really, into you. I didn’t even know I was unsettled in my life until you came barreling in, changing everything for me.”
His palm rested on top of mine, his fingers circling until he held my hand. I liked it a lot. This was a hand I was determinedto hold many times over. The tingles were back in full force, making me scoot over to lean in. His actions seemed invitation enough, but he also had me doing all the initiating.
Seconds before my lips landed on his, I took a deep breath in, taking Beau’s scent into my soul. He smelled the same as before. Outdoors… No, that wasn’t right. I couldn’t put into words what the fragrance was, except it mixed with mine and became one.
I closed my eyes and touched my lips to his. Fireworks exploded behind my lids. The sultry evening turned red hot in all the right ways. His hand held mine. His other extended around my back, keeping me close.
When the tip of his tongue poked out, caressing over mine, my life was made perfect, and that was before his lips parted, letting me inside. The beauty of our surroundings added to the delicious warmth seeping over me. My entire body tensed and strained.
I was lost to Beau Brooks.
My mind went numb, coasting on the feels as instinct took over. The small amount of control I had was lost when he swiped his tongue fully inside my mouth. The sexy, competent move came with a parting of my lips, doing a deep dive into the farthest reaches of my mouth.
My cock punched against my jeans, wanting desperately to be involved.
Jesus, the way my body responded created chaos inside me. My nipples hardened, my belly quivered, and all I wanted to do was wrap myself around this guy.
I found what I was missing in a big, big way. Desire, compassion, and being wanted was such an overwhelming turn-on.
