She came back out with her hair let loose around her shoulders. She wore those tight black yoga pants and an oversized sweater that hung off one shoulder. I saw the strap of a tank underneath. She looked utterly at home in my back yard. Damn if that didn’t take my breath away.
I plated our food and we took our seats on my parents’ wooden deck chairs. We ate, updating each other on our weeks and watching the dogs run circles around each other.
“I finally finished the paperwork to get Maple registered as a service dog,” she told me.
I grinned. “Atta girl. Glad to hear it.”
She told me about the babies that had come into the NICU, and I shared how my wilderness training was going. When we finished our dinner, I took the plates inside and told Brooke to get comfortable on the pallet of blankets in front of the projector screen. I came back out with popcorn and queued up50 First Dates, which was surprisingly romantic for an Adam Sandler flick. A few minutes into the film, I noticed Brooke shifting around, still trying to get comfortable.
“Is this too rough on your joints?” I asked her. “Should we relocate inside?”
“No, it’s okay. I love it out here. Brings back so many memories.” She smiled.
“Well c’mere. I’m sure you’re stiff from standing at work and then driving all this way.” I patted the blanket in front of me and directed her to sit, taking my place directly behind her. I moved her hair across to one shoulder and began gently rubbing the other, adding pressure as she relaxed.
“Feel okay?”
She sighed. “Feels great, actually.”
I rubbed the muscles of one shoulder, then swept her hair over and focused on the other. After a bit she turned to me and gave me a quick kiss on the lips.
“I’m grateful for you,” she whispered.
My heart soared.
I’d gotten compliments before, and some were even from girls I’d found attractive—but none of them hit me quite like Brooke’s gratitude. I’d do anything to please this girl. I wrapped my arms around her in a firm squeeze, and she leaned back against me. We laid like that for a while, her head against my chest.
When I sensed that position was getting uncomfortable for her, I stretched myself out across the blankets. My heart gave a steadythump, thump, thumpwhen she laid down next to me, snuggled up close in the crook of my body with her head on my chest. I sighed in contentment, running my hand up and down her arm.
She turned up to gaze into my eyes, and the movie was suddenly forgotten. My gaze snagged on her perfect mouth, with her rose-colored lips. She leaned in and met my lips and I opened for her. I let her take the lead, deepening our kiss as she took control. I nibbled her bottom lip as she ran her hands up and down my chest and stomach. She pulled back from me slightly, slipping her sweater over her head, leaving her in just a tank top.
With the thick wooded area surrounding the back yard, we were essentially in our own little haven, well-hidden from the spying eyes of any nosy neighbors.
I sat up and stared at her for a moment. “You’re beautiful.” I shook my head in disbelief. My hand cupped her cheek.
She gave a soft smile, then leaned back in to meet my lips. “Touch me,” she instructed between kisses.
“Where?” I asked, swallowing the lump in my throat.
“Everywhere.”
I ran my hand down the column of her throat and dropped a kiss on her now-bare shoulder. I trailed my fingers down both arms, which had exploded in goosebumps.
“Sure you aren’t too cold?” I asked, though I knew the June night was warm.
She bit her lip and shook her head.
I captured her mouth again and let my palm brush her breast, feeling the nipple harden for me through the thin material of the tank. She let out a soft moan, and I felt myself stiffen beneath my jeans.
“More,” she pleaded.
I was more than happy to oblige. I kissed down her throat and across her collarbone, then slipped the strap from her shoulder. She gasped as I suddenly covered her soft skin with my hot breath, swirling my tongue around her nipple and pulling it into my mouth, sucking gently.
“Oh god, Cade,yes. Just like that.”
I grinned around her, enjoying her responsiveness and the sound of my name falling from her lips. Her fingers tangled in my hair, urging me on. I slipped the other strap off her tank, sliding it down til she was bare from shoulders to waist. I played with her other nipple, then moved my mouth over, lavishing it with my attention. She continued to squirm and moan.
“Please tell me I can touch you,” I said softly.
