The thing I hated most about Dallas Whynot was that he was a good man.
We spent twenty minutes crammed in my shower together. The hands that had just made me come were now gentle and easy, massaging my shoulders as the water rinsed down the dirt and sweat we’d accumulated.
He got me a glass of water. He brought me a sweet snack. He tucked me in bed and then climbed in, his arms an iron fortress around me.
I hated it when he took care of me.
I also loved it.
The way he made me feel was dangerous. I was walking on a tightrope, trying not to fall into the pits of a romantic hope I’d so carefully avoided my entire life.
His beard was soft against the curve of my neck. Every now and then, he’d break the silence with a kiss against a spot that sent shivers down my spine. My breath caught as he kissed me there again, my eyes rolling back.
I was comfortable with him.
I didn’t let people in my bed. Yet, both him and Madi had been in it in the span of a day. My entire life was now upsidedown, a glass vase knocked from the tallest shelf and shattering in slow motion.
“We should text Madi,” I said.
I started to sit up, but a firm hand pushed me back down. “Stay. I’ll grab my phone.”
“You’re so demanding,” I mumbled, blushing as I tugged my comforter around my shoulders and settled back in.
Dallas rolled out of bed and disappeared to the rest of the house. He rustled around for a couple minutes before returning and I got an eyeful of him completely naked in my bedroom light.
Out in the desert, I’d only seen pieces of him under the moon. And I’d been so caught up in what we were doing in the shower, I didn’t take the time to appreciate him.
He was all hard angles and soft looks. Thick dark hair and a short beard that still didn’t hide his jawline. There was always a single curl that loosened over his forehead unless he raked his fingers through to comb it back. Broad shoulders, broad chest. It was really bad, probably, but my gaze focused on his chest hair and his pecs. A very silly, a very horny part of me wanted to squeeze them—then again, knowing him, he’d happily oblige me. Working out was his hobby because between being a mechanic and a volunteer firefighter, he needed those muscles at times. But god, I was a whore for them. It wasn’t fair. I licked my lips as my gaze dipped to the V of his hips, and then lower.
Fuck.
He was frozen in the doorway, his eyes on me.
His cock hard.
“You’ve never looked at me like that.” His voice was hoarse.
“I’ve never let myself,” I admitted.
God, he’d caught me staring. I yanked the blanket over my face to hide.
I’d never looked at him this way. I’d always torn my gaze away before drinking in every part of him and letting my thoughts run wild. Always catching myself before it went too far or he noticed.
The bed rocked as he climbed in next to me. He yanked back the blanket and cupped my face, but I covered my eyes with my hands.
“Don’t hide from me,” he whispered.
“I’m embarrassed.”
“What?Why?”
“Because you’reyou.And we just ran around outside like two crazy people and then you . . .you.”
Dallas chuckled. “What were you thinking about when you were looking at me like you wanted to eat me?”
The corner of my mouth tugged. “I can’t say.”
“Oh, yes you can.”
