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“It’s intentional.”
Allie’s blush turns even pinker now and she turns away to examine herself in the reflection of the cab’s window. She takes off her hat, makes a sound of disapproval, and fingers through her hair before securing it up in a big claw clip. Her blush returns when she looks back at me and realizes I’m watching her.
“I know you thought the hat was adorable, but I was over it. Sun’s down now, anyway.”
“I like this too. I can see you better.”
“You see me every day.”
“Trust me, I know it’s a privilege that I can look through that window and see you whenever I want.” I scan her face for any sign of apprehension at my words, but she only smiles and leans toward me. “But today was even better. You’re usually so busy taking care of everyone else that you don’t get a chance to slow down and enjoy things for yourself. I’ve never seen you so at ease with yourself.”
Allie doesn’t respond immediately, instead reaching for a sleeve of crackers and returning it to its box. Following her lead,I open the cooler and start putting away the meats and cheeses.Is she ready to leave, already?I watch her twist the lid back onto a jar of jam. Her motions are easy, body language loose. She doesn’t look upset, but it’s unusual for her to stay quiet for this long.
“What do you mean when you say, ‘at ease with myself?’ Do I not normally seem like that?” Her voice is curious, timid, like the concept of ease isn’t something she’s considered before this conversation and she’s worried about what I meant by it.
I take in the now empty space between us after packing up our dinner, four feet of blanketed truck bed.Too far.Moving closer, so we’re side to side instead of facing each other, I lean against the cab of the truck. She adjusts in her spot, making room for me and resting her knees against mine, the casual closeness like a gift.
When I press a comforting squeeze onto the bare warm skin of her thigh, just above her knee, she visibly softens. “You’re in your element atTurbine, but you’re alwayson. I only get to experience one side of you.” Her brows draw together in concern, or maybe confusion. I give her leg another squeeze, leaving my hand to rest on her knee.
“It’s a good side. You make people feel seen, and that’s really something. You’re always thinking about what you can do for someone else. You’re in control when you’re at work, so everyone else can relax and have a good time.”
Allie nods her head slowly, agreeing with each point I make.
“Today, I got to see what you’re like when you’re along for the ride and relaxed. You let me run the show.” She let me take care of her today and didn’t fight me for a second.
A timid smile, one that’s new to me, spreads across Allie’s lips. “You were different today, too.”
“Oh?” I raise my eyebrows in question.
She giggles.And fuck, it’s adorable.“You were more relaxed than usual. Those people are reallyyourpeople, aren’t they?”
“They are.”
“You were bolder with me than usual today, too,” Allie says, quickly enough to show her nervousness at the words.
“Yeah?”
She cocks her head exaggeratedly to the side, nervousness gone as soon as it appeared. “Yeah,” She leans in toward me, “and a little possessive.” Leaning in to match her brings me close enough that her scent fills my nose.
Most days she carries with her the stoic scent of ground espresso beans, filled out by lemon and coconut. Today, the espresso is missing. The light smell of her sweat from being in the sun all day comes through, combined with the lemon and coconut, making her smell like summertime and spontaneity. It’s impossibly sexy.
I lean in another inch, soaking up as much of her as I can. Her eyes register my closeness, and she sucks in a quick breath.
“Do you like that?” I lean closer still and ease one hand underneath her bent knees, the other behind her back. She makes a surprised squealing sound and smiles up at me. I’m close enough to catch her pupils dilating when I pull her legs across my lap. “When I’m possessive?”
She laughs quietly, her breath skating across my jaw as she leans her head back further to look me in the eye. “I usually hate that shit, but I like it with you.”
Pulling Allie closer until she’s sitting sideways across my lap, the warmth of her skin tempts me. I indulge myself in it, running my nose all the way down the column of her neck, starting behind her ear and ending at her collarbone. She hums in pleasure as I do.
The press of my hand against the small of her back causesher to arch deliciously into my hold. Inhaling a deep breath against her chest, I cannot resist tasting her for another moment. Opening my mouth against her smooth skin, I trace the lines of her collarbone with my lips. She hums a satisfied sound and presses more firmly against me.Fuck.I make another pass, this time letting my tongue taste the salty sweetness of her skin.
Her whimpers get louder as I taste up her neck with light kisses. She swirls her hips, the heat of her center pressing against my leg.
“Luke.” Her voice is a needy whisper that runs straight to my cock.
I ghost my lips back and forth along the column of her neck. “Yes, Allie? Is there something you’d like?” She whimpers again and presses herself harder against me. When I draw her earlobe between my teeth, she twists her fingers into the hair at the base of my skull and says my name again, this time an all-out whine.
Pulling my face up so it’s level with hers reveals wild eyes and cheeks that I’m sure are flushed with a delicious blush that’s only hidden by the evening’s fading light. I run the back of one knuckle down her cheek and across her jaw. “Fuck, you’re incredible like this.”
