The Art of Loving Lacy (Sweet with Heat Page 4

  “He arrives Sunday. When do you go back home?” he asked.

  Lacy lived just outside of Boston, two hours from the Cape. “Sunday. I have to be at work on Monday. I heard about the sharks around Chatham. Is that where you’re working?”

  “I don’t want to talk about work, Lace. We have forty-eight hours, and I don’t want to waste a second of it.”

  “What did you have in mind?” Lacy asked.

  “I have no idea, but I know I want to kiss you again.” He leaned in close, then hesitated, until he was sure the darkening of Lacy’s eyes was a sign of acceptance. She tightened her fingers around his and closed her eyes. The moment his lips met hers, every muscle constricted. She wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him deeper. Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and he felt a familiar tightening in his groin. He swept her mouth with his tongue, drew one hand up to the back of her neck, kissing her deeper, then, fighting every force of nature that was driving him forward, forced himself to draw away.

  “Lacy, I could make love to you right here.”

  “Here,” she whispered.

  Dane was unsure if it was a question or a statement. What was he doing? He might not be certain of what was between them, but he knew Lacy wasn’t a girl he wanted to forget—or could forget. He needed a distraction to keep his lust in check.

  “We need to walk,” he said with a wavering voice. He took her hand and walked down the beach. “I’m sorry. I know I’m hot and cold, and I’m not usually like this.”

  “Is it me?”

  He heard the worry in her voice and stopped abruptly, looking her in the eye. “Yes. It’s you, Lacy, but not in a bad way. Believe me. I want to make love to you here and now, but I told myself we’d take it slow. It’s just…” He rubbed his forehead, wondering how he could possibly explain what he didn’t even understand. “Lacy, I’ve got months of fantasies racing through my mind. Images of what I wanted to do with you, thoughts of touching you. I can practically feel you beneath me.” He pulled her closer. “All those intimate thoughts and pictures are chased by my wanting to slow down and get to know you better.” He searched her eyes again, looking for a clear indication of what she felt. What he saw was something he didn’t expect—surprise.

  Lacy let out a long breath. “Dane, that’s exactly how I feel, like there’s all this pressure to make those thoughts come through, but then there’s the other side of wanting to get to know you, so it doesn’t feel so…I don’t know…dirty.”

  “You’re anything but dirty.” He kissed the tip of her nose, and she smiled. “Although, we could be dirty if you wanted to.” He raised his eyebrows in quick succession.

  Lacy’s jaw slacked and her eyes opened wide in an exaggerated fashion.

  “I’m kidding,” he said quickly.

  “I know. So was I. Didn’t you get my over-the-top gawk?” she teased.

  He pulled her to him and kissed her again.

  “You surprise me so much.” He touched the soft skin of her jaw and kissed her again. “So, we should take it slow?” he asked when they parted. “Get to know each other?”

  “I think we should just let nature take its course.” She leaned in and kissed him.

  All it took was that one kiss to send his desires careening out of control. He took her hand and, while still kissing, they stumbled up the beach to the dunes, where the grass grew in tall tufts. He pulled his lips away long enough to find a path up the sandy hill.

  He threw his jacket on the sand, and before he could reach for her, Lacy was in his arms, kissing him again. Her tongue probed his mouth with urgency, as she pulled the tail of his shirt from his pants, then slipped her warm hands underneath. He heard himself groan and winced, not wanting to seem too eager, but she met his groan with a moan, and it spurred him on and kicked his steely resolve to go slow out with the tide. He untied the halter of her dress with trembling hands—he’d waited so long to be with her that his breath caught in his throat. He kissed the tender spot at the base of her neck, reveling in the taste of her, and trailed kisses across her breastbone as her dress dropped to the sand. His gaze swept over her sexy curves, remembering every word they’d spoken over the previous months, every secret they’d shared, every intimate desire they’d whispered in the dark.

  “You’re beautiful, Lace.” In all the months he’d dreamed about seeing Lacy again, he couldn’t have come close to the way his heart seemed to swell within his chest at the sight of her and how his body ached for more as he tasted her sweet flesh.

  THE SHOCK OF the brisk air against Lacy’s bare skin sent goose bumps up her arms. Dane wrapped her in his arms, held her against his chest, and kissed her until she could barely think. Months of restrained desire fueled her need to feel his skin against hers. She drew back, nimbly freeing him from the buttons on his shirt. Her fingers traveled over the rough hairs on his chest. She’d waited so long to touch him and knew she should go slowly, but his skin was hot beneath her palms and she couldn’t help herself. Her hands moved down his body, feeling the ripples of his rock-hard abs, and quickly unbuttoning his slacks.

  He stripped off his clothes, and gathered her close. Their bare chests came together, every breath rushed and needy. His mouth found hers again, and he kissed her with a force so strong it took on a blaze of its own. They lowered themselves to the sand—missing his jacket altogether.

  “Lacy…” he said breathlessly. His eyes were pitch-black as he stared into hers.

  Lacy trembled beside him. His hand slid over the crest of her thigh, and Lacy froze when his fingers grazed the scar that covered her upper thigh.

  “What’s wrong?”

  She didn’t answer as she moved his hand and he kissed her again, touching her sensually. Thoughts of her scar fell away. The sand scratched her back and shoulders, reminding her of where they were. She had a fleeting worry of being caught on the beach, and pulled herself from her reverie long enough to look around.

  “What is it? Did I hurt you?” he asked.

  “No.” Why is my voice trembling? “I just don’t want to be caught…you know.”

  Even in the darkness she could see Dane’s adorably sexy smile and realized she didn’t really care if they were caught. She was not going to stop what they’d started.

  “We’re pretty deep in the dunes.” He kissed her softly. “And we’re far from the building. I don’t think anyone will see us, but I don’t want to do anything that you’re not comfortable with. Want to go back to the hotel?”

  Heck no! Lacy reined in her desire long enough to settle her voice. “No. It’s okay.”

  Dane wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and drew her into another deep kiss, then licked her lower lip as they separated.

  “Still nervous?” His voice was warm and comforting.

  “A little,” she admitted.

  “Lie back,” he said, gently guiding her down to her back. He lay beside her, and they stared up at the stars. In the darkness, he reached for her hand.

  Lacy closed her eyes and took a deep breath, then blew it out slowly. What was wrong with her? Why on earth was she so nervous? She was with the man she’d been dreaming about for months. She wanted him so badly she couldn’t think straight, and there she was, trembling like a scared child. She tried to clear the wanton thoughts from her mind long enough to form coherent ones and weave her way through her nervousness.

  “Remember the afternoon we first met?” he asked.

  “Yeah.”

  He leaned on one elbow and traced her ribs with his finger. “My whole life I’d been looking down, down into the water when I’m looking for sharks, down at the computer when I’m researching funding sources, and even down when I’m just going through my daily life. Think about it. How often do you really look up?”

  Lacy couldn’t remember the last time she’d looked up at the stars.

  “The night we met, I looked into the sky and thought about you, and when we started talking on the phone and texting, I found myse
lf looking for the stars. Even on the rainy nights, I was searching for the stars. And somewhere along the way, I realized that I wasn’t really looking at stars, Lace. I was looking for you. And now I wonder if you had been there all the time, just waiting for me. The Lacy Star,” he said with a smile.

  Lacy snuggled against him. Her head rested in the crook of his arm, her hand on his stomach. The dune grass swished beside them. Dane put his arms around Lacy and held her close. He tilted her chin up and looked into her eyes.

  “Lacy, I’d wait for you forever.”

  She saw the truth of his words in his serious gaze.

  “We don’t have to do anything tonight. We can get dressed and walk some more, or go back to the hotel. Whatever you want. The night is yours. I just want to be with you.”

  Could you be any more perfect? Lacy wanted nothing more than to push through her nerves and be closer to Dane. His tender words tugged at her heart, and his gorgeous body tugged at all the intimate parts of her that she’d been trying to ignore. She gathered her courage and remembered Danica’s words. Whatever you want to happen will happen.

  She leaned over and kissed him, and when they came apart and he opened his mouth to speak, she settled her mouth over his again, kissing him deeper and leaving no room for misinterpretation. She ran her hand down his muscular body and she felt him smile against her lips. He reached down and touched her hand, stopping her from going lower.

  “Lacy.”

  There was such a serious note to his voice, and she was so nervous, she started laughing. Laughing! His brows drew together, and it made her laugh harder. In the space of a second, he flipped her on her back and stared down at her with a curious, amused grin.

  “You’re not very good for my ego,” he teased.

  “I can’t help it.” She was pinned beneath him, naked. Her gaze slithered down his body, giving her a clear view of his arousal. Treat hadn’t exaggerated. That thought caused her to laugh even harder. She turned her face away from him, trying to quell her laughter. What was wrong with her?

  “I’ll give you something to laugh about,” he said, tickling her so hard she curled her legs up and tried to turn onto her side, but he was too heavy, and his arousal knocked against her ribs, sending her into more fits of laughter.

  “Get that weapon away from me,” she said between laughs.

  “It’s been called a lot of things, but a weapon was never one of them,” he said, trying to contain his laughter, which only made her crack up more.

  Tears of laughter streamed down her cheeks.

  DANE HAD ALWAYS wondered what women really thought when they finally saw the size of him. He was usually met with wide eyes and gracious hunger. Lacy’s laughter, he realized, was probably the most honest reaction he’d ever encountered. When he was a younger man, he’d tried to hide his enormity. He had enough brothers to know he was more than well endowed—he had a python in his pants. When he was in college, he’d finally embraced his gift. It had given him courage and a cocky air, which had roped in many women. But after meeting Lacy, he’d come to loathe his revolving bedroom door. And watching the relationships between his brothers and their girlfriends made him crave more than a good lay.

  He started to move to Lacy’s side, and she grabbed his arm.

  “Don’t go,” she said, shifting so she was lying beneath him again. “I’m sorry I laughed.” She touched his face and kissed him. “I want you, Dane. I’m just nervous.”

  He brushed his lips over hers and said, “Then we’ll go slow.”

  And they did.

  He wanted her so badly he could barely breathe, but he worried about how quickly they’d come together. He didn’t want her to get the impression that sex was all he was after. They kissed and touched for a long time beneath the starry sky, and before their bodies became one, he gazed into her beautiful blue eyes and said, “Are you sure, Lace?”

  A sweet smile appeared on her lips as she said, “More than sure.”

  As their bodies became one, Lacy gasped, pinning his heart to hers with the desire in her eyes.

  Afterward, their bodies were slick with sweat despite the cool air. Rough grains of sand dug into his knees and stung his toes, but he didn’t care. He was finally with the only woman he wanted. He and Lacy lay spent, panting with pleasure. Then he kissed her again, long, slow, and tender.

  He thought again of why he hadn’t gone to see her for all those months. He knew now that he’d been right to worry that once he was with Lacy he’d never be able to turn away. Like Treat had done for Max, Dane would do whatever it took to be with Lacy.

  Chapter Five

  A BREEZE WHISPERED across Lacy’s bare body. Every nerve tingled, and her fatigued muscles were unable to respond to the chill on her skin. From where she lay next to Dane in their hidden nest on the dune, she saw a halo around the moon. In her mind, words danced in quick succession—Wow. Amazing. So hot. The feel of Dane moving closer beside her—their arms touching, his thigh flush with hers—sent a chill through her.

  “Lace,” Dane whispered.

  “Yeah?” I love your voice.

  “I didn’t plan for that to happen.”

  The sincerity in his voice tugged at her heart. She turned her head, his features slowly coming into focus against the darkness. “I know.”

  He touched her thigh with his hand, and she froze.

  “You don’t need to flinch when I touch you.” He squeezed his warm palm against her scarred thigh.

  Lacy almost never thought about her scar—or the incident that had caused it. The incident, that’s what she and her sisters called it. She’d been only seven when the shark had grazed her leg. She closed her eyes and willed the thoughts away as she’d done so many times before. Usually, men who happened to notice her scar and ask about it were eager for a quick answer and a change of subject. Dane wanted more. He wanted to know the truth, but she wasn’t ready to share it with him. She took his hand in hers, raising it off of the patchy, rough skin that covered the upper part of her right thigh. She’d told him that she thought she might be afraid of sharks, but she hadn’t shared why, and as he touched her thigh, the admission hung on her tongue, but fear swallowed it down. She wanted a relationship with Dane, and if she could keep her fear at bay, she just might have a chance.

  He came up on one elbow and kissed her softly. Lacy closed her eyes as he touched her cheek with one hand and released her hand with the other, resting it on her scar once again.

  “Dane.” Her heartbeat quickened. She reached for his wrist, but he held firm.

  “Shh. You’re beautiful,” he whispered. Then he kissed his way down her side to her thigh. He ran his finger along the long, thin grooves that marred her thigh. Slowly, he followed each pattern, which swam fast and deep in some places and rode the surface in others.

  As he traced the deeper grooves, Lacy closed her eyes, losing sensation for a few seconds as Dane’s fingers traveled the paths she’d worked so hard to forget. When his warm lips touched her thigh, she held her breath and squeezed her eyes shut, disappearing into the quiet, dark place she’d learned to escape to when the memories came rushing back. She concentrated on the sounds of the waves, the salty sea air, anything but the feel of Dane touching, exploring, and caressing her scar.

  “Wanna tell me about it?” he asked. Moving away from her scar, he laid his head on her belly.

  “I’m getting a little cold,” she lied, warmed by the heat of his body against her. He lifted his head and returned her gaze. Lacy held her breath again, expecting him to push her for answers—answers she didn’t want to think about. She was too happy. She’d waited months to be with Dane, and as she looked into his eyes, silently hoping he’d let it go, she didn’t know how she’d make it through a day, a week, or a year without seeing him again.

  He pulled her close and rubbed his hand thoughtfully along her back. “Let’s get you back inside.”

  She let out a relieved sigh and reached for her dress. Dane stopped her fr
om pulling it over her head and first gently brushed the sand from her legs, her butt, and her back. He ran his fingers through her hair, shaking free the sand crystals, and warmed the back of her neck with tender kisses. Then he took her dress and slipped it over her head and tied the halter.

  “Here,” he said, placing his jacket around her shoulders. Then he stepped into his pants and put on his shirt, leaving the top buttons open, his curly dark chest hair peeking out.

  He’s too handsome. Too kind. He must have some fault she was missing.

  He held out his hand. “Shall we?”

  They walked through the cool sand toward the lights of the inn. Worries sailed through Lacy’s mind: What now? Would he act like nothing had happened when they were with his family? Should she?

  As if he’d read her mind, he asked, “Will you still be my date tomorrow?”

  When he smiled, Lacy’s pulse ratcheted up a notch again. “Are you sure?”

  Dane stopped walking and touched her cheek. “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my whole life.”

  He stepped closer, and the memory of his kiss brought a smile to her lips.

  “Lace, I’m happier than I have been in a very long time,” Dane said.

  Her heart soared. “Me too.” Me too? What is wrong with me?

  “Then, it’s a date.”

  They stopped to retrieve their shoes. Dane slipped his fingers into the straps of her heels, then picked up his dress shoes and carried them in one hand, never letting go of her hand with the other.

  Once inside, the lights of the inn were too bright, the hardwood floors smooth beneath her bare feet. Lacy held tight to Dane’s hand, not wanting the night to end. The middle-aged woman behind the counter smiled as they passed, and Lacy wondered if she could tell what they’d just done. She reached up to touch her hair, startled when she felt the mass of frizz that her corkscrew curls had morphed into. What was I thinking? She cringed at the thought of what she must look like. They took the stairs up to the second floor, passing a mirror that hung on the wall. She turned away, embarrassed, and made a mental note to be sure she looked great tomorrow.