I glanced around automatically, making sure no one was watching, no curious eyes peeking through cabin windows. The place was quiet, dark, everyone else turned in for the night.
“Come on,” I said quietly, nodding toward my cabin. “Let’s go inside.”
She hesitated for half a second, then followed me. I shut the door behind us, and the air shifted instantly. Neither of us spoke. I reached for her first. Her hands slid up my chest as our mouths met, slow at first, then deeper. The kiss felt hungry but not frantic. It felt familiar, which was dangerous. My fingers curled at her waist, pulling her closer until there wasn’t any space left between us. I couldn’t get enough of her. She sighed against my mouth, and I felt something soften in my chest that had nothing to do with lust. I broke the kiss just enough to breathe.
“I need to take you on a date,” I murmured against her lips.
She blinked at me. “What?”
I brushed my forehead against hers, smiling faintly. “You deserve more than secret late nights in my cabin.”
Her laugh surprised me, light and warm. “Are you becoming soft on me, bossman?” she teased.
I huffed a laugh. “Don’t start.”
She pulled back just enough to look at me, eyes sparkling. “You,” she said, poking my chest lightly, “are definitely getting soft.”
I caught her hand, pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
“Maybe,” I admitted quietly. “Or maybe you’re the exception.”
Her expression softened. And just like that, the teasing faded and the space between us grew charged again. I kissed her slowly this time, taking my time, trying to memorize the way she fit against me. Because for the first time in a long time, I didn’t want to rush anything. And that scared the hell out of me.
I walked her to the bed until the back of her knees touched the edge. “I want to have sex with you,” she said. She was making me unravel and she didn’t even know it.
“I want that too, but not tonight,” I said.
She replied with a low playful sound. “You’re playing hard to get.”
I laughed. “You’ve waited this long. There has to be a reason you did.”
“Maybe I just never felt this kind of pull,” she said. “Or maybe it’s annoyance.”
She clucked her tongue. She knew how to pull my strings and get a reaction out of me.
I flipped her on her back and she squealed. “I still plan on having you writhe beneath me.” I nipped at her bottom lip.
“I won’t say no to that,” she replied.
“Good.” I sealed the word with another kiss. This time her arms went around me and we got lost in each other, but we also couldn’t move up the bed.
“Shoes,” she said. I got up and took off her shoes. “And while I’m at it, clothes.” I took off my boots before undressing her.
“This isn’t fair. In show and tell, everyone needs to participate,” she said.
“That was corny,” I laughed.
“OMG, I know. I need to work on my seduction,” she giggled while blushing.
“No, I think that comes naturally to you. The way you look into my eyes, the way your breathing changes when I get close. You have me hooked,” I confessed. And with those words I sealed my mouth on hers. Our tongues twisted and I groaned into her mouth. She was sweet and open. That was the thing, Claire was an open book, and I liked that about her too. She pressed her chest against mine.
I took off my shirt so I could be skin to skin with her, and she ran her hands over my ass, removing my shorts and boxers. I was rock hard, but I wanted tonight to be about her because I was learning how selfless she was. She had put her own life on hold to find answers for a friend that was long gone. She had a big heart.
“Asher,” she moaned as I kissed a path to her breasts. I sucked her nipple into my mouth and she groaned and wrapped her arms around my head. “OMG.” Her hips thrust into my cock.
“Be careful,” I warned. We were both naked, and there was only so much control I had left.
“I like seeing you lose control. You always seem so deliberate, it’s a nice change,” she smirked.