“Yeah? You’d want to do that?” His voice was different than usual. Hesitant. Hopeful.
I turned to look at him, trying to figure out what he was thinking. “Of course. It’d be fascinating if we could figure it out. That’s a real piece of history. I can’t imagine firefighting was easy back then. I wonder where that hat has been, what it’s seen.”
He cupped the side of my face, his callused fingertips gently tracing my jaw, his gaze roaming over my face. My breath caught. Was he going to kiss me? I hoped so!
“You’re something special, Juls.”
“I—it’s...” I didn’t know how to respond to that. “What’s that?” I said instead, pointing to the plaque with the hands.
He dropped his hand, and I felt the urge to lean into him, to feel more of his touch, his warmth. But then he picked up the plaque to show it to me, and the pride and happiness on his face made up for it. Almost.
“It’s a fire insurance plaque from Scotland, issued around 1780. After the Great London Fire of 1666, before there were municipal fire departments, these were displayed on buildings to indicate they had insurance, and in case of a fire, firefighters from the insurance company’s brigade would put it out.”
“So they needed insurance just to get a firefighter to come?”
“That’s an unsubstantiated controversy. According to the stories, yes, but they were supposed to provide mutual aid.”
“That’s amazing. What a different world it must have been back then.”
Dylan didn’t answer. He carefully put the plaque back then turned to me, a strange look on his face. I started to fidget under his scrutiny, but then he grabbed my shoulders and pulled me into a tight embrace. He smoothed my hair back and wrapped his arms around me. I held him just as tightly. He was having a moment, and I hoped it was good, but either way, I was there for him.
“Juls. I love that you find this stuff interesting.”
I nodded, my face rubbing against him. “I do.”
“Come, let’s go sit down.”
He loosened his hold on me, trailing his hand down my arm to catch my hand in his, and I wished we had a longer walk than just across the room.
Dylan sat in the corner seat, and I hesitated. I wanted to sit right next to him. Like, no space between us, his body against mine to at least somewhat satisfy the burning need that was building inside me. But would that be weird? Should I sit on the next couch cushion, the middle seat, like a reasonable adult? I had no idea how to act on a date.
Dylan watched me, his dark eyes soft and warm, no doubt reading my awkward uncertainty. He moved his arm up to the back of the couch and gestured with his head into the space he’d made. “Come here, baby.”
The rumble of his voice soothed my nerves, and it also turned me the hell on. I quickly dropped into the opening he made, and he wrapped his arm around me. I leaned into his shoulder and rested my hand on his muscular arm.
“You good here?”
“Perfect.” I was surprised at how true it was. I felt comfortable. Relaxed. Excited.
“Good. Me too.” Dylan grabbed the glasses of wine from the end table, handing one to me. “Here's to us,” he said, clinking his glass against mine. “For a wonderful day getting to know each other, and for all the good times to come.”
“To us,” I repeated, then sat up to take a sip. The last thing I wanted to do was spill on Dylan’s couch. But now what? I drank more, just so I had a reason for moving away from him, for sitting stiffly next to him.
Dylan put his hand out, I think for my glass, so I gave it to him. He put it down and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me against him again. “I like it better with you here.”
“Me too.”
“Relax, Juls. I had an incredible afternoon. Let’s watch a movie and enjoy the evening together. You can just sit right there, and I’ll make a few subtle moves. I would’ve done the old movie theater trick, yawned, and accidentally put my armaround your shoulder, but we’re already past that. Maybe I’ll absentmindedly rub my fingers on the side of your neck, right here.” He slowly trailed one finger behind my ear, down my neck and around to the base of my throat where my pulse was pounding. Tingles ran through my body, and I couldn’t fight the shiver that coursed through me.
“Oh yeah.” I heard the smile enter his voice. “You just sit right there and let me work my magic.”
His eyes met mine and my insides melted as warmth spread through my body.
“I love the way you react to my touch,” he said, the teasing tone gone.
“I-I-” I couldn’t put together the right words to tell him that I loved the feel of his hands on me too. It sounded raunchier than I meant...well, I was thinking that also, but I really just wanted to say that I loved all his sweet little caresses.
I gave up trying to put my thoughts into words and leaned into his hand now cupping my cheek. I gazed into his beautiful brown eyes, then let my eyes drop to his mouth.