Dale pulled into my driveway and turned off the ignition. I’d been so immersed in our conversation, I hadn’t even realized we were here. Without the dashboard lights, the interior darkened but the spotlight on my garage shined on us just enough so I could see him. He reached down and released his seatbelt and turned to face me.
“So I’m not the only one who felt it?” I shook my head. “Then why did it take you two years to say yes to a date?”
“I was afraid.” I shook my head. “I’m basically at a tween level when it comes to dating and you’re…not.”
“What made you say yes this time?”
“Hannah.” I chuckled. “I’m sure you’ve noticed that she’s been trying to play matchmaker since last year.” He nodded. “She invited me to your birthday dinner and told me that if I was interested in you at all I should give you a chance because you’re really a nice guy.”
“I really am,” he said with a sexy smile.
“And humble, too,” I teased.
“When you walked into the restaurant on Sunday, I was speechless. At first I thought I was hallucinating.”
“I’m sure you could conjure up something better than me if that was the case.”
“I don’t think so.”
He reached over and wrapped his fingers around the side of my neck with this thumb tracing back and forth across my jaw. The tenderness in his touch had me fighting to keep my breathing under control. It’s been a long time since I’ve been touched so intimately.
“You were the best thing about that night.” My heart pounded as the air between us became even more charged. “And I’m so happy you said yes to tonight. I had a really great time.”
I felt myself drifting toward him as his thumb continued its hypnotic rhythm. He shifted closer and touched his lips gently to mine for the briefest of seconds. It was a feather light caress, not much more than a mingling of breath, but I felt its effect in every erogenous zone in my body. Pulling back slightly, he searched my gaze, seeming to give me one last chance to back away.
But I didn’t. I couldn’t.
His oh-so-kissable mouth curled up into a small smile as he tunneled his fingers through my hair and pulled me closer. Tilting my head back and to the side, he opened his mouth over mine. With that, I had expected a full-blown, tongue-tangling kiss, but instead he nibbled at my bottom lip before placing his mouth over mine and applying a wonderful suction.
I dug my fingers into his bicep before slowly dragging my hands up to twist them into his hair. He moaned at the contact and wrapped his arm around my waist, pulling me toward him until my stomach rested against the console and my chest was flush against his. Thankfully his heart is pounding as hard as mine.
And then he really kissed me.
Thoroughly.
Completely.
Perfectly.
Oh. My. God. The man can kiss.
I eagerly met every thrust, every caress of his tongue.
He wrapped his hand tighter around my waist and pulled me even closer until my hip rested against the console and my whole upper body smashed against his chest. Pulling his mouth from mine for just a second, he shifted his head to come at the kiss from a different angle. Different, but just as good.
It went on and on, long and hot, deep and wet, his tongue stroking mine in a perfect rhythm and I reveled in every second. My entire focus was on Dale and his mouth and what it was doing to me.
I forgot that we’re sitting in his truck in my driveway where nosy neighbors can see us, but thankfully he didn’t. Some of my sanity returned when I realized Dale had changed the tempo of the kiss. It was more subdued, not burning in intensity like it had been a few short moments before.
He kissed my lips softly one last time before pulling away. My back felt cold as he removed his arm from around my waist. I loosened my grip on his hair and slid back into my own seat. His blue eyes looked darker than usual as they held mine captive.
“Thank you again for coming out with me tonight.”
“I had a great time. Thank you for asking me,” I said, barely recognizing my husky voice.