Page 77 of Embers

I don’t actually know how to dance. I’ve never learned or even had the opportunity. But Cal seems to know the basics, and he shows me enough for us to move across the floor without stumbling.

I love it. So much. Despite the soreness of my ankle and the fact that I have to rest it a lot. I love the feel of Cal’s arms. The warm smile in his eyes. The familiar strains of music. The way my body wants to move with the rhythm. Move with his. After a while, I’m so overwhelmed by it I start giggling, and then I can’t stop.

I’m still giggling way too much a few hours later when the musicians pack up and it’s time to leave.

It’s dark now, but Cal doesn’t appear too concerned, so I’m not either. We’re close to New Haven, and this area is so safe now that there’s only a slim chance we’ll run into trouble.

I haven’t managed to fully stop giggling when we reach the farm, and Cal parks his truck.

“Where did you get these strawberries?” I ask. I’m not ready for the evening to be over yet, so I pick a big one out and take a bite out of it.

The sweetness hits me hard. I moan in pleasure.

“So it’s good?” he asks.

“Mm-hmm. Best thing I ever ate.” I take another bite, and the juice drips down my chin. “Where did you find them?”

“Around.”

I narrow my eyes at him, the glare probably diminished by the strawberry juice on my lips.

He laughs softly. “The Dickersons have been growin’ them. You remember them?”

“Yeah. Of course.” They’re a large family with a small farm about halfway between here and our old cabin. “These are amazing. I guess things really are starting to grow again like they used to.”

“Yeah. Seems like it.”

I finish my strawberry and then pick out another good one and hand it to him.

“Those are for you,” he tells me disapprovingly.

“Well, if they’re mine, then I’m allowed to do what I want with them, and I want to share them with you.” I wave the strawberry in front of his face. “So stop being a stubborn ass and eat it.”

To my delight, he relents with no further argument. He takes the strawberry and eats half of it in one bite, humming about how good it is as he chews.

Together, we eat about half the strawberries, and I descend into helpless giggles again. I’m finishing up the last berry I plan to eat and telling myself it’s now time to pull myself together and be my sensible self again when I catch a glimpse of a certain expression in Cal’s eyes.

It’s warm and soft—like he’s been with me all evening—but it’s more than that too. It’s hungry. Possessive. Hot. Yearning.

I gulp and stare up at him, my lips still damp from the strawberry and parted just slightly.

“Baby,” he murmurs, reaching up to graze my cheek with his knuckles and then lightly trace the line of my lips with his thumb. “I’m gonna take this as slow as you want. I promise. But if you keep lookin’ at me that way, then I’m gonna be real tempted to kiss you.”

“You mean it?” I whisper. I lean toward him.

He moves too, meeting me in the middle and pressing his lips against mine. He brushes them gently and then adjusts his lips around my top one, tugging it deliciously and then pressing harder again.

Pleasure and excitement are throbbing in me all over. I hear myself giggling against his mouth.

He’s shaking with relaxed amusement as he pulls away. He doesn’t try to kiss me anymore. He doesn’t ask if I want more. He must realize the simple kiss was exactly right for tonight.

“I wasn’t laughing at you,” I say quickly, although he doesn’t look the least bit concerned.

“I know you weren’t. You’re havin’ a good time. That’s what I want for you, so it makes me happy to see you this way.”

I’m blushing, and I don’t know why. I shoot him a quick look. “I want you to be having a good time too.”

“Baby, are you kiddin’ me? This might be the best night of my entire life.”

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