Page 85 of In Full Bloom

“She’s not here for me.” The panic in me ebbs a little at his words. Dallas presses a kiss to my temple. “I didn’t know she was coming, but she was interviewing for a job and was going to see how that played out before she got in touch. I guess she needed to know if she’d be settled before she reconnects with Sadie—if that’s what I want.” His hands separate my hair intothree sections and he weaves them into a loose braid, like he does most days when we sneak off to the cottage for lunch.

My thoughts are spinning. Abigail is here. What does this mean? For Dallas, for me? For Sadie?

Based on my history, Dallas wanting to get back with his ex the moment I fall in love with him wouldn’t be unexpected.

Based on current evidence, with me wrapped in Dallas’s arms while straddling his lap and him talking about moving wherever I go, Abigail’s arrival doesn’t appear to have altered our situation at all.

I take reassurance from the fact that he’s here, right now, with me. His delay in following me from the farm store makes sense if he was confronted with his past on his way to the door.

But the reality is he still followed me. He’s here with me now, making promises to me about the life we’re going to have. And that is what matters.

“Is that what you want, for Abigail to be a part of Sadie’s life?” I murmur, blissed out from the gentle pressure his braiding is putting on my scalp.

“Yeah, I think so. I want Sadie to know her mum, but I have to see where Abi’s at before I let her near Sadie. I’m not running the risk of her bailing again. I don’t want to put Sadie through that. Abi has to be all in, or not at all.” He finishes the braid and gives it a little tug. “It’s a lot to think about and not top of my priority list.”

“It’s not?”

“No. Abi’s going to wait until I get in touch with her and Sadie’s being taken care of by Violet at the moment. My main concern right now is you.”

I sit back and stare down at him. He drops his hands from my shoulders down to my hips, then slightly lower, to the bare expanse of my thighs.

I shiver as he brushes his fingertips up the outside of my legs, until he reaches the hem of my skirt which is right up around my ass. I’m essentially sitting in his lap wearing just a pair of lace underwear.

His head is tilted back against the rock and he gazes up at me, his blue eyes filled with love and adoration.

“You don’t have to be concerned about me,” I whisper, then I take a deep breath and lay my heart out for him. “I love you. I want to be with you, wherever that is. But … I really, really want it to be here.”

Dallas surges forward in a movement so fast I almost topple off his lap, but his strong arms are around me, holding me to him as his mouth crashes down onto mine.

I release a startled gasp and he uses the opportunity to slide his tongue into my mouth. He lets out a low groan and his hands fall to my hips again, now I’m not in danger of falling off him.

Where his touch before was a gentle caress, this time it’s burning with desire. His calloused hands are firm on my thighs as he tugs me forward. His kisses slip from my mouth and trail along my jaw until he’s nipping at my pulse point.

I moan and shiver.

“Are you cold?” he asks, his mouth still pressed against my skin.

“No. Yes. Don’t know. Probably just the wet clothes,” I mutter, unable to even fully comprehend his question with his tongue on my neck.

He glances up at me, his eyes flashing dark with lust. “Should probably take them off.”

“Yes, please,” I breathe as his mouth reconnects with my neck and I slide my fingers into his hair.

He reaches up and pulls the shirt apart at the front, untucking it from where it’s held in place by my skirt. He pulls back and watches as the shirt gives way to reveal the same white lace bra I wore the first night we were together. He lets out a satisfied sigh.

“I’ve had to wait so long to see this again,” he says, tracing the edge of the lace with one fingertip.

I lean in and nibble on his earlobe, then drag my tongue down his neck. “Your shirt’s a little damp too,” I whisper, then undo each button in swift succession, exposing the hard planes of his chest and stomach. As I reach the last button, I spread the sides apart and trace a line from the hollow of his throat to the line of hair disappearing beneath his belt buckle.

He shivers at my touch. “This isn’t exactly how our first date was supposed to go,” he says, his voice a breathless pant.

“Maybe this is better,” I reply, shooting him a little smirk.

“It’s better,” he says. “God, I can’t believe you’re mine.”

“All yours,” I whisper against his mouth, leaning in for a slow, languid kiss. “Do you want the rest of my clothes off?”

He moans. “I can’t decide.” He sits back to take in the sight of me. I must be a mess with tangled hair and smudged make up. My shirt is hanging off my shoulders, my skirt around my waist. “This whole look is so fucking hot.” He tugs on the hem of the skirt. “But fuck, I want to see that full set again.”

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