Page 158 of Wildest Dreams

He takes the dessert spoon from my hand and uses it to scoop up half the serving in one go. Then he drops his forehead to my shoulder as he swallows it down, groaning quietly against my neck and making me giggle.

I fiddle with the khaki cap set low over my eyes before wrapping my arms around his large shoulders, feeling so contentedly at home.

“This is, like, the best moment of my life,” he rumbles. I giggle quietly as he purposefully scrapes my skin with his stubble.

Then he pulls back so that he can make the final scoop, his large palm massaging the nape of my neck as he finishes swallowing it down.

“’Kay,” he murmurs. “We’re gonna go to my room.” He glances between his parents and says, “Leave this stuff and I’ll come back down to clear it later.”

His dad grunts.

“No you damn won’t.” He jerks his chin in my direction. “Not when you’ve got company.”

Tanner rises to his feet, tugging me up with him. Cobie sits up to attention, tail thumping as he looks between us.

“I can do it tonight, when everyone’s in bed,” Tanner offers. Then he laughs incredulously, saying, “No way am I gonna let you do the dishes. Y’all just got back from deployment. Let me.”

Linc steeples his fingers, watching his son with sharp but thoughtful eyes.

“Mace,” he says finally, quiet and deep. “We can handle a few dishes. Trust me.” He gestures calmly with his large battle-scarred hand. “Now go and give your girl a tour of our home.”

I can see the argument warring in Tanner’s eyes but after a moment he thinks better of it and he wraps my hand in his.

“Thank you for the lovely meal,” I say over my shoulder as Tanner tugs me quickly through the porch door, his hand thrumming with adrenaline as he weaves us through the rustic kitchen.

I yelp as something hard shoves against my butt and we both turn around to see Cobie shooting me his guiltiest expression.

“Jesus,” Tanner murmurs, half-laughing as he positions himself behind me, away from further nose-butting. “Cobe’s crazy for your scent,” he says, his hands sliding down to my hips.“Not that I blame him,” he adds, chest swelling as he squeezes me.

When we reach the stairs he turns to the Alsatian. “Back to the porch, man.”

Cobie sits down on his back legs, tongue lolling innocently, even as his eyes glance up at the top landing.

“Cobe,” Tanner laughs. “Come on, man. Outside.”

He jerks his chin to where we just came from and waits it out until Cobie finally does a reluctant howl and then trudges back down the hallway.

Tanner takes my hand in his and leads me up the beautiful white staircase.

“How was that?” he asks me, his deep voice a little nervous. “What’d you think of everyone? Hope it was, uh, okay for a first meeting.”

We reach the top step and I nod up at him as he looks down at me.

“Everyone was so lovely. Your family is amazing.”

“Yeah?” he asks, his gorgeous eyes searching mine. “It was okay?”

“It was better than okay,” I laugh. “They were… so thoughtful. And considerate and kind.” I move to wrap my arms around his neck as his fingers start gripping at my waist. “Just like you.”

His mouth tugs into a half-smirk.

“Coming from the girl who let me finish her goddamn cobbler,” he rumbles, making me laugh delightedly as he ducks down to take my lips with his. He groans deeply as he hauls my body against his chest, his grip tightening on my waist as he shoves a door shut behind us.

I gasp as his mouth moves slowly down to my throat, sucking rough kisses into my skin as one of his palms roams up to squeeze my breasts.

“Are we in your bedroom?” I whisper, clutching him tighter as he caresses me.

“I fuckin’ hope so,” he rumbles, making my chest shake as I laugh.

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