Page 16 of Home Run

I already had his vanilla in my hand, but I went back and grabbed my favorite off the shelf marked “Hope”. “I have this specially made just for me.”

Rhett peeled the top off and peered inside. “Dark chocolate?”

“It’s three kinds of dark chocolates, actually. Laced with bourbon-soaked black cherries.”

“Fuck me.” His eyes darted between me and the ice cream as I exited the freezer. He let the door slam shut. “Why are you wasting time making my crap when this is available?”

“It’s Christmas. We can have it all. Set it on the counter and let it soften a little. And get your sexy ass over here.”

“My sexy ass? Have you taken a look in the mirror?” He complied, coming to stand right next to me as I worked, his back to the counter.

“Open.” I placed a cherry on his tongue. He grunted in approval.

I drizzled syrup over the hot brownie, making sure to decorate the plate as I went. Then I piped thick whipped cream around the corners. Rhett took it from me, squeezing a small dot onto my lips before he kissed me slow and sweet. Then he pulled back just enough to look me in the eyes. “I like making dessert with you,” he said.

Another zing. He was so close. So overwhelming. I swayed on my feet.

“Whoa. Careful there.” He steadied me with his hands on my elbows.

More zings shot through me. Next thing I knew I had my arms around his neck and my tongue sliding against his. He pulled me close, holding me tight against his chest as he kissed me back just as frantically.

It was better than my memories. Almost like everything I felt that first night was real and true, but time had made it bigger, more powerful. Which was truly incredible because my memories were pretty fantastic. Turns out Rhett Ryan was gruff when it came to speaking, but sweet when it came to kissing, and that was very, very hot.

The contact of his hand against the small of my back made me gasp as if he’d touched me somewhere much more private. My belly clenched like he had.

“Sorry,” he mumbled.

“Why are you sorry?”

“For making you gasp.”

I shook my head in exasperation. “Don’t you want to make me gasp?”

His eyes darted away. “Well yes. I suppose I do. But that didn’t sound like a good gasp.”

“What did it sound like?” My heart kept beating faster and faster. Whether he was kissing me or talking, it didn’t matter. Just being close seemed to have the same effect as a roller coaster suddenly dropping from the highest peak.

“Like I scared you, gorgeous. I don’t want you to be scared.”

I leaned against his body, pressing my hips into his, hoping he’d press his hand harder against my skin as well. “I was…surprised. You have a very large hand.”

He grunted once. “I like touching you. You feel nice.”

“And I like being touched by you.” I slid up onto the counter and picked up the brownie. It wasn’t finished. There was no ice cream. I didn’t care. It was time to eat and then it was time to spend the rest of the night together. His eyes followed my every move as I pushed the fork through the soft brownie, scooping it up. “Open.”

He complied without a word, taking the bite and swallowing it quickly. “That’s enough. Time for bed.”

8

“Well aren’t you a pretty present?” I whispered at the sight of Rhett Ryan in black boxer briefs and a red bow. “And here I thought you were going to be unwrapping me.”

A small fake tree stood in the corner, lit with multicolor lights that set the mood for the bungalow. At the moment, Rhett appeared to be mostly blue. “Oh. I am.” In two long strides he had me in his arms again, kissing the crap out of me.

Truth be told, I could get used to this. If this is what relationships were like, I was a fan. Not that this was a relationship. Not yet. But there were definitely vibes… There was absolutely no drama with Rhett. He said what he meant and he didn’t play games. It was nice.

And fun.

“Let’s see,” his voice rumbled against my skin as his fingers dipped beneath the strap of my dress, “I suppose I’ll start unwrapping with this part here.” One strap fell, then the other. He dropped to his knees. “And of course these shoes must go.” He bent my knee and slid off my red heel, then did it again with my other foot just before his hands ran up the outsides of my thighs, under my skirt, and to my red panties. “I had a feeling you were an athlete. Legs like these are special.” He dropped a dozen kisses onto my knees and thighs before sliding my panties down my legs.

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