Page 41 of Love and Lattes at Pumpkin Hollow
‘If you wanted me to, I would,’ he replied quietly, not looking at me.
His words sank into my skin like moisturiser, softening me on the spot. I fought hard not to melt completely. ‘What else would you do if I wanted you to?’ I couldn’t resist asking him, arching an eyebrow, trying to keep my tone teasing and not let him see the effect he was having on me.
I realised then that this was the first night we’d been all alone since the inn. The spark between us that night seemed to bubble under the surface as we looked at one another even though I was trying not to feel it again. I just couldn’t seem to stop thinking about that hot night together.
Dylan let out a wistful sigh. But maddeningly, he didn’t answer. Instead, he took the saucepan off the heat and poured the hot chocolate out, dividing it between our two mugs. Then he picked up a bottle of whipped cream, shook it and squirted it on top, finishing the drinks off with a sprinkle of nutmeg and chocolate chips.
‘So, what did you want to ask me?’ Dylan asked, clearing his throat like he was trying to focus on anything other than how close we were to each other.
‘Um, well, I’m worried about ticket sales and…’ I tried to remember what I wanted to talk to him about but it was hard to think straight. I watched as a dollop of whipped cream slid off the side of my mug. I reached out and wiped it with my fingertip then sucked the whipped cream off it.
‘Jesus, Willow.’ Dylan groaned like he was in pain.
‘What?’ I met his gaze and saw how dark his eyes were. My pulse started to speed up. I knew he was thinking about our night together at the inn then for sure. ‘You know I like whipped cream,’ I said with a smile. I picked up the pumpkin mug and took a sip, enjoying the way he watched me do it, his breaths coming out loud and ragged in the silent kitchen.
‘Oh, wow,’ I said as the delicious drink hit me. It was hot chocolate with pumpkin and spice: the perfect autumn drink. ‘This is better than anything at the Birchbrook Café; maybe one day, we could sell these at the patch,’ I said excitedly. ‘We could—’ I stopped suddenly because Dylan had moved forward to stand in front of me as I leaned against the counter. ‘Aren’t you going to try it?’ I whispered as his gaze bore into me. My heart thumped at the hungry look on his face. It both thrilled and terrified me.
Dylan reached out and picked up his mug, keeping his eyes on me. He took a sip. ‘Actually, that it really good,’ he said, evidently surprised at having made something that tasted so yummy. He put the mug back down and I giggled. ‘What?’
‘You have cream…’ I reached out and wiped the corner of his mouth.
As my fingertips bushed his lips, he parted them and I slid my finger inside and he licked the cream off me. I couldn’t stop the hitch of my breath as I watched him do that. What was it with us and whipped cream?
‘Willow,’ he said, his voice low and desperate. ‘I have to kiss you. Please, God. Tell me you want me to kiss you,’ he said urgently, his eyes on my lips again.
32
My body sagged in relief that Dylan wanted to kiss me again too.
‘Yes, please,’ I gasped and his hands came around my waist and I arched towards him, tilting my face up as he leaned down. When our lips met, we both let out a contended murmur.
Dylan pulled me closer and deepened the kiss. It quickly turned hungry. He moved his hands to my hair, running his fingers through the damp strands as his tongue played with mine. I moved my hands to his waist and clung shamelessly to him.
Dylan’s lips left mine and he looked into my eyes again. ‘I’ve wanted to do that every day since the night we spent together, but I didn’t think you did.’
I nodded. I felt vulnerable as he looked at me. ‘I’m scared,’ I whispered.
Dylan cupped my face in his hands. ‘We don’t need to do anything more; I just wanted to kiss you again.’
‘I want more, though,’ I said, with a smile.
Dylan chuckled. ‘Oh yeah? That’s a relief because I do too.’ His lips met mine again and this time, the spark between us was even more electric. ‘Can I…?’ His fingertips rested on the buttons of my shirt. I nodded eagerly. ‘Last time, you seemed to enjoy telling me what to do…’ he said softly, watching me as he slowly undid my shirt.
‘Did you enjoy it too?’ I asked him, wondering if he could hear how breathless I was from our kisses. My fear was still there but it was being overtaken by how much I wanted him to touch me. I had been ignoring it for so long that my body felt like it had been released from jail. It was desperate for more.
‘I loved every minute of that evening,’ Dylan said as he finished unbuttoning me and slipped the shirt off of my shoulders, tossing it onto the kitchen table behind him. ‘I think about it at the most inappropriate times, if I’m honest.’
‘Oh yeah?’ I reached behind me and undid my bra, letting it fall to the floor. ‘I have thought about it a couple of times too…’
‘Only a couple? I better make sure this one is so memorable, you can’t stop thinking about it then,’ Dylan said, giving me a tug so I stood up from the counter and moved closer to him. He gave me soft kisses down my neck, causing goosebumps to appear on my arms. Then he carried on to my chest, kissing in between my breasts, making me arch my back again, willing his lips to move to them. He did what I wanted and softly kissed me there. ‘I have an idea…’ he said, stopping before he reached my nipple. I watched as he reached behind me and picked up the can of whipped cream. ‘Can I?’
I was losing the ability to speak so I just nodded and watched fascinated as he shook the can and tilted it towards me, squirting some cream around my nipple. I gasped at the cold and then again when Dylan’s tongue flicked out to lick the cream before drawing my nipple into his mouth, sucking off the rest of it, causing a shiver to run down my spine.
‘You taste so good,’ Dylan said then, squirting out cream onto my other breast. I couldn’t hold in a moan this time when he licked it off me slowly, his eyes on me as I watched him do it. I held tightly to him, my legs feeling unsteady. ‘Here,’ Dylan said, moving me back again so I could lean against the counter. ‘What now?’ he asked, watching me like he couldn’t get enough.
I reached down and pulled off my leggings.
‘Keep going,’ Dylan urged me so I also pulled off my underwear. I was now naked in front of him.
