Page 58 of Safe With Me
Shitass. We were talking about this at lunch Monday for damn sure.
Music flowed from the beer garden, housed in one of the old department stores downtown. Large garage doors rolled up to create open-air seating with picnic tables, with those string lights girls loved strung all over.
We settled at a long table with trendy metal chairs that would be uncomfortable as hell before the night was done. Still, I had Hannah next to me, that velvet sweater soft under my fingers where I touched, from her shoulder to her waist to her hip, as we ordered and easy conversation flowed. I’d take being connected to her however I could.
Tyler sat at Jase’s side, quiet while she gauged the table, learning us. Every so often, she shot uneasy glances at Grace andAndy, but I guess that was normal. Toward the end of them, Colt always looked miserable when you saw them out together – not that he was a ray of sunshine on a good day – and so had she, her unsmiling mouth tense and unhappy.
Tonight, she kinda looked at Jase like he was a ray of sunshine, which was funny as hell because he was a serious bastard – and he was dazzled by her like sunshine on the lake.
Elizabeth would shit bricks when she found out he was dating three weeks after he’d ditched her.
I moved on from that real quick. I didn’t even want to think her name.
The beer was good, and the food even better. And the company by my side was the best. I trailed a fingertip from Hannah’s shoulder to her elbow, grinning at the small shiver that worked over her. I tilted my head toward the opening in front of the band. “You want to dance?”
Biting her lip, she darted a look at the two couples already there before lifting her gaze to mine. Her throat moved with a swallow. “Sure.”
My belly jumped with anticipation as I drew her from her chair and over by the band. At least my hand wasn’t sweating when I pulled her into my arms to dance with her for the first time. Her thighs brushed against mine, a sharp tug of arousal running from my dick up to my gut. She nestled in, hand warm on my shoulder.
We swayed to the twangy cover of “Wonderful Tonight,” and I stroked her lower back, surrounded by that fresh forest greens and floral scent of hers. “This is nice.”
She traced a circle on my shoulder. “It is.”
Sensation arced out from that simple touch, so I was as damned breathless as the first time I pushed inside her. We moved together, following the slow beat, and I nuzzled her ear.
“I want to spend the night.” I traced the upper curve with my nose. A shudder moved through her. “Not on the couch.”
She pulled back. “Tate.”
I touched her bottom lip. “Don’t say no yet. Think about it til we get home.”
Even if she didn’t, I heard it. The cabin at the farm wasn’t home. She was. I hadn’t had that – home being a person – since Daddy died.
When the song ended, the band segueing into a faster cover, we returned to the table to linger over another beer and our friends’ laughter. I was buzzed, but not from two beers – that buzz was all about being with Hannah Hall. On the way home, I rode shotgun again, soaking in Hannah chatting with her sister and feeling her low whisper all the way through me.
In the driveway, we said goodbye to Andy and Grace as she climbed into the front passenger seat. Then when Andy backed down the drive, we stood on the walkway in the shadows from the big oak tree, a cool breeze flirting with Hannah’s hair. I wrapped easy fingers around her wrist and tugged her closer. I’d go home if she wanted me to, but I wanted every second I could have with her. With that breeze whispering over us, I lowered my head to kiss her, and she opened to me.
I groaned into her mouth, and she curved a hand around the back of my neck.
“Stay,” she whispered against my lips.
Lifting my head, I cupped her face with both hands. “Be sure, Hannah. If I stay, it’s not on the couch.”
Without a word, she wrapped her fingers around one of my wrists and turned toward the house, drawing me behind her to the door. I leaned by her to punch in the lock code then locked up once we were inside. My hands at her waist, bunching up the velvet of her sweater, I sought her mouth once more, nibblingher lower lip, teasing her tongue with mine. Her little sound of pleasure vibrated through me, and she backed us down the hall, her hands all over my arms and back.
Her bedroom was small, and I caught a quick impression of green walls, vibrant floral wallpaper on the one wall with a big window that framed her bed. Warm light spilled from lamps on either side of the bed, the space as fresh and fragrant as Hannah herself.
“I like it.” I reached to tuck her hair behind her ear. “It smells like you.”
“Duh, Tate.” Smiling, she shrugged out of that velvet sweater. “I wonder why.”
I undid a couple of buttons on my shirt and tugged it over my head. “You’re mean to me sometimes.”
She kicked off her heels and swayed close to me, rubbing warm fingers over my abs. “I’ll kiss you and make it better.”
“Like the sound of that.” Dipping my head to kiss her, I unbuckled my belt.
Kissing me, she undid her jeans and wriggled them down, finally having to break away to push them down and off.
