Page 53 of Sweet Passions at Bayside
“Can’t keep your mind on the task before you? I think there’s a name for that.Chaos? Whirlwind?” she said playfully, as she sauntered toward the flagstone.
“Two can play at this game.” He reached behind his back and pulled his shirt over his head. “Come on, sweet thing. Let’s lay some flagstone.”
Emery could deal with a lot of things, but a shirtless Dean Masters lifting and carrying large pieces of flagstone and practically oozing pheromones was a force not to be ignored. He moved with fluid determination, hefting and maneuvering, their bodies brushing against each other as he showed her how to place the pretty slabs and choose the angles, explaining details she was sure held some importance, but processing Dean’s words while he flaunted his body was a futile effort.
He carried the larger pieces of flagstone, but Emery insisted on carrying the smaller pieces. They were both covered in a layer of dust and dirt. Her outfit was filthy, but she didn’t care. Working with Dean was exciting and inspiring. Not only was he extremely generous with his kisses and sexy touches, but he was a veritable Picasso of flagstone, taking her vision of a sunbeam and helping to create it within the confines of the patio. They chose their pieces carefully, picking longer, slimmer slabs for the rays and a bulky piece for the heart of the sun. Conversation was fun, steamy, and gloriously comfortable. Emery told him how excited she was at the prospect of working at the assisted living facility, and Dean asked her again about going to the benefit dinner. This time she gave him a firm acceptance. She wanted to be there for him. If she could only learn to keep her mouth shut, she might not be so nervous about meeting his father.
“Wait until my brothers catch wind of me going to a highfalutin benefit dinner. They won’t believe it.”
Dean looked up from where he was setting a piece of flagstone. Moonlight flickered in his eyes. His body glistened from his hard work, despite the cool breeze whisking over the dunes. She’d never seen anyone more rugged or masculine, but that wasn’t what had her stomach doing that flip-floppy thing again. It was the way he was looking at her, like she’d always been part of his life and always would be. If she removed the underlying heat and sensuality, the strength of their friendship remained.
“We’ll take a picture of us all dolled up and send it to them.”
“Us,” she mused. “You are a possessive man.”
“I never was until you, doll.” He finished setting the flagstone and pushed to his feet. “I think Ethan, Alec, and Austin should see who’s taking care of their baby sister.”
“Do you, now?” Normally, a comment like that would upset her. The thought of any man saying he wastaking care ofher was too similar to her brothers’ watchful eyes. But nothing about her relationship with Dean fit her norm, and she liked the way it sounded when he said it. She felt protected in a different way. Abetterway. Maybe the wine had gotten to her more than she thought.
Or maybe Dean was right and they were meant to be together.
“How fancyisthis dinner?” she asked.
“It’s country-club fancy, but not little-black-dress-slit-up-to-there fancy. I don’t want to upset any of the wives because their husbands are ogling my girl all night.”
She bent to pick up the water bottle, and he whistled. “Baby, you bend over like that again, and I can’t be held responsible for my actions.”
She liked the sound of that, dirt and all. Taking in the gorgeous mosaic of colorful stones they’d laid, she said, “This has been the best night of my life.”
“Mine too, doll,” he said thoughtfully. “But it’s only the beginning. We make a great team.”
“Yeah,” she said a little breathlessly. “How much are we doing tonight?”
His eyes swept over the ground, coming to rest on her boots, then crawled up her body, lingering around her thighs and sending her stomach into another wild flurry. He licked his lips, stepping closer, his gaze traveling up to her chest. She could do little more than watch him moving like a lion on the prowl, eyes narrow and solely focused on her as he took the water bottle from her hand and set it on the ground.
His gaze never left hers as his arms circled her waist and she melted against him.
“I think it’s time we focus on something else for a while. I think it’s time”—he kissed her shoulder—“that we focus on you.” He groped her bottom, firm and insistent. “And this pantiless perfection.”
His hand was rough and warm as he drew her body flush against his and took her in a deep kiss that tasted of wine and the unique manly essence ofDean. Rivers of desire slithered through her veins. When he tangled his other hand in her hair, angling her mouth in that possessive way she’d already come to expect, sparkszinged from her head to her toes, and something inside her snapped. Suddenly she couldn’t wait another second to have more of him, to be emotionally and physically closer. Using his shoulders for leverage, she went up on her toes, trying to climb him like the big, stable man he was. Her thigh moved up his, and she gave a little jump. He smiled against her lips, easily lifting her into his arms. She exhaled in relief as her legs wound around his waist.
Her hands roved over his warm flesh, over the hard ridges of his muscles and into his short hair. He was breathing as hard as she was. His strong touch brought another sense of relief, and she moaned into the kiss, rocking against his abs, needing so much more.
His fingers tightened, and he began walking—fast—toward the path.
“Where are we going?” she said between kisses. “No one can see us here!”
He kicked up his speed to a run. “I’m not making love to you in public—and I’m too dirty to touch you the way I want to.”
Oh, she loved the sound of that! “What about the dishes and the patio stuff?”
“I’ll deal with it tomorrow.”
He bolted toward his house, their teeth knocking as they kissed. Then they were in his yard, and he carried her into the outdoor shower.
“I need all of you,” he said as he turned on the shower and warm water rained down on them, fully dressed, devouring each other as they washed the dirt away.
He stripped off her shirt, kissing her all over. Sharp pleasure radiated through her.
