Page 148 of Dove
Too tempting, I thought, as I swooped down to take her lips in mine.
She sighed against my mouth, a swoony, content sound that had my chest puffing out proudly.
“Are we sleeping out here?” she asked me, a slight shiver to her frame.
Cursing myself, I quickly reached for one of the many blankets I’d told Reverie to pile into the back of the truck and draped it over us. The nights were far from cold, but they were cooler than the daytime, and we were still damp from swimming.
“I’d planned for it,” I answered, making sure the blanket was tucked tight around her. “But we can go back up to the house if you want.”
Dove shook her head, her hair brushing over my chest, which was waving up as it dried. “No, I like it out here. Plus, I’m comfy now.” She planted a kiss on my chest that had it tightening with the sweet gesture.
How did I go three years without this woman in my arms?
Because you’re a damn fool.
“Then we’ll stay.” I placed my own kiss to the top of her head. “Nothing will bother us out here.”
She lifted her head enough to look at me so I could see the roll of her eyes. “I’m not worried aboutthat. But we have a lot of work to do tomorrow, and I just figured you might want to go up and get a good night’s sleep on an actual mattress.”
“Because I’m old?” I asked, feigning offense.
“What—no,” Dove sputtered. “That’snotwhat I meant. You’re not even that much older than me!”
Laughing, I hugged her closer to me. “I’m teasing. You don’t have to worry about me. I’ll get a good night’s sleep right here.”
Any time I’m beside you it’s the best sleep of my life.
“If you’re sure,” she said, but she still sounded doubtful.
“Hey, who orchestrated this whole thing?” I reminded her.
“You,” Dove answered with a chuckle, laying her head back down on my chest. “I still can’t believe you and Rev pulled this off. And she never said a word!” She sounded astonished by that fact—and she had every right to be. Her best friend had a big mouth, and the whole town knew it. It was a wonder she kept her leaving all those years ago under wraps at all.
She couldn’t see my scowl, but it was there. “Because I threatened her big time. Plus, I think she knew how important this was to you.”For us.
Dove yawned. “She’s a good friend.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, as much as it pained me. That was true, too. “She is.”
“Night, Josh,” she mumbled sleepily. “Wake me up in the morning so we can?—”
Dove sat straight up, the blankets falling from her shoulders down to her waist, giving me a delicious eyeful.
“What?” I asked, alarmed at her sudden movement.
“Did you happen to pack clothes for us in the morning?” She looked around as if clothes would magically appear.
“Uh, no.” I admitted, sheepishly. “I figured we could just wear what we had on last night. It’s only a quick drive up to the house.”
Her gaze went to the dock, where most of our clothes were still strewn.
“Josh…” She turned to look at me. “Where’s my underwear?”
Ah, shit.
“I think they’re still out there!” Byout there,she meant in the lake. And she was probably right.
“I’ll fish them out of the lake for you in the morning.” My hands grabbed for her, caressing over tempting bare skin as I coaxed her back down against me until I could cover us both with the blanket. “Go to sleep. You don’t need underwear for that.”
