Page 59 of Definitely (Maybe) Dating
“For brownies?”
“That too.” The door behind him clicked as the lock disengaged.
Piper looked up at him as if brownies were code for mind-blowing sex and that she wanted more than one helping, making his body practically high-five out of his pants.
The still night air hung thick, nothing between them but moonlight. She sank her teeth into her lower lip, those whiskey brown, oh-so-trusting eyes meeting his, and his brain clicked. Beneath the sexual bravado was a hint of shy vulnerability which had him pausing.
It was no secret that Piper’s life had been a revolving door of disappointment, and he refused to be another person who let her down. He remembered that first night at the party, the way she’d looked at him with equal parts interest and indecision. She’d felt cornered, out of her comfort zone, and lumped him in with every other guy who had blown into and out of her life.
“I’m okay taking this slow,” he said.
While he wanted her in a kick-in-the-door and tumble-into-bed-fast kind of way, it was more important that she knew this wasn’t a sprint for him—he wanted to go the distance. Bad timing be dammed, he wanted to see where this thing between them went.
“I figured my boots were the equivalent of me scribbling ‘I want you’ on a cocktail napkin.”
Before he could add cocktail napkin notes to hisHell Yeahlist, her lashes fluttered closed, and she pressed her mouth to his.
Her kiss slayed him. It was everything that he needed and nothing that he’d ever felt. The crazy emotions from the evening and the shy way her lips caressed his tangled into one big, complicated lump in his throat.
Josh wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss until he didn’t know if he’d be able to let her go. His hands slid down the back of her thigh before traveling back up and under her skirt, his fingers stopping right before things got interesting. She was all soft skin and glorious curves.
Wrapping a single arm around her waist, he lifted her until her feet were off the floor. Her arms tightened around his neck, her legs dangling, he opened the front door and let himself in.
“Rebecca?” Piper called out. “Are you here?” When no response came back, she called out again. Silence.
He sent up a silentthank youto the Universe. “Coast is clear.”
“Then what are you waiting for?”
Taking her mouth, he kicked the door shut behind him, walked down the hallway and into the first bedroom he came to. His guess must have been accurate, because she didn’t object when he set her on her feet right next to the bed. Not that either of them let go.
He moved her back, back, back until her legs bumped the bed and she fell onto the mattress. He pulled back to look at her. And look he did. So long his brain short-circuited.
Look then touch? Touch then look? Indecision hit hard.
“Maybe this will help,” Piper said and—what a woman she was—lifted her arms in invitation and Josh RSVPed to that party in no time. He took the hem of her camisole, sliding it up inch by inch, exposing more and more skin as he went until he reached a little hint of black lace. Then there was a whole lot of black lace as he pulled it over her head, leaving him with a one-of-a-kind view—of two perfect tens begging for attention.
“Two little straps, and it’s go time.” She didn’t look away, didn’t fiddle with her clasp, just flicked one strap off her shoulder, then the other. “Unless you’re looking for a little show time.”
He ran a hand down his jaw. “I’ve been thinking about this moment for so long, I need a minute.”
“Then while you gather yourself, Mr. Assistant District Attorney, how about we make this an even playing field.” She did a little swirly action with her fingers, gesturing for him to lose his shirt. He wanted to, he really did, but there’d come a time when the shirt would go up and over his head, blocking his view. And there was no way that was happening.
“I showed you mine, it’s only fair you show me yours.” She slid her palms under his shirt and, running her hands up his abs and over his pecks, she tugged the fabric as she went. When she pulled it over his head, she had to stand and roll up on her toes, bringing their bodies so close he could feel her nipples brush against his skin.
And,magic of all magic, when his shirt hit the floor, she was missing a bra. Next came her skirt, lowering the zipper, tooth by tooth. She let it hang on her hips, low enough that a hint of light yellow lace peeked out. He wasn’t expecting yellow. Black, maybe red, but she had on light, feminine yellow, and suddenly he saw this soft side to the tough girl that he always knew was in there buried beneath the impenetrable armor she used to keep her heart safe.
Looking both uncertain and embarrassed, she bit her lower lip. “Not what you were expecting?”
“Nothing about this was expected, but you’re one hell of an incredible surprise.”
“Incredible, huh?” she said, pushing him down on the bed. “That’s a lot to live up to.”
Before he could reassure her that she’d already blown his expectations, she did a little shimmy action with her hips, which sent the tiny scrap of denim to the floor, leaving her in nothing but a yellow thong and lace-up boots. It was like girl-next-door collided with Pretty Woman, revving up his body until it was ready to break through the gates. She slowly turned around, making a complete three-sixty, showing him every single, solitary inch of skin.
“Come here,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her in a way that told her exactly how the rest of the night was going to play out. With her losing her mind over and over and over again.
He laid her back on the bed, crawling up her body until he was settled between her legs—the only thing between them was her thong and his jeans.
