Page 50 of Somewhere Along The Line
I want it there all the time.
We continue our cleaning for about an hour, me stacking chairs and Piper organizing donation envelopes while varying members of the team clear plates and strip tablecloths, collect signage, and finagle a standing banner back into its case.
When everything is in good shape, she starts giving hugs and thanks, picking out specific ways that each member of the team was instrumental tonight and expressing her gratitude for it. She is nothing but heart, this one.
We make our way through the maze of the building to my car sitting alone in the back lot. Piper replays the night’s events aloud as we walk, giving context and sharing tidbits about her conversations and what they could mean for Hope First.
She’s practically skipping—the phrase “a pep in your step” comes to life in front of me as she moves—like a girl at Christmas who got everything she wanted and can’t keep her excitement contained. The perma-smile it puts on my face has my cheeks aching.
Piper turns in front of me as we approach my car, blocking me from opening the passenger side door. “What wasyourfavorite part of the night, Mr. Bartender?”
She eyes me eagerly as she waits for me to give her another moment to relive. I reach for the handle of the door and find my hand on her waist instead.
“My favorite part,” I say, keeping my hand planted firmly and my eyes locked on hers, “was watching you pull the whole thing off. This night and all the good that will come from it happened because ofyou. Seeing you in your element was incredible.”
She grins up at me before reaching for my hand and nesting hers within it.
“There was one thing, though…” I add with a half-smile, “...something that bothered me most of the night.” Her hand tenses, bracing herself as she narrows her eyes to read my expression.
“I didn’t get to dance with you,” I say before taking a large step back, her fingers still wrapped up in mine, and then pulling her in so we’re chest-to-chest. “Is it too late?”
“Dammit, James!” She tries to convey anger, but her laugh undoes the effort. Wrapping her arms around my neck, Piper rests her head on my shoulder with a sigh. I reach around her, pulling her to me tightly as we rock side to side.
“You know, this would be better with some music,” she says.
Not true.
“I’m not sure anything could make this better.”
We sway in silence, my chin nuzzled in her hair and my heartbeat keeping time. I remind myself this proximity doesn’t mean anything—she’s high on adrenaline and positive feelings. My body, however, only knows she’s pressed against me and reacts accordingly.
I let my hands slide over the fabric of her dress as we move: up and down her back, around to her sides, to her neck, to weave my fingers through her hair, and back down to the base of her spine. I’m getting hard being this close to her, and she must feel it. Her breath catches as I bring a palm to her ass and squeeze.
“You liked that,” I whisper with a smile she can hear, nudging the hair away from her ear to be sure.
“Is it that obvious?” A laugh slides out of her as she drops her arms to my lower back.
“It is if you’re paying attention.”
Piper lifts her eyes to meet mine and they’re steady. Assured. “What else have you been paying attention to?” The challenge in her voice makes my heart race.
“This spot behind your ear, for one.” I reach a hand toward her jaw and turn her face away from me, exposing her neck so I can place a wet kiss there. Goosebumps erupt on her skin when I pull away, my hand still cradling her face.
“And here.” I drop slow kisses down the side of her neck, pausing after each one to build tension.
“There’s this spot,” my lips find her lips, softly at first, before I nudge her mouth open and tangle my tongue with hers. She lets out a small moan as we deepen the kiss, her hands pulling at my hair as the urgency increases.
I guide her backward until she’s pinned against the car, exactly the way I wanted her the moment she appeared in this dress.
“What else?” Her voice is shaky with need, punctuating those two words.
“And this spot here,” I bring a hand to her ribs, just under her breast to swipe my thumb across her nipple. She pulls my bottom lip between her teeth with a stilted breath.
“And my favorite spot,” I whisper as I drag my hand down her side and slip under her dress, pushing away the fabric of her panties to dip inside her. She arches into me with a moaned exhale. “You’re already so wet for me, P.”
“That’s what happens when you pay attention.” The words come out choked before she strains for another kiss.
My hand works her up and down, alternating focused pressure and stretching her with my fingers until she’s trembling. I can tell she’s close, but I’m not done with her yet. Pulling away just an inch, I pause for a moment to adjust myself in my pants, flinching at my own touch.
