She made everything… better.
I pulled my truck beside the curb in front of her house and cut the engine. It had been two days since I’d seen Amelia because of our work schedules, and to say I was going through withdrawals to see her was a fucking understatement.
Talking on the phone, texting, even the few times we’d video chat on my work days weren’t cutting it for me. Now, more than ever, it was clear I couldn’t simply walk away from Amelia. Even if she asked for space, I didn’t know if I could truly do that. She was too ingrained in me. She was a part of me and forever would be.
I loved her. I was so in love with her that the thought of going even one day without seeing her left me so on edge I was a miserable fuck to be around. The guys at the station had commented on as much.
I put the truck in park and cut the engine, scrubbing a hand over my face. A harsh groan ripped from me. I was constantly hard. Just thinking about Amelia made my cock stand at attention, and seeing as I thought about her all the damn time, let’s just say walking was fucking uncomfortable as hell.
After taking the keys out of the ignition and shoving them in the front pocket of my jeans, I climbed out and walked around to the passenger side to grab the takeout I picked up for us tonight.
She mentioned just hanging out at her place tonight, saying she wanted more alone time. I wasn’t about to argue with that, because it sounded fucking incredible.
I’d ordered an extra-large supreme pizza from Cherry Pie Pizza and picked up a bottle of red wine to go with it—although I wasn’t sure if Amelia would like it, so I grabbed a six-pack of beer but also some soda. I also picked up dessert in the form of cupcakes from Bella’s Bakery, and grabbed a pint of homemade vanilla ice cream from Cherry on Top Ice Cream Parlor. Hell, I was a walking advertisement for the businesses in Cherry Falls.
I put everything that would fit into the large paper bag, balanced that in one arm, grabbed the bouquet of roses I picked for Amelia, and set them on top of the pizza box before picking that up and shutting the door with my hip. Then I headed toward her front door. To say I was all but salivating to see her was fucking lowballing it.
I lifted my hand, about to bring my knuckles down on the wood, when the front door swung open. Amelia stood there staring at me, her eyes bright, her smile wide, and her focus trained right on me.
Fuck, I wish I didn’t have all this shit in my hands so I could pull her into my body.
“I saw you pull in,” she said breathlessly, and I couldn’t help the way my chest tightened at the clear pleasure on her face and in her voice that I was here.
She stepped aside and let me in, and I instantly spotted her table, making a beeline into the kitchen to set the things on it. Her house was small, with the kitchen and living room essentially one space, a small two-seater breakfast counter separating the two areas.
I turned around and saw she was a few feet from me, and I didn’t even stop myself from striding the few steps to her, reaching out and pulling her into my arms. God, she felt good, soft and warm and smelling like peaches and cream. I groaned, unable to stop myself.
Over the past couple of weeks, we’d spent a lot of time together. I’d taken her on dates, to the movies, out to eat. We’d taken walks around the lake. We’d gone to Kissme Bay to ride the Ferris wheel and play mini golf. I’d given her a tour of the fire station, and my arms tightened as I remembered the way the other firefighters had been instantly enamored with her. They couldn’t help it. No one could in her presence.
Amelia was this ray of sunlight that could make anything brighter. But I made sure to put them in their place, making it known if they ever looked at her like that again, I’d beat their asses. I didn’t even feel ashamed or guilty that I’d gone all caveman on them. Because when it came to Amelia, nothing compared, and all my possessive, territorial needs came out in full force.
But despite all the time we spent together, we hadn’t done more than make out and do some heavy petting. I wanted Amelia really fucking badly, more than I’d ever wanted anything else. But I’d wait as long as she needed. I knew she was a virgin even though she hadn’t said the actual words. Her innocence surrounded her like this wall of protection.
She was tentative in her touches, acted almost shy, unsure of being aggressive in her passion toward me, even though I sensed it simmering right below the surface. That’s how I knew she was untouched. She was this forbidden fruit I should’ve stayed away from, the young woman who played the piano at the local church.
She looked up at me with big hazel eyes, and these red pouty lips that nearly had all my fucking self-control leaving me.
I should have stayed away. I should. But fuck me… I can’t.
I was damn near a decade older than her, and although I hadn’t been with a woman in years, not physically, and certainly hadn’t been in any kind of relationship, I did wish I would’ve saved myself for Amelia. I wish I could’ve lost my virginity to this woman so she held that part of me forever.
But I’d give her every single part of me and would continue to do so for the rest of my life. She’ll know no one else will have me, just like I’d never allow anyone else to have her. She’s mine.
This woman in my arms was the only thing that mattered.
I wanted her as my wife. I wanted her as my forever.
Of course those were strong, permanent words, ones I didn’t take lightly. They were branded in me, imprinted in my marrow. They were my life. She’s my life.
And as much as I wanted to tell Amelia all those things and more, I wouldn’t. I was afraid it was too soon for her to hear those things. It had only been a couple of weeks since we started dating. It’d scare her off to admit all of that.
I smoothed my hand over the long fall of her dark hair. The locks lightly curled at the ends, brushing against her lower back. This strong part of me wanted to pile her hair up, pull her head back gently so her neck was tilted and she was looking right at me, and then take her mouth in a hard, possessive kiss.
Don’t fucking hold back. Kiss her now. Make her feel it to her toes.
Before I could talk myself out of doing just that, my fingers were tunneling into the silky strands, wrapping them around my fist, and I was pulling the locks up so they were a messy knot at the base of her skull.
I gently—so fucking gently—pulled her head back, exposing her throat, causing her lips to part slightly and her eyes to widen. Her pupils dilated as she stared up at me. Desire licked across her expression so powerfully I tasted it, this sweetness that coated my tongue and made me ravenous.
I groaned and slammed my mouth down on hers, not gently but with all the pent-up passion and need I had for this woman.
She moaned and slid her hands over my waist, her nails digging into me. I felt their sharp little points press through my shirt and into my flesh. I wanted my mark on her flesh as much as I wanted hers on mine.
I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth, forcing myself to pull away even though it was the last thing I wanted to do. She wore this drugged expression on her face, and I knew it was because she was ready for me, her body primed, her desire pouring from her and making me feel drunk.
“We should stop,” I murmured, my eyes on her lips, the need to kiss her again rising in me so damn hard I found myself leaning down to do just that. “If we don’t stop….” I shook my head and breathed out my nose. Get fucking control. Get fucking control, man. “Yeah, we should stop, baby.” I opened my eyes, getting swept away in the beauty of Amelia.