Brianna sucks in a sharp breath when we reach my ride waiting for us at valet parking. “Wow,” she breathes when she sees the red Lotus. It’s not what I’m used to. The British styling is a bit too small for my frame, but it’s the best that Miranda could get. “This yours?”
“Just for the week,” I admit, walking over to open the door for her. She hesitates for a moment, her soft lips parted in awe, before sitting down into the seat.
Grinning, I shut the door, go around to the driver’s side, and get behind the wheel. Gripping the smooth leather, I toss her a wink while she’s checking out the inside of the cabin.
“This is really nice,” she says softly. “I’ve never been inside something so sporty or . . . luxurious before.”
A part of me wants to promise her the world—luxury cars, expensive jewelry, and the best money can buy. She deserves it all. But when her eyes lock with mine, I’m nearly paralyzed by fear. Never have I been this out of control over my emotions. And it scares the shit out of me that I feel this way when I hardly know her.
Swallowing back a lump in my throat, I start the engine, not letting on to the inner turmoil roiling inside. “So where are we going?” I ask Brianna casually.
She looks at me like I’m crazy, and I grin.. “You said you were taking me to a park and you don’t know where we’re going?” she asks incredulously.
I shrug. “Nope. I just wanted to take you somewhere. You’re the one who’s lived here all your life. Tell me where we should go.” I grin and add, “Preferably, somewhere we’ll be alone.”
Brianna bites her lower lip, a light blush shading her cheeks. She’s probably thinking the same thing I am—secluded is private, and private means . . .
Finally, she looks at me through long eyelashes and smiles, snapping her fingers. “Oh, I know. Go to Bear Lake Park.”
“Okay, and where’s that?” I ask. I nod at the vehicle’s console. “This thing doesn’t have a GPS.”
Brianna laughs. “You mean to tell me that superstar Gavin Adams doesn’t know how to find his way around a little ol’ town like this?”
I snort. “I’m a football player, not a Rand McNally Atlas.” I chuckle. “I don’t even know my way out of a paper bag except at home. I spend most of my time being chauffeured around.”
Brianna chortles. “At least you’re honest.” She points off to the side. “But to answer your question, it’s on the other side of town. Turn left out of the lot, and I’ll get you there.”
I pull out of the parking lot, impressed by the smooth ride. At the first stop sign, I drop the top, letting the wind ruffle through our hair.
“After a long day, that feels great.” Brianna sighs with pleasure.
I grin at her. “I’m glad you like it.” I look around, noticing the shops outlined in the fading glow of the sun and the lack of traffic on the roads. “You know, this place isn’t too bad. It feels much less hectic here, unlike life in the city.”
“It definitely has appeal,” Brianna agrees softly, looking at me through lowered lashes.
“I never thought I’d say this,” I say as the light turns green and I continue up the street, “but I feel like I could learn to love a place like this.”
Brianna’s lips part in surprise, a wind gust flowing through the cabin and blowing her hair around her seat as she laughs. “I’m shocked to hear you say that.”
I shrug, turning left at a sign I see for Bear Lake Park. “Yeah, I didn’t care for it when I got here, but like you said. It’s got a certain charm.”
Brianna purses her lips for a moment before saying, “That’s good.”
“What is?” I ask curiously.
Brianna smiles. “That even someone like you can change your mind on a place like this.”
I go silent, lost in thought. Honestly, if someone would’ve told me before today that I’d be doing this, I’d have said they were out of their fucking minds.
But now . . .
“Over there.” She points. “That’s Shera’s Bakery,” Brianna says as I drive by a bright pink clapboard building.
“Who is Shera?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.
Brianna replies, her eyes on the building as we pass, “She’s a nice old lady who loves to help people.” She shakes her head, pushing her hair out of her eyes. “When I was eight, I crashed my bike and twisted my ankle near her shop. When Shera saw me sobbing in pain, she didn’t bat an eye. She brought me inside, gave me a donut, and called her son to escort me home because my bike was busted up from my fall.”
“That was nice of her,” I remark. Brianna nods. “Yeah. She’s just like that. She’d give you the clothes off her back if you asked her to.”
“I’d like to meet her one day,” I say without even thinking.
Shit, Gavin, what are you doing?
Brianna’s eyes widen with surprise.
Can’t go back now.
Brianna is touched, gently patting my leg. “She would love that! She’s never met a celebrity before.”
Before I can say anything, Brianna snaps her finger. She points as we come up to an intersection. “Turn right there.”
I turn down a road lined with beautiful trees and sunlight filtering through the branches. It’s beautiful, unlike any view you get in the city.
“There.” Brianna points as we come up on a small sign just behind a tiny parking area.
“Bear Lake Park?” I ask, rolling the car to a slow stop.
Brianna smiles, a dreamy expression coming over her face. “Yeah. We’re here.”
Chapter 15
Brianna
The birds sing and the insects buzz as Gavin shuts off the engine of the sports car. Inside me, though, my engine is still running hot. I seem to be in overdrive anytime I’m in his presence.
“So, where should we eat?” Gavin asks. “After all, you know this park better than I do.”
I’m not sure if he’s meaning to do this, but it’s powerful. My head is swirling in confusion after the fact that I just accepted a second date with him. But by giving me the choice of where we go on the date, I feel like I have more confidence, more control over what’s happening. If I take him to one of the open spaces, there’s no way we’ll get into anything naughty.
But on the other hand . . . “There’s a small clearing up ahead, along the trail,” I say softly.
Gavin gets out of his side of the car and then helps me out. The low-slung sports car makes me have to stretch out my leg, and I notice the way he looks at my thighs as I get out of the seat, but I don’t care. His wandering eyes make me feel hot. Wanted.
“Get the food,” I order, “and I’ll show you where to go.”
Gavin chuckles at the audacity of my commanding tone, but his sexy smirk tells me that he’ll play this game for a little while longer. “As you wish, gorgeous,” he says in a deep voice, bowing his head.
A flush comes to my cheeks and my nipples tighten at his tone. Nothing has happened and my heart is already bouncing around in my chest.
Gavin comes around the car and holds his arm out to me in a gentlemanly fashion. I shake my head and reach out and take his hand. “Here, let me show you where,” I say softly.
Gavin looks surprised that I took his hand, but then he smiles and shakes his head. “You know, it’s funny. I can’t remember the last time I let a girl lead me anywhere.”
How many girls have you been with? I hate that it popped into my head, but I ignore it.
“Well, you won’t have trouble remembering after this, will you?” I ask.
Gavin arches a mysterious eyebrow and replies in a low voice, “That depends.”
I shiver at his words, a flush spreading across my cheeks.
Lowering my head to hide my embarrassment, I lead him through the park, turning at the spot where the trail leads away from the lake and deeper into the woods that surround the area. I’m grateful for the shade. It’s hot as hell, one of those days where the humidity makes you feel like you’re taking a shower ev
en with your t-shirt on.
As we move through the trees, a cool breeze gusts through the area, kissing my skin and making me feel refreshed.
Finally, we reach the clearing I had in mind from the moment I decided to come here. It’s not very big, only about fifteen feet across, and it’s semi-famous in the town for its location as a make-out spot.
Gavin lets out a low whistle, surveying the area. “This looks like something out of a storybook.”
I can see what he means. The grass in this area is a brighter green and softer than the normal bluegrass that dominates the surrounding land. On one side is a brook, a burbling little rivulet that adds a touch of coolness and pleasant background noise. “I’m glad you like it.”
Gavin spreads out the blanket in the shaded area and then looks around. “This place seems so peaceful and serene.”
“Yeah,” I say, sinking down onto the blanket and taking off my sandals. “I used to come up here all the time with Mindy to play hide and seek when we were little. This was one of our secret play areas. Later, I started jogging, and I found this a great place to relax after a jog around the lake since it’s always cool here. It’s too bad. When I started school and working at the hotel, all that stopped.”
“That sucks,” Gavin says, relaxing with his hands on his splayed-out knees. I feel a need growing in me as I see the bulge of his cock inside his black jeans. Fuck. Is he hard for me?
I tear my eyes away from the mouth-watering image. “Yeah, but thank God cleaning all those rooms and going up and down the floors keeps me from gaining too much weight.”
“I can see that,” Gavin says as he looks at me with appreciation, causing my skin to prickle. I nearly squirm under the heat of his gaze, a flush shading my cheeks. He might be that hard, but I’m burning up and wet too. “Whatever it is that you’re doing, keep doing it.”
“Thank you,” I say softly through lowered lashes, feeling more at ease. This feels different from before. Then, we both knew as soon as I stepped into the room that there was only one purpose for my being there—for him to fuck me senseless.
This time, Gavin is being a gentleman. And I’m not complaining. I love the idea of being courted. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been treated this way before by a man. The last guys I dated were more or less local boys who would take me to the local theater and then try to take me to the back of their car or truck for some inelegant fumbling inside my shirt.
“So how was your day?” I ask, taking a bite of one of Mindy’s cinnamon rolls. I can’t help it. I have to close my eyes. It’s so damn good. I have to thank her for these.
“I actually did a pretty good job, for the most part. At least the director thought so.”
The good news makes me smile. “Really? That’s wonderful!” I gush. “So I guess being an actor is something you can do after all.”
For some reason, Gavin’s expression remains neutral at my praise. He doesn’t look happy, as if something is weighing on his mind. But before I can ask him what’s wrong, the look is gone, replaced by a wide smile that doesn’t seem altogether genuine.
“Yeah, I just need to keep it up,” Gavin agrees, his voice lacking conviction.
I reach out, concerned, placing my hand on his forearm. “Are you all right?”
Gavin grins at me, still looking a little artificial. “Yeah, why?”
“It’s just . . .” I stare at him. “You don’t seem too happy. Is everything okay?”
Gavin doesn’t reply right away, instead looking away. When he looks back at me, his grin has faded, but he looks more genuine too. “Just thinking about all the work I have left to do.”
His words pierce the little fantasy that we’ve been weaving around ourselves in the grove, and I start to feel ill. I know he won’t be here long, but I wish he could stay longer. I feel like I’m just getting to know him. “Gavin . . .”
“Was your day okay?” he asks, cutting me off with a smile. “I mean, you know . . .”
“It was fine,” I say, smoothing over the rough parts. “I only had to see Vandenburgh once. That’s always a good day.”
Gavin grunts. “Once is more than enough for me. I can’t imagine working for him.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” I grumble, then laugh. “But never mind him. You don’t need to listen to me bitch about my boss. I’m sure you’ve got a laundry list of your own complaints.”
Gavin chuckles and nods. “Yeah, guess so.” He peers at me with interest. “So what are you planning to do with your degree once you graduate?”
I pick at my half-eaten cinnamon roll before setting it down. “I’m going to see what’s out there. I still don’t know if I want to stay local or go to a big city.”
Gavin nods. “What do your parents say?”
I bite my lower lip, feeling nervous. “Honestly, I don’t talk to them much. After they got divorced, they both left town. It was a nasty time, and there were a lot of hurt feelings and torn up relationships on both sides. Mom wanted me to come live in St. Louis, while Dad moved west and wanted me to follow him to Pueblo, Colorado. In the end, I decided to stay here. I was already in high school and I’d already been accepted to the local college. It caused a lot of bad blood all around. So we hardly see each other.”
“I see,” Gavin says, looking uncomfortable that he asked. “Sorry.”
“Nothing you could have known,” I say, waving it off. I really don’t want to talk about them right now. I’m having a half-decent time, and I don’t need to spoil the moment by bringing up my past and current heartaches. “So what about you?”
Gavin shakes his head. “Mine are about as supportive as they can be. But then again, I bought them both new BMWs for Christmas last year.” He huffs out a chuckle. “They really can’t complain about that.”
I nod my head. “Yeah, that’s gotta be gratifying for them. They must love having a son who’s achieved so much.”
Gavin snorts. “I haven’t achieved anything in my mom’s eyes. She wants grandbabies like yesterday. It’s the only thing on her mind every time we talk. She wants to know right away whether I’ve found somebody to have children with. And when I say I haven’t, she’s disappointed.”
Babies. Hmm. Until now, the thought was alien to me. Mainly because I hadn’t met a man I wanted to settle down and start a family with.
Maybe you could with him, a voice whispers in the back my head.
Get the fuck out of here, I tell the voice. That’ll never happen.
“And you don’t think you can give her what she wants?”
“I’m sure I’m capable,” Gavin says, grinning. “I just don’t expect it to happen as soon as she’d like.”
His answer disappoints me, although it shouldn't. If he’d have said, ‘have my babies, now!’ it would have been awkward as hell. Still, his answer bothers me in a way I can’t quite put my finger on.
“Thankfully, my parents don’t bother me about that. Yet.” I shake my head. “I really don’t think I could handle any more pressure. Between school and working for a man like Vandenburgh, I’d go crazy and need to be put in a straitjacket if I had to take care of a baby too.”
Gavin nods, giving me a mysterious little smile as he says in agreement, “You definitely don’t need any more pressure.”
I grab my cinnamon roll and take the last delicious morsel into my mouth.
Suddenly, Gavin surprises me, leaning in until his lips are just a fraction of an inch from my ear. His breath tickles my skin, and his hot body is so close that I can’t help but react. “You don’t need any more pressure,” he growls throatily, “but what you definitely need is more pleasure.”
He’s so close, and his intense gaze is so hypnotic that it takes me a moment to register what he’s saying.
“What?” I breathe.
Gavin reaches up with his right hand and strokes my hair, sending shivers down my spine. I’ve always loved when a man plays with my hair. “You need more pleasure. Something to release all the pres
sure that’s inside you.”
My skin pricks and my nipples are hard in my light bra as I look into Gavin’s eyes, seeing him look at me with fiery desire. “Oh.”
He closes the rest of the distance between our bodies, and his lips are warm and thrilling. The first feather-like kiss quickly deepens, and he’s kissing my throat, sending waves of desire through my body. Burning fire builds in my chest, and I pull his head up, kissing him hard. His tongue explores my mouth as his hands roam over my body, stroking and massaging every inch until I’m moaning against his tongue.
I raise my arms over my head, and Gavin pulls my dress up and off before kissing down my body. His tongue traces around my right nipple before he sucks, nibbling and biting the stiff nub until my eyes aren’t able to focus. It feels so damn good.
“Gavin,” I moan, running my hands through his thick hair. How can a man have me on the verge of coming with only his lips on my breast?
But it’s not just his lips. It’s the way his hands are stroking my thighs, cupping and massaging my ass and making my pussy clench with need.
Gavin starts kissing down my body, his tongue tracing over my belly button to reach my panties. I lift my hips and he slides them off, chuckling softly. “What?”
“Your panties. They’re so innocent. So . . . boring.” I blush, but Gavin stops me with a kiss right at the panty line. “Right now, the sexiest word in the world to me is boring.”
He lowers his mouth, and I clench at the blanket as he slides his tongue over my pussy, stroking and making me gasp as he licks me all the way from bottom to top, quickly kissing my clit before lowering his tongue and starting again. His tongue is a devilish snake, squirming and stroking, working its way inside me and never stopping. Pleasure jolts through my body as he tastes me, sucking and nibbling on my lips until I’m gasping, barely able to breathe.
“Gavin . . . fuck . . .” I groan as he takes his tongue from between my lips, but he doesn’t give me a chance to even breathe before he’s sucking my clit, his tongue flickering over the tip. I scream breathlessly as pure white pleasure assaults my body, my chest growing tight and my heart forgetting to beat as he assaults my clit with his tongue and lips.
Anaconda: A Sexy Romantic Comedy Page 11