The rumble outside made her tense. He was here.
She slipped from the bedroom, closed the door and waited. His footsteps tromped up the stairs. Should she wait a minute, as if she hadn’t been counting every second till he arrived? No more pretense. She pulled open the door.
“Hi.” He stood on the landing, hands jammed in his pockets.
“Come in. Please.” If she had to beg, she would.
He stepped over the threshold like a land mine might be planted in her floor.
“Would you like something to drink? A beer?”
“No.” He sat on the sofa, to the far left. She wondered if he meant to give her a wide berth. Perhaps give himself a quick escape route.
“I bought your favorite.” If it sounded as though she were trying too hard, she didn’t care. She wanted him to know: she was trying.
A faint smile crossed his lips. “All right.”
It was a start. She poured a glass of Riesling for herself and carried the bottle to him.
“Thanks.” He held it, stared at it.
She stiffened. Did he only come here to be polite? Or to break up with her? The latter seemed more probable, the way he avoided meeting her gaze.
She eased onto the sofa at the opposite end. The awkward silence made the few feet between them seem a chasm. “So work’s going well?” Way to bridge the distance.
He rested his elbow on the sofa arm. “Very busy.”
“Busy’s good.” Very clever. “I mean, it sounds like business is picking up for you. That’s got to be a good thing.” She gulped her wine.
“It is. But I’m beat. The days have been really long.”
“The nights too.” The words slipped from her mouth before she could stop them.
He relaxed. “Yeah. Especially the nights.”
If she gripped her glass any tighter, it would shatter. This was the moment. Her brain screamed at her to seize it. “Things went wrong somehow, Hank. I want to fix them.”
He nodded, and gazed at her.
At least he wasn’t running away. The only thing to do was continue. Lay it all out.
“Since we came back, it’s like we’re different people, or are trying to be.”
“You’ve been different too.” His tone lacked the accusation it held last week.
“I know I have. And I don’t like it. I like Dana the wilderness girl, not Dana the uptight bitch.”
“You’re not a bitch. Far from it.”
“Whatever I am, I feel as if I’m blowing my chances with you. I can’t let that happen. What we have is too good.”
He stared at his bottle. When he lifted his head, his expression smoothed. “I didn’t think you’d be back.”
“Why not?” Was he kidding? Or – she swallowed hard – had he hoped she wouldn’t return?
“You’re going to get bored with me really fast. I’m not smart like you.”
“What are you talking about? You’re the most creative guy I’ve ever known.”
“Creativity doesn’t require brains.”
“Of course it does. Not everyone can do what you do. Figuring out how to make a beautiful piece of art from things other people throw away – that requires ingenuity. And talent. You’re an incredible woodworker. You know how to use all those gadgets and equipment. I could never do any of that.”
He glanced away. “Don’t patronize me.”
“And don’t use brains as a copout.” She looked away. “If anyone would get bored, it’s you. I’m the dull geek.”
He shifted to the edge of the sofa. “You are anything but dull.”
“So are you. I feel like I could spend years with you and you’d still surprise me with something new.” Hearing the words out loud, she cursed herself for letting her mouth work faster than her brain.
His stare was fixed, glazed. She’d done it again. Frightened the hell out of him.
“I didn’t mean for that to come out that way.” Before he could respond, she stood. “Wait here a minute. All right?”
His face revealed his misgivings, but he said, “All right.”
“Good. Don’t go anywhere. I have a surprise for you.” She rushed to the bedroom and lit the fifteen candles atop her dresser. On her way out, she flipped off the light switch. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Puzzled, he moved to the edge of his seat. “Should I come in?”
“Yes. You should.” As though he needed an invitation.
He rose slowly and sauntered toward her, a familiar gleam in his eyes. “Should I close my eyes?”
“Yes.” She clasped his hand and led him to the foot of her bed. “Okay, you can open them.”
Candlelight flickered across his face. His eyes widened and his sharp breath was audible. “You did this for me?” He looked from the dresser to the bed, enveloped by a tent.
“For us. I had to buy a kiddie bed tent and make a few adjustments. They don’t make them for queen-size mattress, for some reason.” She forced a laugh to ease his apparent sudden discomfort. He tensed as though ready to bolt.
She shrugged. “I thought, since we can’t go to the wilderness, I’d bring the wilderness to us. Or a reasonable facsimile.”
As she ended her sentence, he scooped her into his arms, his lips warm and soft, his embrace strong around her.
Her heart leaped against her ribs. She slid her hands up his neck into his hair, her lips hungry for his.
He laid his palm against her jaw and whispered, “Dana, I missed you.”
She covered his face with kisses. “I missed you.”
His hands moved across her back, down her rear to her thigh, feeling every part of her, making her want more. The frustrations of the past week melted away and something more powerful bubbled to the surface from deep within. He pressed his mouth to hers, and she met his tongue’s thrusts with her own as he unzipped her jeans.
Her pulse raced. His fingers delved between her thighs and he pressed his hips against hers, his erection straining against her crotch. No teasing this time. Clutching his firmness through his shorts, it throbbed. He shuffled her to the tent opening and eased her through. Once inside, he tore her jeans away and unzipped his shorts, pushing them down his hips. She reached to the side, where she’d stashed a few condoms, and ripped one open. She worked the latex onto the tip of his erection. His fingers entwined with hers and he unrolled it more quickly, then guided him to her. His rushed excitement fueled hers, even though he took her by surprise; she wasn’t sure she was ready as he thrust hard, but arched her hips and he plunged deeper.
The heated glaze of his eyes shone with an animal lust and his nostrils flared. She freed her urges and thrust against him hard, her groans surfacing from her throat. Flooding with pressure, her desire teased to agonizing life by his thickness inside her. Warmth buzzed through her, a sweet tension that burst along every nerve. His legs clenched and he shuddered, his breaths escaping in clipped sighs that slowed as he relaxed against her.
“Oh you feel good.” He nuzzled against her with a contented sigh.
“So do you.” She squeezed, then relaxed her embrace.
He leaned up and touched his lips to hers. “It’s been a long week.”
“Too long.”
Something like a shadow of doubt darkened his expression before he rolled off her.
She lay still, not wanting to crowd him. He still held something inside, something he needed to get out. She wouldn’t rush him.
He let out a long breath.
“No one’s ever done anything so thoughtful for me before. Thank you.”
She grinned. “My pleasure.” Could that be all it was? She’d surprised him, and he didn’t know how to react? He’d certainly shown his appreciation in a hurry.
He chuckled. “Not entirely.” He crooked his arm behind his head. “A guy could get used to this.”
“I don’t know. I think tents might work better outdoors. It’s kind of stuffy in here.”
“I didn’t mean the tent.” He pulled her clo
ser. “I meant being with you. I’ve been miserable this week.” The admission seemed to pain him.
“Me too.” She traced his mouth. “I missed your smile. But I knew I wasn’t making you happy.”
He furrowed his brow. “I’m sorry, Dana.”
“No, don’t apologize. You were right, it was business—”
“Not for the meeting. I mean, I’m sorry for letting a whole week go by without calling. I wanted to. I had to force myself not to.” He sounded surprised at himself, as if he couldn’t understand his own behavior.
“Why?” Hadn’t he wanted to come here? Had she forced his hand?
“Because I’m an idiot. Everything happened so fast between us, I couldn’t think straight. I thought if we just slowed it down a little, things wouldn’t be so crazy.”
She stifled a groan. Why did everything with him have to be in slow motion?
He shifted to his side. “But I know now it’s stupid. I don’t want to move slow with you. I don’t want to hold us back. I just want to be with you.”
She cupped his face in her hands. “I want to be with you too.”
“I even interviewed a guy to help me so this order won’t take up all my free time. He’s an amazing woodworker, and a good guy. I’m hoping to hire him full-time if things pick up the way I think they will.”
“That sounds great.” Especially the part about freeing up his time. She sensed he hadn’t yet said everything he wanted to. He’d say it when he was ready.
He glanced around the tent. “If you’re too warm, I could take this down.”
“Not yet. It’s kind of cozy.”
“Especially lying in front of the fire. Nice touch.”
She nestled against him. “I hoped you’d like it.”
“It might put me to sleep though. I’m wiped out.”
“Sleep then.”
His expression was unreadable.
“I’ll make sure to blow out the candles.” Her reassuring tone flowed naturally.
A lazy grin crossed his mouth, and he closed his eyes with a long sigh. “All right, but I have to get up by seven. It’s going to be another working weekend.”
“I have some work to do too.” Nothing pressing, but if it would help fill the time while he had to work, she’d do it.
His breaths evened and his arm grew heavy atop her waist.
She fought off her own weariness and watched him sleep. She didn’t want to wake and find him gone. When she felt in danger of nodding off, she moved his arm.
His muscles hardened and wouldn’t budge. “Where are you going?”
“To blow out the candles. I’ll be right back.” She kissed his cheek.
He mumbled something unintelligible and relaxed. As soon as she climbed inside again, he pulled her close. “Good night.”
It certainly was.
****
He stood at the window and sipped coffee, the morning sunlight illuminating his bare back, his shorts loose against his hips.
She came up behind him and slipped her arm around his waist. “How late do you have to work?”
He rubbed her arm. “Not sure.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Why don’t you bring your laptop to my workshop?”
She lifted her chin from his shoulder. “You wouldn’t mind?”
“No, I’d like it. It gets lonely there sometimes.”
“All right.”
“I’m going to take off. Come over whenever you’re ready.” His long kiss, and reluctance to end it, told her he meant it.
She showered, tucked a towel around her, and stood before her closet pondering what to wear. The stone garage would shield some of the day’s heat, but Hank would likely leave the large door up. She pulled out a knit sundress, comfy and cool.
When she arrived at his place, grinding noises echoed from within. Hank looked up when she walked inside, and switched off the machine. Smiling, he pushed his safety glasses atop his head as she strolled to him.
“What’s this?” She ran her finger along the metal edge of the machine.
“A lathe. I attach a piece of wood – like this chair leg – and adjust these settings to make grooves or curves, whatever fits the piece.”
“So cool. These are The Coffee Shack chairs?”
“Yeah.”
“I can’t wait to see them.”
He chuckled. “I can’t wait to be done with them.” Taking her laptop case, he walked to the desk. “I cleared the mess so you’d have space to work. There’s a wireless connection if you need to jump online.” He rolled back the chair.
She sat. “Amazing. A high tech workshop. I love it.”
He grinned. “I try to keep up, but I’m no techie. I’ll leave that to you.” He touched his lips to hers and went back to the lathe.
Her productivity might prove lower than normal with him in the room. His clean scent mixing with the smell of fresh wood stimulated her senses. Fastening a new chair onto the lathe, his back muscles rippled through his T-shirt as he fastened a new chair leg onto the lathe.
She reminded herself to remove the laptop from its case. She at least had to make a show of working. Since he kept his back to her, she found it a little easier to focus. When he glanced at her, the pleasurable tingle made her lose her momentum.
After awhile, he switched off the machine and stood behind her chair, gripping the chair arms. “What are you working on?”
She looped her arms around his. “The site redesign for the state. It’s horrendous, but it’s what they want. So we give it to them.”
He smoothed her hair behind her shoulder and kissed her neck. “You’re making it hard to concentrate.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bother you. If you want me to go—”
He swirled the chair to face him. “No. I don’t want you to go. Just the opposite.” He crouched, his hands atop her knees. “This sundress shows off your beautiful legs.” He slid his fingers up her thigh.
Her breath hitched in her chest. “Thanks.”
“Your muscles have a nice definition. Have you been hiking without me?” His lopsided grin made her reach for him.
She entwined her fingers into his hair. “I don’t think it’s from hiking. An entirely different kind of exercise helps keep me in shape.”
He grasped her ass and tugged her toward him, her legs opening around his chest. “I think you need another workout.”
“I think you’re right.” She was more than willing to make up for lost time. She kicked off her sandals and wrapped her legs around his waist.
He reached beneath the chair and the hydraulics whooshed as he lowered it to the perfect height. He arched a brow and smiled.
“You planned this.” It wasn’t a question. Her lips reached for his while fumbling with his zipper. With one smooth motion, he brushed his hands up her thighs, hooked her panties and tugged them down. She rose off the chair long enough for him to dispose of them, then unzipped his cutoffs. Her fingers traced his erection from tip to base, and it reared to its full length. His thumb massaged her, and she wrapped her hands around him, aching to feel him inside her.
“Tell me you have a condom in your pocket.”
“No.” At her groan, he smiled. “I put some in the top drawer. But first, stand up.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. She’d missed his talented tongue. He steadied her hips as she rose, and shoved her dress up, his mouth moving up one thigh, fingers up the other, and met in the middle. One finger slid slowly inside her, his tongue flicking alongside. He tickled and teased, licked and sucked.
She whispered, “If you don’t fuck me soon, I’ll scream.”
His moan vibrated into her crotch. He jammed his thumb inside her and twisted. She clutched his head as his finger and tongue rubbed while he pumped his thumb. Shudders overtook her, and she arched her back, then bent over him.
He rose, his stiff cock grazing her leg. After reaching into the drawer, he sheathed himself and sat on the chair, hands on her hips. “Come here.”
Straddling it, she lowered atop him inch by inch. She forced herself to move slowly. She’d missed that deliberate, heavy rhythm he so craved. He grasped her hips as she took him in and then pulled away to the tip, teasing his heat to explosive heights. He tensed, shivering, then engulfed her mouth with his, tongue swirling. Tasting herself on him drove her need deeper, and she swiveled her hips in pace with his tongue. He moaned, and gripped tighter, aiding her movements faster and faster. When he seemed unable to breathe, she knew he was ready. She wanted to take him higher than he’d ever been. Thrusting against him, she squeezed internally around his length until he quaked, then ran her fingers across his balls to the base of his penis and pressed, taking him as deep as she could.
He clutched her, shuddering and plunging upward, his breaths escaping in sharp bursts.
He sat straight and pulled her against him, exhaling a deep breath. “This could seriously impact my output.”
“I think your output’s perfect.” She nipped his ear.
He laughed, gently brushing her face. His dark eyes sparkled. His happy look, the one she’d so missed.
Crooking her toes behind his rear, she giggled and touched her forehead to his.
“Maybe you should work at my other desk. In my apartment.”
“I could just go home.” Otherwise, he might fall behind in his work, and then she’d see him less.
“No. Stay.” His gaze swept over her face. “Please.”
The invitation seemed more than for the afternoon. Searching his eyes, her muscles went fluid seeing the Hank she’d met that night in Wilderness Outfitters–honest, warm and open. The smile spreading across her lips echoed his.
One month later
Dana stood and stretched in the afternoon sun. Although it was Sunday, she’d worked at the laptop all day, and had finally finished her current project. All she needed was her customer’s approval.
She walked to the kitchen and threw her arms around Hank standing at his kitchen sink. “You’re awfully quiet over here.”
He set down the glass transformer insulator he washed. A beautiful prototype sat in the dining room of an old metal garden gate, the glass insulators acting as candle holders. Wiping his hands on a dishrag, he turned, his full lips against hers. “I didn’t want to disturb you. You’re so busy.”
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