Obsession Falls(62)

I liked the dazed look in her eyes—that I’d done that to her. “It was good. Got a lot done.”

“Can I see?”

“Cameras are in.” I pointed to her front door. “There’s one there, another over the garage, and a third in the back.”

“That’s a lot of cameras.”

“I’m tempted to put in more, but this is a start. I’ll show you how to use them later.”

“Thanks for doing that.”

“Of course.” I jerked my thumb over my shoulder. “Do you want to see the house? Trim is almost done.”

“Definitely.”

I led her next door and walked her through, showing her how great the trim she’d picked was looking. The paned windows and two-panel doors added a touch of detail and the trim set it all off perfectly.

“This looks incredible. You got so much done today. I’m glad Max wasn’t in your way.”

“Nah, he’s fine. He mostly naps in the corner while I work. The noise of the saw in the garage doesn’t even bother him.”

“That’s good. So what’s next after you finish the trim?”

“Carpet goes in the bedrooms soon, then I can finish the baseboards upstairs.” I grabbed the samples and laid them out to show her. “Which one do you think?”

She crouched down and ran her hands over the samples while Max sniffed them. “I like this one.” She tapped the dark beige. “The color is neutral, which I think is good if you’re going to rent it out, and it’s so soft. You want really soft carpet under your feet when you get out of bed in the morning.”

I mentally checked that off my list. “Agreed. Thanks.”

She stood and smiled at me. “You’re welcome.”

Since we were there, I figured I’d ask her about the countertops too. “Do you mind giving me another opinion?”

“Not at all.”

“Kitchen counters.” I grabbed the samples and laid them out. “Those ones are granite and the others are quartz. What do you think?”

“Definitely that one.” She pointed to a simple creamy white quartz. “It’s so pretty. The granite ones are nice but they’re so busy. I love the simplicity of this. And it will contrast with the floors which I think will be gorgeous.”

She was spot on. Plus, for reasons I couldn’t explain, I wanted her to like this house. “Great. One less thing I have to worry about.”

“I can’t wait to see how it looks when it’s installed.”

“You and me both.”

“Is that it?”

“Yeah, for now. Let’s go, Max.”

We went back to her house and as soon as we were inside, something shifted inside me. Truthfully, it had been building. Not just since the vandalism and the last couple of nights sleeping next to her, although that had kicked things into overdrive. It had been building since the first time we met.

I wanted her.

And I wanted her now.

A part of me didn’t want to want her. I wanted to keep her at a distance so if this crashed and burned, I could walk away unscathed.

But as I watched her set down her purse and step out of her shoes, I knew it was too late for that. I stared at her, desire flooding my veins—watched her like a predator locked on his prey.

“What?” she asked, a small smile playing on her lips.

I’d always been a man of few words and now wasn’t the time for talking. I strode over to her, ran my hands through her hair, and pulled her mouth to mine. She whimpered slightly as I kissed her deeply.

I pulled away and flicked a quick glance at Max. He’d curled up in his spot on the couch and didn’t seem particularly interested in what we were doing.

Good dog.

I kissed along her jaw toward her ear, then spoke, my voice low. “Bedroom?”

“Oh yes,” she breathed.

That was all I needed to hear.

I picked her up and tossed her over my shoulder. A bit caveman—or maybe mountain man—of me, but let’s be honest, I’m not exactly a refined gentleman.

In her bedroom, I shut the door behind us and dropped her unceremoniously on the bed. It took us mere moments to tear off our clothes. I kissed and licked her skin as I undressed her, pausing only to let her pull my clothes off me.

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen her naked, but it was the first time I was able to appreciate her natural beauty. She was soft and curvy with slight definition in her legs, probably from all the hiking she did with her dog.

Perfection.

Her hands were silky against my rough skin, her mouth eager. I took care of the condom situation but I didn’t rush. My body ached for her but I wanted to savor this. Touch her, taste her, experience every curve.

Her hands roamed over me, fingers digging into my flesh as I explored. Her gasps and whimpers spurred me on until I couldn’t take it anymore.

Groaning, I slid inside her, reveling at the feel of her body joining with mine. It was all I could do not to explode right there.

We found our rhythm, moving in sync like this wasn’t our first time together. I felt her let go, opening up to me, sighing and moaning with the pleasure I was giving her.

I wanted to take all of her, devour her completely. I couldn’t get enough. Possessiveness and the instinct to protect her flared to life, adding intensity to every movement. Every thrust felt like a chorus of mine, mine, mine.