best to keep them from collapsing to the floor. Standing there, he held her, marveling at how prefect
she felt in his arms. Bayleigh was meant to be with him, he just had to convince her of the same.
When she shifted against him he looked down at her, she stared up at him with a satisfied smile.
“So much for ice,” she whispered.
“It’s okay. I had it on long enough earlier. The ice won’t do any good now.”
“Does it still hurt?”
“I hadn’t even thought about it until you mentioned it.”
“I wonder why.”
He groaned in protest as he slipped out of the warm recesses of her body. She went to move
away from him and he tightened his hold.
“Where are you going? I’m not finished with you.”
Her eyes widened slightly before a wicked smile spread across her face. “I would hope not.”
“Put the ice away then meet me in the bedroom.”
Bayleigh nodded and he forced himself away from her. He made his way to the bedroom to
get rid of the used protection. Bayleigh entered the bedroom as he exited the bathroom. She paused
when she saw him and he was just as distracted. His shirt still covered her…barely. Now it hung
open, revealing more than it covered. Dane moved toward her slowly. “Do you know how beautiful
you are?”
An emotion flashed through her eyes but was gone before he could decipher it.
“When you say it, I believe you,” she stated softly.
“Let me show you,” he whispered.
Dane took pleasure in her gasp of surprise when he swept her up into his arms. Walking
toward the bed he placed her on the edge so her legs hung over the side. The soft skin exposed
tempted him to taste, but he refrained. Her breath caught in her throat as if she anticipated his
touch. A touch she would have to wait a little longer for. He stepped back from her, smiling when
she reached for him. Dane dodged her hands making her place them on the bed beside her.
“Not yet. The first time was quick. Now we take our time.”
Bayleigh trembled at his touch, exhaling shakily, when he reached out, running his fingertips
over her exposed nipples. She squirmed closer to his touch, but he pulled back. Surprisingly, he was
already hard again, his erection straining against the confines of the underwear and pants he still
hadn’t removed. Bayleigh looked up at him, her eyes full of desire.
“I want you now. Can’t we go slow next time?”
Dane fought a smile at the desperation in her voice. “We could, but what would be the fun
in that? I want to taste you. Every inch of you.”
Her breath came out on a ragged sound. His gaze roamed over her delectable body. “I think
I will start with your nipples.” He leaned closer to her. “Do you want my tongue on your nipples,
Bayleigh?”
Bayleigh remained silent, but bit her lip and shifted toward him. Dane smiled and pulled
back.
“You didn’t answer me, Bayleigh. Tell me you want me to taste you.” He pulled back
another inch as he whispered the words. She moaned.
“Taste me,” she rasped. “Now.”
Leaning closer, he flicked his tongue over the tip of one nipple. Her breath hitched before
ending on a moan. He switched to the other nipple, taking her fully into his mouth. In response, she
pressed into him, sliding forward. When her legs attempted to surround him, he pulled back.
Bayleigh made a sound of protest. Yet he knew if her damp sex touched him, he would come before
he was ready to. Dane struggled to control his breathing. Touching her thighs, he gave her a tight
smile. “Open for me, Bayleigh.”
She looked at him with surprise, then obeyed his command. “More,” he demanded as he
leaned closer to her, taking her nipple into his mouth again. Bayleigh cried out, her hands coming
off the bed, but she caught herself and placed them back.
“Dane,” she moaned.
He lifted his mouth from her nipple to look at her. “What is it?”
“I will be.”
A groan of protest escaped her and he chuckled. “Soon. And when I am, it will be worth the
wait.”
Before she could respond, he pressed his mouth to hers. Instead of the resistance he
expected, she accepted his kiss, taking it over. He was caught off guard when her tongue swept into
his mouth. Recovering quickly, he met her tongue with his own. When felt her hands come off the
bed again, he pulled back before she could touch him.
“Dane,” she protested on a ragged breath.
He smiled as he lowered himself between her knees. Dane pressed her legs further apart,
then lifted them so they rested on his shoulders, leaving her completely exposed to him.
“I want to taste you first, Bayleigh.”
As he ran his hands up her thighs, tracing her soft, smooth skin, she trembled. “Do you
want me to taste you, Bayleigh?”
She twitched against him in response, but remained silent. He leaned forward to place an
open mouth kiss on the inside of her thigh. Her breath hitched in her throat. He moved closer to
the junction of her thighs.
“Tell me, Bayleigh. Do you want me to taste you?”
She bit her lip, nodding frantically.
“Tell me,” he commanded.
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then I will taste you,” he rasped.
Dane lowered his head again, placing a kiss on the inside of her thigh. Her hips bucked off
the bed when his tongue moved higher, brushing against her damp curls. A growl rumbled from
deep in her throat when he pulled back.
“Patience,” he murmured against her thigh.
“Now,” she demanded.
Dane grinned, then thrust his tongue inside of her, pulling a scream from deep within her
throat. She bucked against him and he held her thighs to keep her still. Her hips still writhed with
need, but she was at his mercy, couldn’t get away from him if she wanted to. Her thighs tensed,
telling him she was on the edge.
His efforts doubled and a heartbeat later he was rewarded as she arched against him, her
climax overtaking her. He continued to push her higher, causing her to scream. Her incoherent
words told him exactly what she wanted. When she could no longer take the onslaught, she pulled
away from him, gasping for breath, trembling. Looking up at her, Dane felt as though he needed her
more than his next breath. Pushing to his feet, he shoved his pants down violently, the patience he
insisted she have no longer an option for him. Dane covered himself with protection quickly, before
gathering her up into his arms. Bayleigh gasped when he pulled her to the edge of the bed, drawing
her legs over his arms.
When he thrust into her, she cried out. He arched to get as deep as he could, Bayleigh
clinging to him as another orgasm raced through her. Burying his face into her neck, he continued to
ride her hard. Her hands clawed at him, trying to pull him closer with the same amount of
desperation he felt. His body finally demanded the release it deserved and he shattered completely,
moaning his pleasure as she drained him. As he moved to the side to recover, he realized he was in
big trouble. Never had he wanted anyone so desperately as he wanted Bayleigh.
Dane pulled her to him, tucking her into his body, holding her against him until he could no
l
onger put off getting rid of the used protection. She protested when he pulled away. “I’ll be right
back.”
Dane placed a kiss on her shoulder before heading toward the bathroom. Hopefully he
would have his brain in working order by the time he made it back. It was getting harder to think
anytime she was around and within his reach. If he wanted to convince Bayleigh they could make a
relationship work, he had to show her they could do it outside of the bedroom as well—and soon.
Bayleigh rolled onto her back as Dane closed the bathroom door behind him. She should be
embarrassed at the things she just did with him but she wasn’t. Tantalizing images crept back into
her mind. Never again would she be able to step foot in his kitchen without thinking about it. It
amazed her how inexperienced she had been before Dane. She knew the intimate moments they
shared together meant just as much to him. Every time he touched her, he proved it. Her heart rate
was finally returned to its normal cadence. Truth be told, she was exhausted physically and mentally.
Bayleigh also felt more vulnerable than she ever had in her entire life. This had been exactly what
she had been trying to avoid.
The more time she spent with him the more of a connection she felt. His words earlier came
rushing back to her. He’d confirmed that he wanted to spend more time with her. In several ways
she wanted the same, but the complications that would come along with it frightened her. In several
weeks’ time, Dane had touched a part of her she hadn’t known existed. She was starting to
understand it was hard to be intimate with him and not risk more emotional involvement.
Dane could break her heart if she let him. The idea scared her. Bayleigh didn’t want to get
hurt and she didn’t want to hurt him. They had already crossed the threshold when she hadn’t being
paying attention. She hadn’t expected this to happen so fast.
Bayleigh hadn’t intended on gambling with her heart, but she had. Now it might be too late
and she didn’t know what to do. Her heart tumbled inside of her chest. Was this what it felt like to
be in love? Foolishly, she thought herself to be a few times before now, but it had felt nothing like
this.
Over the years her parents provided her with the perfect example of love and devotion. Yet,
her failed attempts at relationships often made her wonder if she was destined to have romance pass
her by. As she lay here in Dane’s bed she realized it just might be about meeting the right person.
The bathroom door opened and she looked up as the subject of her thoughts walked out.
He rejoined her on the bed, automatically pulling her into his embrace. Bayleigh relaxed into
his body as he pulled the cover up over them. His touch still had that effect on her. She felt his arms
tighten slightly before his lips touched her shoulders.
“Are you awake?”
She released a slow breath. “Yes.”
He remained silent and for a moment she wondered if he’d heard her.
“Do you fall in love easily?”
Bayleigh stiffened in response even though she tried not to.
She had to fight the urge to share her thoughts. Tell him she normally didn’t but it was a
strong possibility at the present time. Still she didn’t want to ruin the moment they just shared.
“No, I don’t. Why do you ask?”
“Just wondering.”
His words were untrue. The moment they reached her ears she knew it. Yet, she didn’t call
him on it, unwilling to take the risk. It could ruin the moment. The more time she spent with him,
the more six months seemed it might not be enough. The thought scared the hell out of her.
Bayleigh had no idea where to start. Right now she wanted nothing more than to turn to face him
and look into his eyes, but she was afraid to see what was there. His touch fed one hunger yet
awakened another. It was a need at her core. The need to feel wanted, to belong, to be protected.
Everything Dane seemed to offer.
“Do you think you could come to love me?”
She stifled a gasp, more at the longing she heard in his voice than the words themselves. Oh
Lord, how had she gotten herself into this predicament? Still, she had to answer him honestly, no
matter what the fallout would be.
“Yes, Dane. I could,” she whispered.
He squeezed her in response. She trusted Dane not to abuse the confession. Bayleigh was
attracted to him mind and body, but the confession he just received was as far as she was willing to
go right now.
“I never expected to be here with you like this, Bayleigh.”
She gave his arm a reassuring squeeze. “Neither did I.”
“I guess it’s true when they say the things we want the most, show up when it is least
expected.”
“It certainly does,” she murmured.
Dane was making clear he still wanted more. Bayleigh knew from prior experience that he
intended to have it. He was the type that gave one hundred percent when he went after what he
wanted. She knew she should speak, but her heart pounded at the fear of saying something she
couldn’t take back. Why mess up a good thing right now? They had a little over five months
remaining. More than enough time for her to figure out whether she was falling in love or not. What
they had right now scared her. There was no guarantee he wouldn’t wake up one day and decide she
wasn’t the woman he wanted.
Nothing promised they would have a future together. Extraordinary sex didn’t automatically
mean the relationship outside of the bedroom would be. Not wanting to leave things the way they
were, she turned her head to look at Dane. His eyes shifted to hers and she smiled. “You are
wonderful guy, Dane.” Bayleigh punctuated the statement with a kiss.
“Am I?”
“You are. You always have been.”
Dane exhaled softly. “We need to go to sleep or we won’t be good company at dinner with
your family tomorrow.”
Bayleigh’s heart stilled for a few beats, She had forgotten about dinner with her family. How
could she let it slip her mind? Dane had been surprised by the suggestion, but quickly accepted. She
knew he saw it as one more step toward the relationship he wanted. On the other hand, she just
hoped to survive dinner. Tasha knew what to expect but she was anxious to find out how everyone
else would react.
“Goodnight, Bayleigh.”
“Goodnight.”
He squeezed her in return before pulling her closer. Smiling at how perfectly she fit against
him, she relaxed into his arms. Closing her eyes, she tried to beckon sleep. The more rested she was,
the better her attitude would be. High stress situations didn’t bring out the best in her. The sound of
his heartbeat was soothing and eventually lulled her into a blissful sleep.
Chapter Eight
“Sorry, I’m running late. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready,” Bayleigh told him
breathlessly, racing from the front door to the back of her apartment. Dane glanced around, noticing
she had changed a few things recently. Lately he noticed a lot of thing changing about her. Nothing
bad, she just seemed to be a little more open to different things.
He smiled when it dawned on him that she was still wearing the same clothes she had on
when she left his home this morning. She told
him she had a few errands to run and for him to pick
her up at her place before dinner with her family. On the way over, he thought about how it would
be to see her after their conversation last night. Dane was still surprised to hear Bayleigh admit she
could love him if she allowed herself to. Now he had to figure out a way to get her to relax enough
to do so.
Dinner tonight would be a start. Yes he’d enjoyed dinner with the Bishop’s a few times
before, but as Bayleigh’s friend. In a way he was nervous at the response he would receive from her
family. Deep down he felt things would be okay, but he wasn’t one hundred percent sure. In the few
seconds after she opened the door, he tried to gauge her for any hint of nervousness. Unfortunately
she turned away too quickly, so he didn’t have time to, much less greet her in return.
“Make yourself at home,” she called out. “You know where the cups and fridge are if you
want anything to drink.”
The door to her bedroom opened and she stuck her head out. “Sorry, I’m running late.