Chapter 11

Barrett is a little different when he returns. Like he"s forcing himself to be more talkative.

"Wow, that"s one tiny car," he says, running his fingers affectionately through my hair on the way from the front door to the kitchen. "How would you like to have dinner on the porch tonight? Get you another dose of fresh air and all that. Like a picnic."

"Sure. Can I help?"

Instead of his usual scowl, his nose crinkles as he smiles slightly. "I"ll think of something for you to do, don"t worry."

A few minutes later, I"ve been hoisted onto the kitchen counter next to the sink and given the task of rinsing and tearing up spinach, then grating carrots for the salad.

"Salad wraps are great for hiking," he says as he grills the marinated chicken he started last night and stirs the coconut rice. "Just make a regular salad with less dressing, and throw it into a tortilla wrap. No cutlery, and just one sandwich bag or a small container."

"And you could eat it one-handed while you"re walking, I"ll bet."

"Exactly." He glances toward me. "You should never drop food in the forest, I"m sure you know that. But a few stray pieces of lettuce wouldn"t be the end of the world."

It"s only once we"re out on the porch with the table set and he has draped a blanket around my shoulders that I realize what"s happening. "Barrett," I ask softly, as the beautiful sunset reflects in his gorgeous hazel eyes, "is this a date?"

Instead of grumbling or growling, his face remains perfectly neutral for a few seconds. "Hope so." He reaches out to take my hand. "Sage, it"s only been a couple of days, and you"ve kind of been trapped here with me…"

"I don"t feel trapped at all."

"Well…good." His thumb caresses my hand gently. "You understand that I have feelings for you?"

I nod, my breath catching in my throat. "Yes. I hope you can tell I have feelings for you, too."

"Good." He"s even more handsome when he smiles like that. His features are still rugged, but he"s so sweet too. "Dig into that chicken while it"s hot."

Over the next few hours, it feels like Barrett and I truly bond. It doesn"t seem like a first date, more like our fourth or fifth. We enjoy the food, swap stories, and laugh a lot. I notice that Barrett is quick to scowl and grumble whenever I mention a rough point in my life. It"s obvious that he hates that my mother took off on my brother and me. He also clearly can"t stand that my brother has helped himself to the "shared" car most of the time.

It"s interesting, though, that Barrett is very careful not to say anything blatantly negative about my brother. Perhaps he thinks he has a poker face, but I can see it in his eyes clear as day: he"s genuinely upset at the thought of me being uncomfortable.

I"ve never felt so nurtured. It"s also kind of oddly sexy that Barrett gets upset on my behalf. He"s one hundred percent in my corner, which is a first for me. It"s reassuring. Given time, I think this giant man could save me from my fears and negative thoughts, and quiet the constant voice in the back of my head that asks me if I"m really good enough.

Barrett definitely thinks that I"m good enough for him. He wants me. The knowledge sends tingling prickles through every muscle and nerve in my body. I just hope that tonight he"ll let me touch him as well. Let me show him how I feel.

This time when I get ready for bed, I wear nothing but a long tank top that barely covers my butt. I also skip the underwear.

As soon as we snuggle together, Barrett"s hand runs up my thigh and under my top to grip my hip. When he realizes there"s nothing there, his grumble kicks in. "Forget something?"

"Didn"t forget. Just didn"t see the point."

Growl.

He kisses me suddenly, deeply, yanking my body hard against his. With my breasts pressed tight against his naked chest, I wonder if he can feel how fast my heart is beating. I gasp as the hard ridge of his cock presses against my mound. My hips automatically tilt against him, trying to create as much contact as possible.

"Sage." His voice is the dark scrape of steel against granite. "So fucking sexy. Been driving me crazy since the moment I saw you. How am I supposed to be a good man if you throw yourself at me like this?"

"Maybe I don"t want you to be a good man. Just be yourself."

He kisses me even more fiercely until I can barely breathe. When he rolls on top of me, his heat and weight surrounding me, my arousal rushes through my entire body.

I whimper in protest as his mouth leaves mine, then gasp as he shoves my tank top up to my collarbone so he can devour my breasts. Touching the back of his hair with one hand and his muscular shoulder with the other, my head is spinning.

"I love the way you touch me," I whisper. "The way you grab me."

"Know I should be gentle. Can"t." He switches to the other side, his teeth lightly abrading my nipple until I shiver. I can feel my pussy growing wet and warm, and hope that he"s finally going to take me.

His head ducks down, kissing a path across my belly, straight down between my legs as he shoves them wide open. Then he just stares for a moment, as if the sight of my naked flesh is making him crazy.

His arm scoops under my right thigh as he tilts my body up to his mouth. I love the way his eyes crinkle with a grin when I gasp at the way he licks and kisses, diving right in to devour my pussy as if he owns it.

Maybe he does. I already feel like I"ve given myself to him. We haven"t said the words, but there"s no mistaking this heat, this connection.

My mouth falls open with a shaky moan as his tongue plunges inside me. It"s so unbelievably intimate. Even better, there"s no hesitation whatsoever on his part as he grips me, caresses me, rubs his nose against my clit as his tongue thrusts deep.

Oh my…I"m going to come. I can feel the tension building in my hips and thighs, everything tensing and pulling in, waiting for that moment of explosion. I"m so wet. Every sense is heightened as he finds brand new sensitive spots I never knew I had.

Barrett"s eyes burn into mine as his tongue lands squarely on my clit, his middle finger stroking slightly inside me. I feel completely trapped by his thick arms, pinned by his huge body, so tiny and helpless, yet at the same time totally safe.

His eyes are tracking my every movement. He"s paying attention to every noise I make. Every part of him is focused on my pleasure, and it"s completely overwhelming. My heart hammers and my pulse pounds as I see Barrett realize how close I am.

Without stopping licking, he manages to growl, "Come for me, princess. Now."

I fall to pieces and my shriek echoes around the room as my thighs clamp around his ears. The force of my climax curls my shoulders forward, everything quivering right down to my toes as I stare into the eyes of the sexiest man I"ve ever known.

My man. The only person I"ve ever felt truly close to.

As the pulses of my incredible orgasm slowly recede, my smile feels almost wicked as I make a decision.

I"m not going to sleep until I make him feel this amazing as well.