Ross
It wasa sorry state of things when I had the first opportunity to get up close and personal with a naked Dan, and I was too buggered to do anything about it. We’d considered not showering together, worried about wandering hands when one, we were both knackered and two, we both wanted to be fully alert to appreciate the moment.
But thank Christ we’d agreed we could handle the temptation. If it wasn’t for Dan scrubbing me down with a soapy washcloth, I would have simply ended up on the shower floor, asleep, still dirty, and quite possibly at risk of drowning.
I felt guilty as hell that he was the one caring for me after he’d done so many hours and battled so many flames. But today had taken it out of me.
Adrenalin crashes were shit, reinforcing I wasn’t made for this high-octane drama and responsibility.
“Come on.” Dan’s voice was gentle as he held my hand and led me out of the shower.
I was vaguely aware of him rubbing me down with a towel and thought I mumbled, “Thanks,” before he steered me to his bedroom and indicated I should get under the covers. I didn’t have time to savour the knowledge I was in his bedroom. I was simply impressed I was aware enough to know he’d brought me to his home—a place I’d visited regularly recently, usually leaving food in the beer fridge he kept out back.
As soon as my head connected with the soft cushion, I was already being dragged towards sleep, and when the heat of Dan’s body wrapped around me from behind, I drifted into oblivion.
When I awoke the next morning to the warmth of Dan, I couldn’t remember being more comfortable. We’d moved around in the night. One of my arms was wedged under his pillow, and Dan’s cheek was pressed against my chest, his leg against mine. Never being a cuddler, the ease of the closeness bewildered me. But this was Dan, who I’d known forever. Not only that, but it had been a long time since my thoughts about him stepped way out of the bounds of friendship.
Awareness of his hand sweeping across my stomach had me angling and looking his way. He tilted his head, eyes groggy, but his smile was immediate and made my heart flip over.
“Morning.” Gravelly with sleep, his voice was what I knew future fantasies were made of.
“Morning.”
He angled even more, and I took my cue, happily pressing my lips to his. His soft lips were gentle, feeling right pressed against mine.
“You sleep okay?” he asked, releasing a yawn.
“Like a log.” While this wasn’t unusual for me, as I could sleep pretty much anywhere, having Dan flush against me made it the best way to ever wake up.
“Any idea what time it is?” Gentle fingers brushed across my stomach hairs.
“No idea. And I have no idea where my phone is.” He’d taken care of me last night. No man had ever done that for me before.
Dan groaned. “You saying I have to move to check?” A heavy sigh followed, and I chuckled.
“Afraid so,” I answered, admiring his arse in his tight jocks when he got out of bed to go and look.
He returned triumphant. “Just gone seven,” he said.
My grumble was immediate. “I best get up. I promised to open up at eight.”
Before I could even pull the sheet back, Dan was on me, pinning me to the mattress. Deliciously heavy, his body moulded perfectly to mine. “I don’t want you to go yet.”
I chuckled. That was until I saw the desire filling Dan’s features. If I stayed, I’d be holding his legs open and begging him to let me put that sizzle reflected in his eyes to good use. I had no choice but to shake my head. “I can’t be late.”
He groaned, his head lowering so his mouth could reach my neck. Heated kisses pressed against my skin, one of my many fantasies come to life. I moaned with each kiss, each scrape of stubble across my sensitive flesh. “You sure you can’t just be a little late?”
A breathy “God, I wish I could” escaped my parted lips. “But with everything going on, the library has been a hub for families. We’ve all but got a mini day care set up, so I really can’t stay.”
Dan lifted, hovering above me, his groin still pressed against my own. I tried my best not to think about how hard and willing he was. “Fair enough,” Dan finally said. “Can I see you tonight?”
Our gazes connected, and happiness sprang to life in my chest. “Definitely.” I leaned up and pressed the lightest of kisses to his lips. There was no way I could let it go beyond that. Dan was temptation personified. Too long connected, wrapped in his heat and intoxicating presence, and I’d be lost forever.
He seemed to see my struggle as he angled off me, returning to rest back on his mattress.
I glanced longingly at him, sleep-ruffled and looking sexy as sin, and I started to question my sanity. Seemingly forever I’d waited for a chance with Dan, had lusted after him for so long, and cared about him more than any other guy. It seemed wrong to be leaving now.
“Hey.” Dan’s quiet voice pulled me out of my thoughts. “You all good?”
