"Ham," Piper said. "No.Setzen.Blieb." Ham sat, staring at Ian and growling low in his throat.
"I believe that dog hates me." He said.
She laughed. "He's just a bit jealous. He's used to having all of my attention."
"So, you haven't dated anyone since you've had him."
She considered lying. But that would be silly. "No. Not in a while."
They continued down the walk, into the outer yard.
You know what's going to happen out there in the summer house.Whispered a voice in her head.There's no harm done. I'm a big girl.She answered back.
Ian took her arm as she went up the steps into the summer house. A gentleman, as always. They settled, side-by-side on the cushioned bench that ran all around the little room.
Darkness and silence settled around them. Over the years the wisteria had grown so thick that it cut out most of the light to this little oasis. It really should be trimmed back, but it was so beautiful she'd kept persuading her daddy to let it go another year.
She fumbled on a table for the candle and lighter that was kept there. The snick of the lighter sounded loud in the night and then the candle glowed with a lovely yellow light; casting them in a romantic circle.
Ian took her hand in his. "You seem preoccupied. Is there anything wrong."
"What are we doing, Ian?" she asked, quietly.
"We're sitting here together enjoying each others company on a nice night."
She shifted. "You know that's not what I mean." She looked into his face and said, "I'm not asking you to make some kind of big commitment. I just want to know what this is right now. Right here."
His eyes softened as his thumb stroked the back of her hand. "I know I'm still in love with you."
She started to speak, but covered her lips with his fingers.
"Wait. I need to say this. I love you, Piper. I've never stopped loving you. These past few days I've put some thought into all the hurt we've put on each other these past years with our silence. I didn't reach out to you at any point. And you made no effort to reach out to me. We're both proud people. But pride is a cold partner. Can you let go of the hurt and never look back?"
Owning up mentally to her own part in the mess from the past, she made a note that they would sit down and have a full closure, heart-to-heart, lay your cards on the table, talk.
Ian wasn't in the Navy any more, so maybe he would be open to moving here to work. If that was possible with his current job. Or…maybe she should be more open to moving out west with him.
He leaned in and kissed her just then, wiping all the internal dialogue into a white mist.
As he deepened the kiss, her tongue met his and danced in exquisite harmony. His hands were all over her. Petting and stroking until she thought she'd go mad from wanting.
She reached between them and began unbuttoning his shirt. That was all the encouragement he needed and her own shirt went over her head in a heartbeat. He drew back, his gaze locked on her breasts in the flickering candle light. She felt her nipples rise as he gently eased her backward on the cushions.
His hands cupped her breasts as his thumbs stroked her nipples further erect. He unhooked the front clasp of the bra, pushing the cups aside with impatient hands and took her right nipple deep into his mouth. She moaned, head back, throat exposed and pressed his head against her breast as he tongued it.
His other hand squeezed and rolled the nipple of her left breast. She pulled his face to hers and kissed him deeply, wanting more. The front of his jeans bulged against her thigh as she shifted her hips beneath him in invitation.
His fingers skillfully unbuttoned and unzipped her Capri pants and he shifted his weight to one elbow as he used the other hand to push the pants down her hips and legs. His eyes never left hers as he placed that hand on her crotch and, with one finger, shifted her wet panties aside to find her core.
His eyes went wide at the heat and he shucked his shoes and jeans. She heard something solid hit the floor, but before she could question it, he had thrust into the center of her erasing all other thoughts from her mind.
