Free WalkingSin by Lynn LaFleur

“Just don’t
ask me to take you in my car. My baby doesn’t go out in bad weather.”
    Kelcey chuckled. She liked this humorous
side of Dax. “Is that what’s under the tarp in the garage? One of those
bachelormobiles?”
    His grin widened, his eyes sparkled like a
kid’s with a shiny new toy. “Oh yeah. Solid black, lots of leather and chrome,
zero to seventy in about half a second.”
    “Which is so handy on these country roads.”
    “Hey, they’re paved. With lots of curves
where the tires squeal when you take ‘em.”
    “What are you, ten?”
    Dax ran his fingertips over his beard.
“Maybe sixteen when I’m behind the wheel.”
    His teasing helped her to relax. Kelcey
returned his grin. “Now I have to see it.”
    “If you’re really nice, I’ll take you for a
ride.”
    “I accept.”
    The dryer buzzed, signaling that her
clothes should be dry. Kelcey took one more bite of the scrumptious stew before
she stood. “Do you mind if I keep wearing your sweatshirt? I hung up my
cardigan in your bathroom, but I’m sure it’s still wet.”
    “Are you cold? I can turn on the heat or
build a fire in the fireplace.”
    Although a fire would feel good, it would
be much too romantic. “I’m okay as long as I can wear your sweatshirt.”
    “You can keep it as long as you need it.”
    “Thanks.”
    Kelcey didn’t know Dax had thrown his wet
clothes in the dryer with hers until she opened the door and saw them. First
she slipped on her panties and jeans, sighing happily at the warmth on her
legs. Next she took out her bra and T-shirt. The thought of putting her bra
back on didn’t appeal to her at all. With Dax’s huge sweatshirt covering her,
he’d never be able to tell whether she wore a bra or not. She folded it up
inside her shirt.
    Finally she removed Dax’s clothes. She
folded his jeans and T-shirt, laid his socks on top of them. The only thing
left in the dryer was a pair of tiny black briefs.
    Warmth crept back into her cheeks and
traveled down her body. Holding up the briefs, she imagined how Dax would look
in them…and nothing else. She already knew dark hair spread over his chest and
down his stomach. She wondered if the same dark hair covered his legs too. The
hair would tickle her as he rubbed his legs against hers.
    Goose bumps covered her skin when she felt
a presence behind her. Slowly she turned her head to see Dax leaning against
the doorjamb.
    Mortified to be caught staring at his
underwear, Kelcey quickly laid them on top of his socks, closed the dryer door
and leaned against the warm appliance.
    “Are we going to talk about the elephant in
the room?” Dax asked.
    She knew exactly what he meant, but
pretended she didn’t. “I don’t know what you mean.”
    He gave her a look that said, “sure you
don’t”, even though he didn’t say the words. “We’ve talked about several things
tonight, but not the one thing we should talk about. We almost made love
Saturday night, Kelcey. I know you wanted me. Your body told me so. Yet you
stopped. Why?”
    Dax hooked his thumbs in the waistband of
his sweats. Kelcey couldn’t think straight with that strip of skin below his
navel exposed. Unsure what to say, she lowered her head and pushed her hair
behind her ears.
    “Did I do something wrong? Is that why you
pushed me away?”
    “No,” she whispered.
    Several seconds passed before he spoke
again. “Were you raped?” he asked in a soft voice.
    Denying it would be useless since he
already suspected the truth. She nodded.
    “Shit,” he muttered. “God, I’m sorry. I’m
so sorry that happened to you.”
    The anguish and sympathy in his voice
tightened her throat. Tears flooded her eyes. She didn’t want Dax to see her
cry. “Excuse me,” she whispered.
    She made it no more than two steps when Dax
held her arm to stop her. “Hey,” he said, his voice low, soothing. “You don’t
have to hide your tears from me.”
    His understanding released the floodgates.
A choked sound