Free Sheltering His Desire by Allyson Lindt Page A

and
turned to face him. “Or three years ago when I closed on the loan
for the shelter.”
    Her eyes sparkled with amusement, holding his
gaze captive. If he leaned in a few inches, he could lose himself
in the soft perfume of her shampoo. His senses prickled at the
idea, and he shelved the desire. “You mean the night you drank way
too much champagne and almost puked in my car?”
    “I don’t remember it that way.” She tucked a
strand of hair behind her ear. His fingers itched with the desire
to cover her hand. What was wrong with him tonight?
    “You were wasted.” He struggled to keep the
conversation light, friendly, and as completely unsexy as possible.
“I’m surprised you remember anything.”
    “I remember enough.” She twisted her mouth in
mock-irritation. “Was that really the last time we were up
here?”
    He had a feeling she knew the answer as
distinctly as he did. “It was.”
    “Why did we stop?”
    “Coming to the lake?” He was stalling. He
knew exactly what she meant. “Our schedules got busy. Life got in
the way.” The excuse slid out without thought. It was the same one
he fed himself every time he wondered why they didn’t hang out
more. With the question between them now, it bounced in his
head.
    He studied her closer. The flush of laughter
on her cheeks. The smile tugged forward by the memories. Had they
really spent so much time together? Up here. At home. He sifted
through stacks of memories, and she was a part of so many of
them.
    She poked him in the arm. “What are you
staring at?”
    He shook away his rambling thoughts. “Just
you.”
    Fuck it all. He was lingering too much on
this one thing. Putting too much thought into a simple, physical
response. She’d been open to no strings last night, would she go
for it again? Once the physical wasn’t taboo anymore, the tension
between them would vanish, and they could go back to being casual
and friendly, without the awkwardness.

    ****

    Alyssia tried not to notice the sudden
silence. Maybe she shouldn’t have brought up the celebration night.
She remembered it far more vividly than she’d ever let on. She’d
actually only had a couple of glasses of champagne, but had
definitely enjoyed the excuse to fall asleep on Tate.
    “But you know.” His voice was suddenly too
loud in the still. It sounded too cheerful, but strained at the
same time. “That’s life, right? We’ll drift our separate ways,
you’ll meet a great guy to bring up here, and he’ll be one hell of
a lucky dude if you give him a chance.”
    But she’d already met a great guy. She bit
the inside of her cheek to keep the comment from escaping. “I
guess.”
    He hopped to the ground, and disappointment
spread through her at the sudden distance between them, even though
he’d only stepped a few feet away. Was the moment ruined? Was he
waiting for her to say something?
    “However.” The strain vanished from his
voice. He stepped closer, and tugged her foot so both of her legs
hung over the tailgate again. “If you want a distraction until
then…”
    Anticipation seared her veins and her pulse
kicked into overdrive. She tried to keep the teasing in her reply.
“I’m not sure I know what you’re suggesting.”
    “I’m just thinking, waiting for Mr. Right has
got to get lonely sometimes.” He nudged her legs apart with his
knee, and pushed between her thighs. Friction built, teasing her
thoughts. “And I’m guessing a battery operated boyfriend doesn’t
always do the trick.”
    Her face warmed. “I don’t—” His raised brows
made her pause, mid-protest. “No, it doesn’t.”
    He glided his fingers over the backs of her
hands, up her arms, and along her jaw. “I’m offering something a
little more… organic, from someone you already like and trust.”
    Like. Such a tame word. Desire glided
under her skin, focusing in her belly, then spread outward again.
Could she really have casual sex? Tate didn’t do long term, but he
was being up front