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  “So you’re off marriage altogether? Scared it will go bad so you quit the market?”

  “I didn’t say that. It’s just… I need to take my time and not rush things. I don’t see a ring on your finger.” She stared pointedly at his bare left hand.

  “True. But I’m not against marriage. I’d like to get married someday, have kids and a house.”

  Her heart raced. “Oh? Ever proposed to anyone?”

  “No.” He stared at her. “The one I wanted got away a long time ago.”

  Did he mean her or some other woman from his past? As much as she wanted to know, she didn’t want to spoil the day either way. “Right. Well, enough of this marriage talk. Why don’t you tell me about your job?”

  “My job?”

  A server brought over their sandwiches. As they ate, Jack described his role as an environmental engineer at the college in detail. It seemed he had a terrific job that satisfied him.

  “We’re both teachers,” he said as he pushed away his empty plate. “Tell me what it’s like being around so many little kids every day. I love Josh, but he’s a handful. How do you manage a room full of them?”

  She smiled. “I love children. They’re so innocent, so full of ideas and so much fun. To see them learn and get excited about knowledge is fantastic. And yes, I have to have a lot of patience, but I’m doing what I love. What could be better than that?”

  “You’re going to be such a great mother.”

  She started. “Ah, thanks.”

  “I mean, imagine a little girl with your looks and intelligence. She’ll have all the boys wrapped around her little finger.” He smiled, and the soft look he gave her raised her blood pressure. “She’ll need a big strong daddy to keep the boys in line.”

  “You have babies on the brain, don’t you?”

  He chuckled and lost his faraway look, thank God. Because if he’d suggested it, she might have been stupid enough to try making a few rug-rats right now. Totally not on her agenda, nor should it be with him.

  “Blame my mother,” he said while she gathered her scattered thoughts. “She’s been going on and on about Dan and Julie, about my pathetic love life and how she might die before she sees grandchildren from me.”

  “Wow. She’s really working the guilts.”

  “That’s Mom.” He shook his head. “But I love her. Your parents leaving you alone about grandkids?”

  “Well, my mom is always interested in my love life. Other than that, they’ve been mostly quiet.”

  “Love life, hmm?” He dragged a finger over her cheek. “What other men do I have to worry about? You hiding a stash of lovers?” He sounded lighthearted, but a glint in his eyes had her wondering.

  “Yeah, I have a whole harem of pool boys waiting on me at home.”

  He relaxed. “I see. Guess I’d better up my game then. How about ice cream?”

  “Ugh. I’m full.” And too jittery around him to eat. He made her nervous. She kept thinking about future babies and rings and a life with him, which only served to show she hadn’t learned jack—literally—from her mistakes in high school. “Besides, if I keep eating, I’ll blow up like a balloon.”

  “Fine. You can help me eat mine. I have a hankering for mint chocolate chip.”

  Her favorite. Did the man forget anything? “You suck.”

  “Yeah, I do.” He wiggled his brows, and once again she recalled how they’d spent last night. She hoped she didn’t look as red as she felt as they left for the ice cream shop.

  Because they had to walk home, by the time they’d reached her place, she didn’t feel guilty for helping him finish his ice cream.

  “Well, it’s been a fun day.” She walked up the steps and paused at the front door when he latched onto her arm.

  “Hell no. We’re not done, angel.”

  She tingled at the endearment. “We’re not?”

  “You have to try on that dress for me. Come on. Please?”

  Recalling his plans to take it off her, she frowned. “No funny business. I’ll try it on, but you have to go after. I can’t be walking funny at school tomorrow. The kids will talk.”

  He grinned. “Yes, Ms. Weaver.”

  “If you were in my class, I have no doubt you’d be at the naughty desk all year long.”

  He laughed and followed her inside.

  She pointed to the couch, not trusting him or herself together in her bedroom. “You stay here.”

  “Spoilsport.”

  She took her bag with her into the bedroom and tried on the dress. She had to take off her bra to wear it, but the dress had its own support. She smoothed it out as she looked in the mirror. It looked terrific. She added the earrings, touched to know he’d bought them for her.

  Then she added a pair of blue heels from her closet and knew she’d have to wear this out somewhere soon. Before it grew too cold to be comfortable.

  “Okay. Here it is.” She walked into the living room and rounded the couch to face Jack.

  He just stared. “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Twirl around. Let me see the back.”

  She felt like a million bucks in the knee-length silky material. The dress flattered her curves while giving her body more oomph. She didn’t feel tiny in it either. She felt like a sexy man-eater. Especially the way Jack looked at her.

  With her back to him, she glanced over her shoulder for his reaction.

  Jack’s smile was wicked. He scooted forward on the couch and pulled her back by the hips to stand closer to him. Then he ran his hands up her legs.

  She shivered. “Jack?”

  He reached her waist under the dress and tugged her panties down.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What does it feel like?” came the low pitched answer.

  Her panties continued down her legs and pooled at her feet.

  “Step out of them,” he ordered.

  She had a hard time breathing past the excitement filling her from head to toe and centering between her legs. “I thought I said no funny business.” She stepped out of the panties and turned to face him.

  “Angel, there’s nothing funny about how hard I’m gonna fuck you right now. Does this make you want to laugh?” He thrust a hand between her legs and slid through her arousal. “Hot and wet. My two favorite words.”

  She strangled on a laugh that shifted into a moan as he pumped a finger inside her. “Jack…”

  “Yes, sweetheart. I’ll make it all better.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Jack couldn’t think straight as he let her envelop his finger. So hard he could split wood, his cock demanded a taste of what his fingers felt—a warm, tight welcome.

  He’d known where this afternoon was heading all damn day. Waking with her this morning had felt more than right. But the true test of where their future was heading had been this afternoon. Shopping with a woman, including any of his exes and even his mother, was normally akin to torture. But being with Ann all day had been nothing but fun. He loved seeing the excitement light up her face when she saw something she liked.

  He’d also had a feeling she’d been testing him, trying to pull away from him emotionally. If he hadn’t been so tuned in to the woman, he might have missed it. But he’d noticed and taken steps.

  She couldn’t leave him behind. Not now. Now when they’d just started to reconnect. They would learn as they went along, but one thing he’d never take for granted—the heat they generated between them.

  He’d only ever felt its like with Ann, and God knew he’d tried to bond with other women since their breakup. But no one had ever gotten to him on both an emotional and physical level like Ann Weaver.

  Her breathing grew choppy. She clutched his shoulders and stared down at him while he played with her pussy.

  “You feel good, baby.” So good he wanted her to sink over him and ride him until he came. Nothing beat an orgasm buried in that hot little body. He loved her mouth, but her pussy had him in
heaven in no time.

  That thought in mind, he pushed her dress up, loving the smooth touch of the material, especially how it hugged her soft skin. “Hold this for me,” he ordered.

  She gripped the dress, and he focused on her pussy. Widening her stance, he nudged her folds apart and began to kiss her there, satisfied by her low moan. She tasted so sweet, and knowing how much this pleased her gave him a rush like no other.

  He sucked and kissed her, thrusting his finger faster. Her breathy cries and moans sounded like music, and he wanted more. He pulled back and stared up at her, seeing the lust on her face. An angel drawn to sin…by him.

  With a pained grimace, he stood. “Unzip me and take me out.”

  She unfastened his jeans with shaky fingers. “God, I want you.”

  Words he loved to hear. “Me too. Take off that dress. Slowly.”

  She stepped back and inched the dress up over her. She slipped it over her hips, gliding the material over her belly, her breasts. Then she let it roll over her shoulders and tossed it aside. Wearing nothing but heels, she stood before him—proud, sexy and unafraid.

  “Christ.” He leaned down to take a firm nipple in his mouth while he played with her breasts. He had her writhing under his touch, a firm hold that demanded her obedience. Since fantasies of domination seemed to appeal to both of them, he put his hand at her neck and squeezed lightly. “Who do you belong to?”

  Her blue eyes seemed impossibly dark as she answered, “You.”

  “You, Sir,” he added to amp the kink.

  “You, Sir,” she repeated.

  He gave her nipple a tiny pinch and saw her start. “I can do whatever I want because I own you, don’t I?”

  A strange emotion crossed her face, then disappeared just as fast, making him wonder what he’d seen. “Yes, Sir. Please fuck me, Sir.”

  With his fingers around her neck, he used his hold on her to pull her behind the couch and bend her over. “Stay like that. Right there.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  He slapped her ass, and she cried out.

  “Ask me for another.” Fuck, he was close to coming. He loved playing games with Ann—she looked so innocent yet got off on being so dirty. His woman, for sure.

  “Please, Sir. Spank me again.”

  “Yes, angel. You need it.” He spanked her twice more, then couldn’t wait any longer. Positioning himself behind her, he guided himself to her pussy and thrust hard, gliding through her wet passage.

  Like coming home.

  He felt her grip him as she cried out, coming around him while he rode through to his own orgasm. Emptying inside Ann added to the feelings of dominance and possession. Total Neanderthal bullshit, but he didn’t care. He fucked her until his knees felt shaky and he grew lightheaded.

  Spent, he withdrew and saw her red ass cheeks and the mess he’d left, and couldn’t be happier.

  “See? No funny business, Ann. I promise.”

  “You’re a dick, you know that?” Her voice was muffled by the couch and the hair over her face. She straightened and made a dash for the bedroom.

  Feeling like a total stud, he cleaned himself up and waited for her to rejoin him. He’d had a sexual marathon of a weekend with his girlfriend. What more could a man want?

  An image of Ann, pregnant, filled his mind’s eye. He wanted to be more uncomfortable at the thought, but he wasn’t. What the hell did that mean? Had his mother’s urgings and Julie’s pregnancy brainwashed him into wanting a kid? Or was it his own longings, a second chance with Ann and a future together, finally coming to the fore?

  Ann returned wearing baggy sweats. Even so, she looked adorable. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes sparkled with anger.

  “What now?” he asked, happy and not at all repentant.

  “You knew what I meant about no funny business.”

  “You could have said no.” And he’d have stopped, even if it killed him.

  Her red cheeks gratified him. “Yeah, well, I have no willpower when it comes to you. I swear, I have more dirty underwear than I know what to do with.”

  “I could always wash your—”

  “No. Now get out. Go get ready for your workweek while I try to decompress from mine.” She added under her breath, “I wouldn’t be surprised if your dick falls off from overuse.”

  He laughed as she pushed him out the door, always amused whenever innocent-looking Ann Weaver, second grade teacher, swore like a truck driver.

  The rest of the night passed by in a blur. Work went smoothly the next day, and he and Ann met Monday night at a coffee shop for a walk around the neighborhood.

  He loved that she liked to be physical both in bed and outside it. Walking, hiking, even biking, though she’d made it clear she didn’t particularly care for running, Ann enjoyed the outdoors, like him. He’d been with too many women who only wanted to watch movies or sit on the computer, Facebooking their way through life.

  They took their coffees to go and bundled up as they walked under the fading twilight. He could see her clearly under the full moon, growing brighter as the clouds dispersed. Nearby, others walked along the sidewalks, enjoying the outside air as well.

  “Good day?” she asked.

  He wanted to hear that every day. He’d come home from work and see her waiting for him. In the kitchen, the living room, by the front door. She’d smile and welcome him home. They’d kiss, and she’d ask about his day, just like that. Then he’d ask about hers. They’d share stories and decide what to do for dinner.

  The domestic scene would have bored him a few years ago, but lately he couldn’t think of anything but being closer to Ann.

  “Hello? Earth to Jack?”

  He hid a grin behind his coffee cup. “Yeah, I’m settling in at the college. How about you? Any more Grand Canyons to deal with?”

  She laughed. “Not yet. Though I did interrupt a glue fight and had to send Mike and Toby to the principal. Those two have gotten pretty bad.”

  After talking and walking some more, they fell into a nice, peaceful quiet. Birds still chirped, and the occasional bat swooped overhead, looking for insects to eat between the tall pines that surrounded them.

  The neighborhood suited her. Him too.

  “I was thinking,” Ann said quietly.

  “Oh?” He wondered if she’d want to keep her house. Maybe they could move in together somewhere bigger? Though he planned on renting something small first, like the cottage he’d been inquiring about around the corner from her place, investing in property while in a buyer’s market made sense.

  “We’re moving too fast.”

  Something with a garden, because she liked to—“What?”

  “It’s just… We’re spending all our time together, having a lot of sex,” she said in a lower voice, “and I’m afraid this is all too soon.”

  “What’s too soon? The fact we like being together?” Fuck. He’d pushed too hard. But they had a good thing going. Was he wrong to want more?

  “No. But being boyfriend and girlfriend… I just don’t know that I’m ready to commit to that. You’ve only been back two weeks. ”

  “I know. But, Ann, we’ve known each other forever. Being back with you feels like I never left.”

  “But you did leave.” She gave him a hard glare. “There’s a lot of life that went on between then and now. I don’t think it’s wrong for me to want to take some time to think about it.”

  Though hurt and annoyed, he forced himself to be cool. “I thought we liked hanging out together. Or was that just me?”

  She blew out a breath. “No. I like being with you. But I’m used to being on my own or having girl time with Riley and Maya. Now there’s you, and—”

  “And what? We’re having sex and it’s amazing. There’s a problem with that?”

  She turned beet red. “Would you please keep your voice down?”

  “Sorry.” He wanted to punch something. “Is it the sex? Too kinky?” Had he misread the signals? Had he confused his p
leasure for hers? At the thought, he felt sick.

  “Would you shush?” She slapped a hand over his mouth and tugged him with her out of the path of an oncoming couple and their kids. “No. The sex is fine. Amazing. Orgasmic. Every time.” She frowned. “But that’s not normal. I mean, sure, it had been a while for me before you. But even then I never came every time.” She huffed. “That’s not the point.”

  Relieved he hadn’t screwed that up at least, he tried to hear her out. “So what, then?”

  She looked around, then up at him. “I…we…”

  He had a feeling he knew what she wanted to say. They’d never talked about the past. He’d been hoping not to bring that up until she was so in lust and in love with him she wouldn’t care what he said. Thinking about his inadequacies and her betrayal hurt all over again.

  “Fuck, Ann. Just say it.”

  She scowled. “It’s too soon. You just blew back into town. For all I know you could be playing me.”

  “Are you serious?” He gaped. “Playing you? For what? Why?”

  She bit her lower lip and looked away. “You’re a guy aren’t you? That’s what guys do.”

  She couldn’t mean him and high school. She’d started that. Had someone hurt her since then? She was right. He didn’t know her as well as he might wish. “Ann, I’d never do that. I am what you see. I know it’s been years, but I’m here now, and I plan to stay.” Go slow, dumb ass. Don’t scare her off. Take your time. “Look, I’m sorry if I pushed, okay? I feel like I know you since we had something deep between us before, but you’re right. That was a long time ago. We’re lovers now, and I don’t want that to end. We’ll take it slow, however slow you want. Okay?”

  She didn’t look as happy as he’d thought she might. “Okay.” She pasted a smile on her face. “Thanks. I appreciate you hearing me out.”

  “I’ll always listen. One thing I’ve been told I do well.”

  “That’s not the only thing.” She sighed. “You really worked me hard this weekend.”