Luke had never thought of himself as a masochist, but encouraging Megan to work in the empty conference room during the day had turned into a kind of self-torture. Sitting in his office all week, knowing she was just down the hall, was a painful temptation. The few stolen kisses they’d managed had only primed his desire, until it threatened to spill over in public, which he had promised wouldn’t happen. The only saving grace in all of this was that he knew Megan was dealing with the same frustration.
What they needed was a few hours of actual privacy. The problem was how to make that happen. Not only was there Owen to consider, but they both were incredibly busy. She had a big coding project she was working on for some client in Mumbai, and he had people breathing down his neck about the annual fundraiser banquet coming up. Each year they put on a holiday-themed event, hoping to hit people when they were looking to make end-of-year tax-deductible donations. Last year’s totals had been less than stellar, and although it wasn’t official, he’d be willing to bet that was a big reason the board had decided to bring new blood into the administration. Namely, him. And if he wanted to keep his job, he needed to be sure this year’s gala and fundraising totals weren’t a repeat of last year’s.
He was an educator, not a party planner, and it chafed him to have to spend so much time and energy dealing with catering decisions and seating arrangements—Mrs. Cristoff had called three times about that already today—when he had a million other, more relevant, issues to address. But he was a realist. Those donations were the reason All Saints was able to keep tuition affordable for the island families it served. Without them, he’d have to either cut salaries or charge parents more, and neither option appealed to him. He just wished the people with the money would write the checks based solely on the importance of the cause instead of needing to be wined and dined before they pulled out their wallets.
Fair or not, the gala meant he was swamped with more work than he could fit into a twenty-four-hour day, and that meant no sneaking over to Megan’s after dark, like he had originally hoped. But tonight that was going to change. If they weren’t going to be a couple in public, then they had to make time to be together in private. That was why he’d spent the entire day chained to his desk, pounding through as much work as possible just to take the evening off guilt-free.
Normally he made a point of “accidentally” bumping into Megan at least once during the day, either in the lounge where she’d switched the generic coffee for freshly ground beans she brought in herself, or in the halls when she was walking Lily. He’d gotten good at coming up with excuses to stop by the conference room, as well, usually under the pretext of storing or retrieving supplies from the packed shelves. He’d fetched and retrieved the same stack of manila folders three times, all to have a few minutes alone with her. But he was willing to skip that ruse today in favor of uninterrupted time with her tonight.
Forcing Megan from his mind, he clicked through his email, taking notes and sending responses where appropriate. Several were from parents inquiring about homework assignments or upcoming exams, and he forwarded those to the appropriate faculty member. He’d just landed on the email requesting approval of a field trip idea from the science department when a knock sounded at his door.
Frustrated by the interruption, he bit out a “come in” and returned his attention to the monitor in front of him.
“Is now a bad time?” Megan’s hesitant query had his head snapping up in surprise.
“No, not at all.” He grimaced, knowing he’d sounded short. “Please come in. My bark is worse than my bite, I promise.”
She blushed at his word choice, and he realized the accidental innuendo. Closing the door behind her first, she moved to the side of his desk.
Taking her hand, he pulled her into his lap and nipped at her lush bottom lip.
“Hey now,” she laughed, wrapping her arm around his neck. “I thought you said you didn’t bite.”
“I lied.” He did it again and then, since he was already there, kissed her thoroughly. When he came up for air, she was plastered against him, as if she couldn’t get close enough. Stroking her back, he tipped his head so he could see her eyes. “Now that that’s out of the way, what brings you to my office?”
Her eyes twinkled. “Other than this, you mean?”
“Hey, if you just couldn’t make it through the day without touching me, I’m okay with that. I just was wondering if there was something else you needed.”
She shrugged and laid her head on his shoulder, effectively hiding her face from him.
“Megan, honey, what is it?”
“Nothing. I just...well, you never stay in your office all day. I thought maybe you were avoiding me.”
“What?” He sat straighter, shifting her so she was facing him again. He saw embarrassment but also fear in her eyes. Hell. Of course she’d think that. He’d been practically stalking her for weeks, and then today he’d gone MIA without any warning.
“No! I was just busy. I thought if I buckled down, I could knock out enough work to justify an evening off. I should have said something.”
“Oh. Okay.” She nodded but he could tell she wasn’t fully convinced. “I get it, work comes first.” She gave him a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes, and got to her feet, smoothing her clothes into place.
“I was trying to clear my plate so I could spend time with you.”
That got her attention. She paused, half turned to the door. “You were?”
He nodded. “I was going to ask if I could come by tonight, after Owen’s asleep.” He let the implications of that hit her.
“Oh.” She bit her lip. “What about the neighbors?”
“I’ll park down the street and walk.” He would scale a mountain if it meant having uninterrupted time with her. “So what do you say, can I come over?”
She grinned. “You’d better. How about nine?”
“Sounds good.”
She started to leave then turned back, one hand on the doorknob. “Oh...and, Luke?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t be late.”
Megan practically sauntered back to her spot in the conference room. Not only was Luke not avoiding her, he was coming over. They were finally going to get some time together away from prying eyes. Anything could happen.
And just like that, the confidence she’d felt a moment ago congealed into a thick layer of anxiety. What had she just agreed to? In the heat of the moment, it was easy to forget all the baggage she carried, but now, sitting in a borrowed chair staring at a computer screen, she felt the weight of it. She wasn’t some twenty-year-old, without a care in the world. She was a mom. She liked to think she still looked good, but pregnancy and nursing had changed her body. Motherhood had changed her soul. Dating, and all that went with it, had a whole different feel than before.
If you could even call what they were doing dating. A few stolen kisses and casual conversation wasn’t exactly a relationship. That wasn’t his fault; she was the one that had wanted to keep things secret. She still did, for good reasons. But suddenly it felt weird. Like it wasn’t really happening. Once upon a time, she had shared the ups and downs of her love life with friends. But one by one they’d faded out of her life as her world shrank. At the time, she’d accepted it, maybe even embraced it. More people meant more complications.
But now that she had her head above water, she could grasp all that she’d missed. Agreeing to see where things went with Luke was a huge step, but it was time to make another one.
Picking up her phone, she found the number she wanted and called. Reaching out was scary, but she’d been brave enough to walk into Luke’s office and confront him, and that gave her confidence.
“Paradise Animal Hospital, this is Olivia, how can I help you?”
“Hi, Olivia. This is Megan Palmer. I was hoping I could speak with the doctor? Or leave her a message?”
“Of course. Is everything okay with Lily?”
“She’s fine. I was actually calling about a personal matter.” Feeling foolish, she continued. “It’s not urgent, but I don’t have her cell number, so...”
“No worries. Let me just check if she’s available.” A click and then the sounds of classic rock and roll echoed over the line as she waited. A minute later the music abruptly ended and Cassie came on the line.
“Megan. What’s up? Need me to drop off more dog food?”
She smiled at the woman’s cheerful enthusiasm. “No, thanks. I was actually wondering if you had some time to talk.”
“What kind of talk? I’ve got about ten minutes until my next appointment, or I could stop by on my way home.”
“Well, remember how I said you’d be the first to know if anything changed...regarding a particular someone?”
A pause and then a high-pitched squeal that had Megan holding the phone away from her ear. “Okay,” Cassie proclaimed, “that’s definitely an in-person conversation. I’ll be there as soon as I finish up. And I’m warning you, I’m going to want details.”
True to her word, Cassie arrived on Megan’s doorstep only a few minutes after the clinic closed. Still in her scrubs, she had a bottle of wine in her hand and a smug smile on her face.
“I hope you like merlot. A client gave me this a while back after I helped deliver her dog’s puppies. I kept forgetting to bring it home, which works out, since this kind of news deserves celebrating.”
Megan took the bottle and led Cassie to the kitchen. “It’s not like that, really. I mean, there isn’t anything official to tell you.”
Cassie started opening and closing cabinets, her back to Megan. “So give me the unofficial version. I don’t care.” She reached up to a high shelf and pulled down two stemmed glasses. “But pour first. It’s been a long day.”
Guilt had Megan pausing, corkscrew halfway into the bottle. “Are you sure you can stay? If you’re tired, we could talk another time. You’d probably rather get home.”
Taking the bottle out of her hands, Cassie finished uncorking it and filled both glasses. “I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t want to be.” She took a deep sip of the ruby-colored liquid and sighed. “Besides, Alex is off tonight, and it’s good for him to have some alone time with the kids.” She took another, smaller sip. “And it’s good for me to have some time where I don’t have to be the doctor or the boss or the mom.”
Now that, Megan could identify with, at least in in a theoretical way. She raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
The wine was rich as it flowed over her tongue. But it was Cassie’s friendly smile that warmed her insides. She’d missed this and hadn’t even known it. Gratitude filled her. “Thanks for coming.”
“Are you kidding? I’m dying to hear the latest update.” She set her glass down. “I meant it when I said I want details. Remember, I’m a married lady, I have to live vicariously through you if I want some excitement in my life.”
Megan raised an eyebrow. She’d seen Cassie’s husband, a deputy with the local sheriff’s office. Tall, dark, and handsome, he was the sexy cop fantasy brought to life. “I don’t buy that for a minute. In fact, I would bet money you’ll be creating your own excitement later tonight.”
Cassie blushed. “Maybe. Still, I want to hear everything.”
A glance out the glass door showed her Owen was still happily digging in the sandbox, his toy dinosaurs lined up beside him. Lily, a few feet away, had likely been assigned the role of assistant archaeologist. Confident her son was out of earshot and would stay that way for at least a few minutes, she motioned Cassie to join her at the kitchen table.
“I’m not quite sure where to start.”
“Then skip to the good parts,” Cassie suggested, wiggling her eyebrows.
Megan chuckled. Maybe it was the wine, maybe it was Cassie’s blunt personality, but somehow she wasn’t as nervous talking about this as she’d expected. “All right. So, since Lily started attending school with Owen, I’ve been going by there twice a day to take her out for her potty breaks.”
Cassie made a face. “Please tell me that your dog’s bathroom habits are not the good part.”
Laughing, Megan shook her head. “Be patient.”
“Fine, but if this doesn’t get better, I’m going to need more wine.”
“It does,” she reassured her. “Anyway, like I said, I’m at the school twice a day, plus pickup and drop-off, of course. And, naturally, Luke is there, too.”
“Being as he’s the principal, that makes sense. Get to the part I don’t know.”
“Well, we’ve been talking a lot. He always seemed to show up in the hallway when I was there, or have some reason to be outside at the same time I was walking Lily. At first I thought it was coincidence.”
“Please—” Cassie pointed a finger at Megan “—tell me that man was stalking you in a good way.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Probably. Either way, it was nice. He’s fun to talk to.”
“Nice to look at, too. But you didn’t call me up because he’s a good conversationalist. So, out with it, what happened?”
“Fine.” Talking quickly, Megan outlined the lead-up to her working in the conference room. Then, taking a big gulp of wine for courage, she got to the point. “And then I kissed him.”
“And did he kiss you back?” Cassie smacked herself on the forehead. “What am I saying? Of course he did.”
“He did,” Megan confirmed. “In fact, if the entire staff and student body hadn’t been on the other side of the door, I think he would have done a lot more.” Heat crept up her cheeks. “It got pretty intense.”
Cassie fanned her face with her hand. “Hot and heavy in the conference room. Please tell me you didn’t kick him out this time.”
She shook her head. “No, but I made him agree to keep it a secret.”
“Okay. I can kind of understand that, given how fast gossip flies around here.”
“Exactly.”
“So, now what? Are you two still making out on campus? Seeing each other outside of school hours? What?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know.” She looked down at her almost empty glass and considered a refill. “But he’s coming over tonight, after Owen goes to sleep. It’s the first time we will actually be alone and I’m not sure what he’s expecting to happen.”
Cassie considered that for a moment. “Well, unless you think he’s going to try to force you into anything—”
“Never.”
“Then the real question is what do you want to happen?”
“I don’t know.” And that was the reason she’d called Cassie. “I haven’t dated in years. I don’t know how to do this.”
“If you mean the mechanics, I assure you nothing has changed,” Cassie said with a smirk. “It’s still insert tab A in slot B, if you know what I mean.”
“You’re terrible,” Megan protested, laughing despite herself. “I mean I don’t know if we are moving too fast, or if that’s even a thing these days. We’ve never even gone out on a date and yet...”
“You don’t think you can keep your hands off him.” Cassie smiled. “Been there, done that, have the maternity clothes to prove it.”
“Yikes.”
“Yeah, that was my reaction, too. Alex and I hadn’t been together long, sort of like you and Luke. I didn’t plan for us to sleep together but...well, you’ve seen him.” A dreamy smile briefly softened her expression before she turned serious again. “Obviously you’re smarter than me, since we’re having this conversation now instead of after seeing two pink lines. But I’m going to ask anyway. Have you thought about birth control?”
“Um...” Megan swallowed hard. She hadn’t, not really. “I’m not on the pill or anything, but I assumed we’d use a condom if things got that far.” Was she really having this conversation?
Cassie nodded in approval. “Always a good choice, especially since you don’t know his history. Do you have any?”
She shook her head. She’d had no reason to buy such things until today.
“Well, if he’s a typical guy, he’ll come prepared. But make sure he does, before things get to the point of no return, if you know what I mean.”
“Got it.” Practical stuff covered, she drained the last droplet of wine. “But it probably won’t come to that. I mean, I don’t even know if he wants to sleep with me. Maybe he’s expecting to come over and just watch a movie or something.”
“Maybe, but I doubt it. If you’re at this point, I can only assume he is, too. But if it doesn’t feel right, put on that movie and wait until it does.”
“How will I know if it’s right?” She knew how to work with data and numbers, but this was unfamiliar territory. How was she supposed to make such a big decision without any kind of objective information to base it on?
Cassie laughed and stood, gathering up her purse and keys. “Oh, you’ll know. And when it is, it’ll be amazing.”
Megan walked Cassie to the door and said goodbye, grateful for her new friend’s advice even if she wasn’t sure how helpful it was. Apparently, there was no metric to rely on, no set timetable or clear signal to say when it was right to move to the next phase. Instead, she’d have to rely on her instincts, which, when it came to matters of romance, were rusty from years of neglect.
Still, despite her confusion, Megan had little butterflies of anticipation swirling in her stomach. Maybe Cassie was right, and she needed to just go with what felt right. Wasn’t Luke always telling her she was overthinking things? What worked for her on a coding project or when creating a grocery list might not be the best approach for a romance. She just didn’t know if she could turn off that analytical side long enough to try to find out.
Over the next few hours, she somehow managed to get Owen fed and bathed and ready for bed, even with her brain in overdrive. It got even worse after she tucked him in. Standing in front of her closet, she realized she had no idea of what to wear. Was a dress too formal for what wasn’t even really a date? Jeans and a T-shirt didn’t seem right, either. Exasperated, she considered calling and telling Luke not to come.
Except then she’d have to give a reason. He wasn’t likely to accept her inability to choose an outfit as a valid excuse. Mostly because it wasn’t.
She could text Cassie. But that was ridiculous. She was a grown woman and fully capable of dressing herself.
Marching back to the closet, she grabbed her favorite skinny jeans and a coral scoop-necked blouse. Turning back to the dresser, she dug through her top drawer until she found a matching bra and panty set. Maybe nothing would happen tonight, but a girl couldn’t be too prepared.
She hurried through a shower and was almost finished with her makeup when her phone buzzed, signaling an incoming text message.
I’m here.
Her hands shook as she typed out a response.
I’ll be right there.
Quickly she brushed on light coat of mascara, and then tiptoed down the hall. She found Luke standing on the front step with a bottle of wine, and couldn’t help but laugh.
“What’s so funny?” He glanced around. “Do I have shaving cream on my face or something?”
She motioned him inside and shut the door as quietly as she could. “No. I’m sorry, it’s just that I’m going to start to get a complex if people keep bringing me booze.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Who else is bringing you wine?”
“Why, are you jealous?” She took the bottle and carried into the kitchen, just as she had earlier that afternoon.
“No.”
Considering his scowl said otherwise, her confidence shot up a notch. “I think you are. But,” she added, taking pity on him, “you have no reason to be. Cassie Santiago had some a client had given her and shared it with me.”
“I see,” he said, the muscle along his jaw visibly relaxing. “That was nice of her.”
“It was,” she agreed. “And, for the record, you’re the only man making late-night deliveries.” Might as well get that out in the open. They’d never actually said they were exclusive, and she wasn’t going to take things any further without knowing.
“Good. I didn’t really think otherwise. But I’m afraid I don’t share well.” He took her hand and pulled her to him. His embrace was possessive—she could practically smell the testosterone—and despite her independence, she’d always been a sucker for an alpha male. Looking up, she sought his eyes. “Me, either. And I know we said we would just see what happens, and we aren’t officially dating, but if there is anyone else—”
He shushed her with a press of his lips to hers. “There isn’t. And there won’t be, as long as we’re still...involved. Promise. I’m old fashioned that way.”
“Not too old fashioned, I hope.” She licked her lips where the taste of him lingered, just enough to whet her appetite. She wanted to feast on this man. All of him. Her earlier worries were burning away from the heat he ignited in her. One small kiss and she felt the fire building inside, demanding she feed it. And just as Cassie predicted, she knew exactly what she wanted, and she wanted it now. “Because we don’t have a chaperone.”
“Thank goodness for that,” he muttered, leaning down to kiss her again, slowly, thoroughly, exploring and teasing until her knees weakened.
She gripped his shoulders, letting his strength support them both, and gave in to the sensations washing over her. Time and space collapsed to this moment in this man’s arms.
“Hold tight.” His breathless command had barely penetrated when she felt her feet leave the ground. Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist for balance, keeping them in place when he set her gently on the kitchen table.
“That’s better.” His breath tickled her ear when he spoke, her perch bringing her up to his level.
“Mmm-hmm,” she agreed, using her legs to tug him closer, creating a delightful friction between her legs where their bodies met.
He kissed his way from her ear to her neck, pushing her blouse aside as he worked his way down. “I told you I wanted to get you on this table.”
She arched her back, giving him better access. “Is reality living up to your fantasy?”
His hand dipped beneath the low neckline, cupping her breast. “Oh yeah. But if this is going where I hope it is, we may need a bedroom.”
His thumb rasped across her nipple and she bit her lip to keep from moaning. “You think so?” she teased once she could speak.
He nodded, his mouth busy doing something amazing to her earlobe.
“Well then, what are you waiting for?”
Luke didn’t need to be told twice. Releasing her breast, he gripped Megan’s hips and lifted her easily, loving how well she wrapped around him. Quick steps took him down the hall to her bedroom, the only room of the house he’d hadn’t been in. The furnishings were simple: a dresser missing a knob, an overstuffed chair with an assortment of clothes draped across the back and, most important, a queen-size bed centered under a low window.
Goal in sight, he was across the room in three strides. The caveman in him wanted to throw her down and strip her as quickly as possible. Instead, he stopped just short of the bedside and released his grip, letting her slide slowly down his body until her feet hit the floor. “Are you sure?” He needed to know this was fully her choice before they were in the bed, neither of them thinking straight. “We don’t have to do this.”
She stared at him, lips swollen from his kisses, hair mussed. “What? Don’t you want to?”
“More than my next breath. But if you need more time—”
“Then all I need is to know if you brought protection.”
Relief surged through him. “Yes, ma’am.” He reached into his back pocket, withdrew his wallet and one of the condoms he’d stored there earlier. “Scout motto—Be Prepared.”
She took the packet from him and tossed it on the bed. He reached for her, but she moved back, bumping into the mattress. Before he could protest, she grabbed the hem of her blouse and pulled it over her head, revealing a blue lace bra that barely covered her full breasts. He swallowed hard, temporarily frozen. When she reached behind to undo the clasp, he stopped her. “Let me.”
She hesitated, and then dropped her arms to her sides. Stepping to her, he traced the strap over her right shoulder, gently sliding it down before dipping a finger under the sheer fabric covering her nipple. She whimpered as he teased her, and then moaned when he ducked down to suck her through the lace. Her responsiveness stirred his blood, sending it south to where he strained against his pants. But this wasn’t about his pleasure—not yet. She was trusting him with her body and he would make darned sure she didn’t regret it.
Releasing her now rock-hard nipple, he moved to the other side, using his left hand to pull the thin fabric down and give his mouth direct access. He licked and sucked, the fingers of his right hand working the other breast. Her breathing grew ragged, and he felt her thrust against him. Even fully clothed, he could feel her heat.
He felt her fingers at his belt, clumsily working the buckle. “You’re killing me.” Her frustrated whisper only encouraged him. Moving her hands aside, he reached for the button of her pants, kissing his way down her belly as he undid them. She shuddered as he eased the denim down her thighs.
“Up,” he directed, lifting her until she was sitting on the edge of the bed. Kneeling in front of her, he freed one foot and then the other from her jeans. His hands massaged her feet then her calves, kneading gentle circles as he felt her muscles relax. Only then did he move between her thighs, pressing a kiss to the scrap of fabric covering her before moving it aside.
He teased her, using his tongue and fingers, slowing whenever she approached climax, driving her higher but not letting her go over the edge. Not yet. He needed to be inside her when she let go.
Megan’s hands fisted in his hair as she writhed beneath his mouth. Sensing she was nearly there, he explored her with his fingers and found her more than ready. Still, he teased a bit longer, waiting until she bucked beneath him before rising to his feet.
Her eyes fluttered open, confusion on her face, and he smiled. “I’m not done, don’t worry.” Quickly, he shucked his clothes, the sight of her driving him to hurry. She was the sexiest thing he’d ever seen, her flushed skin exposed by the lingerie he’d pushed aside somehow even hotter than if she’d been completely nude. He found the condom where she’d thrown it and quickly rolled it on. He thought about moving her to the center of the bed, but he didn’t want to wait another second. Instead, he positioned himself back between her legs and pressed against her, letting her feel him at her entrance.
Her legs wrapped around him, pulling him closer, but he resisted. “Look at me.” It took her a few seconds, but when her gaze met his, he thrust into her waiting body. He kept eye contact as he slowly withdrew, noted the desperation in her face, heard her whimpered frustration as he left her empty.
“Please...” she begged.
“Please what?” He shifted ever so slightly, stimulating her without moving any deeper.
“Please...don’t stop.” Her body arched up to him, and he couldn’t hold out any longer even if he’d wanted to. Grabbing her thighs, he lifted her, adjusting his angle and then pushing forward, filling her over and over, watching her head roll side to side as she rode the waves of pleasure with him. When he felt her closing in, he increased his rhythm, and when she finally climaxed, the squeeze of her muscles pushed him over, too.
Stunned by the intensity of his release, he settled there, body shaking, as air heaved in and out of his lungs. Beneath him, Megan lay nearly motionless, eyes closed, even as he felt her spasm around him as she rode the aftershocks. When he thought he could move without falling over, he pulled out and used a tissue from the box on the nightstand to dispose of the condom before climbing up beside her on the mattress.
“Are you okay?” He ran a hand gently over her body and felt her shiver. “Cold?”
“Mmm...maybe a little.” She snuggled against him. “But I feel too good to care.”
He kept one arm around her and pulled back a corner of the bedspread with the other. Holding her tight, he rolled them both onto the exposed sheets before covering her up.
“Nice move.” She giggled and pressed closer. “Actually, all of your moves are pretty good.”
He pretended to frown. “Just good? Not amazing, or excellent, or the best you’ve ever seen?”
Her eyes twinkled. “You know, it’s hard to really judge based on a single example. I might need a repeat performance to form a truly accurate opinion.”
His body stir and he grinned. “I think we can make that happen.”