Her fingers tightened in his shirt. “You’re not focusing.”
“I’m not?” He chuckled. “Where were we?”
“Bring back the caveman.”
He shook his head. “Too soon.”
Her frown deepened. “What if we get to know each other and we’re back in the friend zone? We will have missed out on that wild, passionate ride with lust. Life is short. You could be hit by a bus tomorrow, and you will have missed out on what could be the best sex of your life.”
“Is that so?” He kissed the tip of her nose and her right eyelid. “I like your confidence.”
She growled. “You’re not listening.”
“I’m listening. I’m just not going to make love with you our first night under the stars.”
Cassie flopped back against the sleeping bag. “You’re not going to change your mind?”
He shook his head. “No. You deserve better.”
“I deserve what I want,” she muttered. “And up until now, I wanted you.” She sat up. “If we’re not going to take advantage of a sky full of stars and make mad, passionate love, you might as well take me back to my car. I need a cold shower and a good night’s sleep to get over this blatant rejection.”
He sat up beside her and turned her face toward him. “Can I take you out for dinner tomorrow night?”
She stared at him through slitted eyes. “Will there be stargazing afterward?”
He nodded. “If you’d like.”
“Will we only be kissing?” She lifted her chin as if in challenge.
His lips curled into a bone-melting smile. “If you’d like,” he said.
“What if I want more?” she demanded.
“Then I’ll come prepared, unlike tonight.”
Her eyes opened wide. “Is that it? You’re not prepared?” She threw back her head. “Thank the Lord. I thought there was something wrong with me.”
All humor left his face, and only the serious SEAL looked at her now. “Sweetheart, there is nothing wrong with you. In fact, there’s everything so right with you, I can’t fuck it up.” He slipped out of the truck bed and stood, holding out both hands.
She eased to the end of the tailgate and let him lift her, holding her body against his as she slid slowly to the ground.
When her pelvis rubbed over his engorged staff, her eyes widened. “Are you going to be all right waiting until tomorrow?”
He nodded. “Nothing a cold shower won’t cure.”
“I could do something to relieve the…pressure.” She cupped the front of his jeans and squeezed gently.
Drake groaned and almost lost it then. He captured her wrist in his hand and pulled her away. “Tomorrow.”
She stared up into his eyes. “Promise me something.”
“Anything,” he said, brushing his lips across her forehead.
She leaned into him. “Don’t get hit by a bus.”