“Am I blushing too?”

“Maybe.” She bites her lip to suppress a smile.

I dip down a little more. “Lainey?”

“Yes, RJ?”

“Can I kiss you?”

“I was hoping you would, so please, yes.” She tips her chin up, and her eyes fall closed.

I curl my fingers around the delicate curve of her neck, feeling the heavy rush of blood pumping against my palm. I bend to touch my lips to hers. Her grip on my shoulders tightens, nails biting through my shirt as she makes the sweetest, softest sound. So of course I do it again—and again.

Lainey’s hand slides higher, fingertips dancing along my collar until they slip into the hair at the nape of my neck and tug. She parts her lips and flicks her tongue out. It’s all the confirmation I need that we’re on the same page. I wrap my arm around her waist and pull her against me.

I suck her pouty bottom lip like I’ve wanted to since I met her and follow with a nibble. She gasps and pulls away, gaze darting from my mouth to my eyes and back. “I feel that through my whole body.”

“Should I do it again?”

She nods once and whispers, “Please, yes, and thank you.”

So I do it again, and I’m rewarded by yet another sweet gasp, followed by a low moan.

The kiss goes from tentative exploration to frantic in seconds. Dishes forgotten, we stand in front of the sink and make out. It feels a lot like it did when I was back in high school with my first-ever girlfriend, when everything was new. God, I’ve missed this: being with someone who’s genuinely into me. Not because I’m an NHL player—not because I have money, or a sweet ride, or any of the other reasons that typically draw women to me—but because we’re acting on a mutual attraction.

One of her hands roams over my chest and down my abs. I will it to go lower, but as soon as she reaches my belt she heads back up. I shift her a little so she’s pressed up against the counter. If there weren’t a pile of dirty dishes strewn all over it, I’d lift her up so I don’t have to bend down quite as far.

I want to run my hands all over her body, but I take into consideration all the things I’ve learned about her tonight. It sounds like she’s been pretty sheltered, so I let her take the lead and wait for her to make the next move.

She feels behind her, elbow bumping a pot on the counter and almost knocking over an empty glass. She makes a muffled sound of annoyance as she presses her hips into mine.

Lainey breaks the kiss long enough to suck in a deep breath and peek around me. I’m about to suggest we take it to the living room and that I’m more than happy to carry her there. Before I can say a word, she pulls my mouth back down to hers and sidesteps over to the table. The kiss grows sloppy and wet as she reaches around me. I try to figure out what she’s up to, but I can’t without separating our mouths again, which I’m really not inclined to do.

“Here, sit,” she mumbles into my mouth as the chair scrapes across the floor. She pushes on my shoulders, and I drop into the chair. Lainey follows, her ass resting on my thighs. Maybe I’m a little off base about how sheltered she is. I definitely should’ve moved this to the living room when I had the chance. The couch is way more comfortable. Lots of room for stretching out and lying down.

We kiss like we’ve been starving for each other, hands roaming but staying in mostly safe zones.

She rolls her hips, and I groan at the friction. Lainey goes stiff and still, gasping when she feels me. Her hands rest on my shoulders, and she pushes away, eyes wide.

“Oh my God.” She clambers out of my lap and backs up into the counter. “I am so sorry.”

Me too. Because I’m missing all of that soft and hot rubbing up on my aching, disappointed hard-on. “For what?” It’s mostly a croak.

“For throwing myself at you. I’m not usually so forward. I really don’t know what got into me.” The color rises in her cheeks. “I should probably head back to my cabin.” She smooths out her shirt and adjusts her jeans.

“Whoa, wait.” I stand and snag her wrist before she can make a move to actually leave. “I need to sober up a little before I can drive you back.” I don’t want to take her back to that shitty cabin at all, but I also don’t want to make her more uncomfortable than she already is.

Her eyes are fixed on my chin, cheeks flaming. “It’s okay—you don’t need to do that. I can just walk.”

“It’s midnight, Lainey—there’s no way you’re walking anywhere.”

Her eyes flip up to mine, and her lips flatten into a line. She looks like she’s about to fight me on that, so I release her wrist and barrel on.

“It’s dangerous this time of night. I know it’s not dark, but bears will be out, and you’ve had a few drinks.”

“I’m not—”

“Sober or not, the walk down the beach is rocky, plus the temperature drops and it’s cold out. Just stay the night.”

“Stay here? With you?” She twists her hands together.

“There are four bedrooms—you can pick whichever one you want.” But you’re more than welcome to sleep in my bed—with me. “Oh, and for the record, you can totally throw yourself at me whenever you want. I won’t mind in the least.”

She ducks her head and huffs a laugh.

“If you really want to go back to your place, I can call you a cab, but I’d like you to stay.”

She tips her chin up, wide eyes meeting mine. “You would?”

“Yeah, Lainey—in case you couldn’t tell, I’m way into you. I don’t want you to be uncomfortable, though, so it’s totally up to you, but there’s plenty of space here.”

Her cheeks flush yet again. “You really won’t mind if I spend the night?”

“I’d love more time with you, talking or kissing. I’m good with either—or both.”

She looks away, a shy smile flirting on her lips. “Okay. I’ll stay.”

I try not to get too excited as I lead her upstairs to the second floor where all the bedrooms are. I’m pretty positive I’m not getting laid tonight. And I’m okay with that, but my dick seems to have missed the memo, considering how hard I still am.

I pause at the first door. “This is my room.”

Lainey peeks inside. “It’s so big.”

I bite back a dirty reply. “Yeah, lots of space, which is nice. Come on, I’ll show you the other rooms.” She follows me down the hall to the next bedroom. I push the door open and flick on the light. “It has a private bath and everything.”

“Oh wow!” She slips past me and beelines it to the bed. Throwing herself on the plaid comforter, she rolls onto her back and spreads her arms out, making her shirt pull up, exposing an inch of smooth skin. “This is amazing.”

I lean against the jamb and cross my arms over my chest, smiling, and bite the inside of my cheek to keep from saying things that will embarrass her or me. Such as, Imagine how amazing it would be if you were naked under me. “You want to see the other rooms before you make a decision?”

“I don’t think I need to. This is perfect.” She props herself up on her elbows, stifling a yawn.