This. Right here. This was what she’d always dreamed of. What she’d imagined for herself, when she thought of a loving boyfriend, a healthy relationship, the man of her dreams.

  It was Blake. Simple as that.

  “You’re such a good man,” she whispered, the smile falling from her face. “Do you know that?”

  He shrugged, squinting out into the distance. “I feel pretty regular.”

  “But you’re good. You’re one of the good ones.” She patted his chest. “I’ve had enough experience with the bad ones to know.”

  He stiffened beneath her, his grip around her waist tightening. “Who do I need to beat up?”

  She paused, weighing whether or not she should go there quite yet. Maybe it was too soon. Maybe the heaviness of her story would scare him away. But it was inevitable that the truth come out eventually, at any rate. Anyone getting to know her would know her past, as well. “Mollie’s father.”

  His mouth went thin, his brown eyes darting back and forth across her face. “Was he one of the jerks?”

  “The worst. She doesn’t see him anymore, hasn’t since she turned one. But he kept finding ways to nose back into my life and make trouble for me any way he could, even after the divorce was finalized and I was trying to move on. He’s the reason we left Florida and came here. He left his mark on us, that’s for sure. More on me than on her, thank god.”

  His brows knit together, concern written across his features. “What did he do?”

  “Just your run-of-the-mill emotional and verbal abuser,” Michelle said, trying to make light of memories and a situation that was anything but. It was the easiest way to move forward. In some ways, the past felt like a distant nightmare. One that she still couldn’t believe she’d managed to leave behind. She’d been so in love with her ex. She’d been so ready and willing for him to change. But it turned out her ex had to want the change for himself for anything to happen. She couldn’t will it into existence.

  Blake pressed his forehead to her shoulder. “Fuck, Michelle. Don’t tell me this. I want to hunt this man down now and beat some sense into him.”

  “I won’t say anything else,” she started.

  “No. That’s not what I meant.” Blake shook his head. “Tell me everything. As much as you want, at least. But if I feel tense, you know why.”

  It was hard not to let his words warm her, all the way down to her bones. She hadn’t dared get serious or try anything with a man since her ex. Partly for logistical reasons—dating with a toddler was not the easiest—and partly out of fear. What if she chose wrong all over again? What if she found just a newer version of her ex?

  What if she’d never find a good, trustworthy man?

  The answer to that last question was easy enough. Oh well if she never found a trustworthy man. She’d cultivated a life that she was proud of. She had a beautiful, brilliant daughter, a cozy home, a great job, and she was happier than she’d ever dreamed possible. Sure, a good boyfriend would only make things better. But if she didn’t find him? So be it.

  Except Blake was proving to be this man she didn’t need but still desperately wanted.

  Michelle tentatively began the executive summary of her last relationship. The dreamy, exciting start at the end of college, to the long period of dating, all the way to the surprise pregnancy and quick courthouse marriage. But even when she’d been caught up in love and romance, the signs had been there from the start. Subtle at first, and becoming more apparent the longer they stayed together. The flashes of temper. The sullen, grating jealousy. The way he’d pick a fight and then frame it to be her fault, leaving her always feeling like she needed to earn his forgiveness. The few times he crossed a line, never actually harming her but still breaking things or yelling threats. The way he’d try to buy forgiveness with expensive presents and then act as if that meant the issue was fully resolved. She’d made excuses for him, attributing it all to a million different things—family stress, school stress, job stress. Eventually, she’d been forced to realize that it was just him. That it wasn’t going to change—and that she needed to get out of there before she tried to raise a baby in that toxic environment.

  Blake kissed the knuckles on her hand as she spoke, like little reminders that he was listening and he supported her. When she was done, Blake wrapped her in a tight hug.

  “You’re a badass, Michelle. Don’t you forget that.”

  “Thanks. I might be a badass, but I’m not a smart one,” she teased.

  “Why not?”

  “Because apparently, somewhere along the way, I started dating my boss.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she regretted saying them. His face became unreadable, and for a moment she wondered if she’d overstepped some invisible boundary, or broken an unstated law. Was she allowed to mention this thing between them? Could it be called dating, or were they still in some in-between stage? She’d been out of the dating scene for so long that she didn’t know what the rules were anymore.

  “But I’m not like, your boss,” he said.

  Relief started a hesitant trickle through her. If that was his main objection to what she had said, then possibly the dating term was okay. “Sure, I don’t report to you, but you’re still my superior. You could call my direct report boss and have him fire me!”

  “Right, but you could convince the baseball players to stage a coup and throw me under the bus,” he countered.

  She laughed. “True. I do have some ins.”

  “See? We’re fine.”

  She wasn’t entirely sure that it was simple as all that, but that wasn’t the big question she had. “But are we dating?”

  Blake didn’t hesitate. “Yeah. What else would you call it?”

  “So is it a good idea for me to date the guy who basically signs my paychecks? Even if I don’t report to you, it still feels a little questionable. I just don’t want there to be any issues down the road.”

  “As long as things stay professional at work, I think we’ll be fine,” Blake said. “We can be discreet.”

  She wasn’t sure what to be more excited about first—the fact that they were officially dating, or the fact that he talked about it like it would continue for a while.

  “Sounds good to me,” she said, and then pushed up onto her toes to give him a peck on the cheek.

  I’m officially dating Blake Harrison.

  As they continued their walk through the park, she couldn’t keep the smile off her face.

  10

  “Let’s go back to my place.”

  As soon as the words left her mouth, she felt like Blake could see right through to her real intent. The fire that had been burning inside her was finally escaping and the energy only had one place to go: Blake.

  He didn’t argue, because why would he? She could see instantaneous understanding in his features as soon as the words had come out of her mouth. He let her lead him through the parking lot, the two of them on their own unified—though unspoken—mission.

  Because it didn’t need to be said. Now that the truth was out in the open between them—we’re dating—it opened the door for everything else. But most importantly, that big, throbbing question mark they’d been glancing at for the past few weeks was about to be addressed. Laid to rest, even.

  Blake drove with his left hand, using the other to keep her hand clasped in his. She could barely contain her excitement. This felt like her first time all over again, for some reason. She’d been intentionally cautious with her heart ever since her ex, and that, of course, had the unintentional side effect of being cautious with her body, as well.

  She hadn’t been with a man since her ex, so letting Blake in—even letting him get this far—was a big deal.

  Once he pulled into her driveway, she could practically hear the gunshot signaling the start of the race. Her legs were jelly as she slid out the passenger side. Blake was there suddenly, squeezing his arm around her waist like he knew how she was feeling and understood that she needed his support. He guided her toward the front door, and once they were safely inside, he pushed the door shut, pinning her between his arms.

  They locked eyes, something heavy and meaningful shuddering between them. She was bursting on the inside, her heart straining with emotion and meaning she couldn’t find the words to express.

  But she didn’t need them. She just needed Blake.

  She surged forward, capturing his lips in a deep, passionate kiss. His warm hands cupped her face and she melted into him, one kiss bleeding into countless more. His tongue surged past her lips, tangling with hers. There was so much circulating inside her, so much need and desire, she felt like she might explode.

  But Blake could handle it—seemed eager to, based on how his hands had started a slow, tempting pattern over her hips. The way he pinned her body to the door with his hips, allowing the hard length of him to make itself known against her track pants.

  She fisted the front of his shirt, catching a whiff of his scent, which was even more powerful than usual today, tinged with sweat and the outdoors. She moaned through a kiss and suddenly Blake hoisted her into his arms.

  He pressed his forehead to hers, breathing heavily.

  “Michelle.” The way he said her name sounded like a warning.

  “What?”

  “I’m going to be honest.” He ran his tongue over his bottom lip, his eyes dancing back and forth over her face. “I’m real close to turning into a caveman with you. I don’t know how much longer I can behave myself.”

  His chest heaved, something raw and real slashed across his face. Her entire body went warm at the confession. It was sexy and somehow illicit.

  “Who asked you to behave?”

  “I thought you did.”

  “Caveman,” she said, “is exactly what I’m looking for.”

  Blake grinned, pure mischief and understanding, and then he dove in for more kisses. Fervent this time, more urgent, like he’d finally given himself permission to unleash whatever side he’d been hiding from her.

  And really, she loved his gentlemanly side. The way he’d taken it slow with her. Given her time to open up and think about things.

  But now? She wanted all of him. Hard. Fast. And immediately.

  Blake palmed her ass cheeks, his fingertips digging into the fleshiest part. He moaned through a kiss then, breaking apart long enough to whisper, “God, I’ve wanted to do that for so long.”

  And then he was kissing her again, his pelvis rocking against her. The steel length of his erection glided between her legs, pushing against her aching core. A shiver wracked her body.

  “Oh, Blake,” she whispered, clinging to him. He had no idea how badly she wanted it. How badly she needed it. Not only had it been too long since she’d had sex, she’d been wanting Blake for too long.

  “Where do you want it, babe?” His voice came out gravelly. Edged with raw passion. “I want you right here, but I’ll take you to the nearest couch. Or your bed, if you must.”

  She giggled as his kisses trailed along her jawline. “Couch.”

  He grunted, firming his hands beneath her ass before he carried her off down the hallway and into the living room. She wrapped her arms around his neck, relishing his strength beneath her, the way his biceps bulged as he carried her off. In the living room, he tossed her onto the couch, a little roughly but still not quite caveman level.

  “You’re a sweet caveman, if anything,” she teased.

  Blake smirked at her before he tore off his black running shirt, revealing washboard abs and all. Her mouth parted as she beheld him. Oh, lord. Maybe she’d be the one turning into a caveman here. Pure primal takeover and all.

  “You haven’t seen anything yet,” Blake promised her, just before he knelt down in front of the couch. He made quick work of tugging her running pants off, popping her sneakers off in the process. She giggled once he tore the leggings off, leaving her in simple black panties. And truly, if she’d expected to arrive here—half naked on her own couch with Blake between her legs—she might have worn something fancier. But it was too late now.

  Blake guided her to sit up, and then pushed her shirt up until he pulled it over her head. That left her in her panties and sports bra, which he seemed to gobble up.

  “Damn, Michelle.” He traced his fingertips up along her thigh, toying with her panty line. “You know, there’s something about you that makes me want to be a gentleman.” He hooked his fingers under the fabric of her panties, his gaze searing through her. “But then I see you laid out like this and there’s no hope for that.”

  Blake crushed his lips against hers, inviting a desperate, hungry kiss. He tugged her panties off while their tongues played, and then his thumb found the stiff peak of her clit. She gasped through the kiss, pleasure jolting through her, but his slow, lazy circles over her folds caused her to collapse back onto the couch. He grinned at her before pinching her clit.

  “I just need this off,” he said, running a finger beneath the strap of her sports bra. “Like right now.”

  Michelle drew a shaky breath, unsure if she was ready to fully bare herself to Blake. Sure, she was panties-less in front of him, legs spread and all, but there was something so intimate about being totally naked. He must have sensed her hesitation because he said, “I’d undress you myself but this sports bra looks like a challenge.”

  “Trust me.” She sat up, grunting as she hoisted the thick material over her head until her breasts popped free. “It is.”

  When she finally freed herself, she looked over to see Blake running his tongue over his bottom lip, looking at her like he planned to eat her alive.

  “Okay,” he said. “You’re mine now.”

  He yanked her by the hips, bringing her closer to the edge of the couch. And then he dipped his head between her legs, his lips skimming a damp trail over her lower belly. His heated gaze found hers before he dipped his head lower, finding the expectant nub of her clit.

  She cried out, tossing an arm over her mouth out of habit. She didn’t like to make noise, and usually she was able to hold back. But with Blake? He’d gone straight for the gold, and it was hard not to appreciate that. She could count on one hand how many times her ex had gone down on her, and each time had been because she requested it.

  “Oh, my God,” Blake murmured from between her legs, brushing his lips back and forth over her swollen folds. “You are so fucking wet.”

  She was almost tempted to be embarrassed until she saw the fire of pure appreciation in his eyes. Something primal had slid over his features, like a mask, and it turned her on more than she could understand. She spread her legs wider, welcoming his attention.

  “Do you have any idea how hard this makes me?” He locked eyes with her again before pressing kisses along her inner thigh. He slipped a finger into the dripping core of her, and she arched against him. Needing more of it.

  “Ohhhh, Blake.” Her voice sounded foreign to her own ears. He swirled a finger inside her until her thighs trembled and then he dipped down to capture her clit between his teeth. She cried out again—much louder than before—her thighs turning into a vise around his head.

  “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry,” she said, struggling to control herself through the haze of arousal. “I—I didn’t mean—”

  He pulled back, a smirk on his face. “Sorry for what, babe?” He slipped another finger inside of her and started pumping them in and out, so slowly. “You can’t help how good it feels.”

  She melted back onto the couch, his words somehow as sexy as what he was doing to her. God, he was right. And maybe it was time for her to finally let loose with a man. To just melt into the pleasure and see what happened.

  Blake resumed his slow, measured strokes, his tongue flicking back and forth across the stiff peak of her clit. Her core tightened, the pleasure mounting at a frightening pace. Somehow her hand found the thick mess of hair on his head and she fisted it, rocking against his face.

  “Yeah, babe,” he growled from between her legs. “Give it to me.”

  This wasn’t like her, but damn, she was ready to try this new Michelle on for size. She rocked against him again as his tongue flattened against her. She moaned, bucking against his face. Blake grunted, burying his fingers inside her once more.

  Another moan shuddered out of her as his hot tongue swiped against her swollen clit. Combined with his thick fingers pumping into her, her thighs went tense as heat and pleasure blasted through her. She tossed her head back as the orgasm assaulted her, quick and surprising. Her legs jerked once, and then again, as she came, Blake’s lips never leaving her pussy for a second.

  Once the waves of pleasure subsided, he pressed a soft kiss at the top of her mons, and then another further up on her belly. When his desirous gaze found hers, while his lips skipped up to the middle of her chest, she got the sense that he was worshipping her somehow. Or maybe this was just what being with a great lover felt like? She couldn’t know. This was all new to her.

  “Fun isn’t over,” he whispered before pushing up onto his palms to give her a kiss. She could taste the sweet tang of herself on his lips. It was bizarre but also sexy.

  “I hope not,” she said. “Even though I’m not sure I can move.”

  “No moving required.” A sexy grin crossed his face as he stood. The sight of the tenting in his briefs stole her breath, and she couldn’t look away as he pushed his underwear down over the delectable ridge. His cock popped out a moment later, bobbing heavily in front of her, thicker than she’d imagined, framed by tightly trimmed dark hair. She bit at her bottom lip, reaching for him.

  “Maybe I can move a little,” she whispered, sitting up. She fisted the thick base of his cock, shockingly hungry to taste him. She’d never been huge on oral sex—but maybe that was because she’d been with someone who’d never inspired her to feel so sexy? She looked up at Blake, suddenly unsure.