Crushed (Rushed #2) (26 page)

We stared out at the view, cuddled in each other's arms.

The ride ended all too soon. And so did the evening. I would have stayed out all night, but Mom would be worried and furious.

Dakota took me home and walked me to the door. Just as he kissed me goodnight, his phone rang.

I pulled away. "Are you going to get that?"

He shook his head. "No. Nothing's more important at this moment than you."

Chapter Eighteen

Morgan

Thanksgiving vacation went by in a rush. It flew by so quickly, there was no time to see Dak again. Though we talked every day. I was back at school before I knew it. Facing the few weeks before finals and the holiday season without drink didn't seem so bad with Dakota by my side.

I flew back into his arms the minute I got back into town. From that minute forward, we were together every second we could find. We fell into the steady rhythm of a committed relationship. But I steadfastly refused to sleep with him. It was like I was testing him—how badly did he want me? How hard would he try to prove he was serious? That I was no hookup?

If you had told me at the start of the semester that I would fall in love with Dakota Bradley and be his girl, I would have laughed in your face. Now I laughed with joy every time I thought about it.

"When we sleep together again," I told him, "I want it to be special."

"When will that be?" His voice was husky with want.

"When the time's right." I was trying to be enigmatic.

Though the longer it went, the more I wanted him. No sex. No drinking. How long could I hold out?
 

Although I was on social probation, I was allowed to help decorate the house for Christmas. But while the rest of the house was getting ready for the winter semiformal, I tried not to think about it. The dance was being held at a local hotel. So at least it wasn't in my face at the house. Dakota, who could be so totally sweet, told me he was taking me to dinner that night. I should dress up and look hot. I knew what he had on his mind.

On Saturday, as the rest of the girls got ready for their dates to the semiformal a package was delivered for me.
 

Kayla delivered it to my room and handed it to me. "What a gorgeous package! Look at this beautiful blue bow. It's not your birthday yet, right?"

The package was pretty, silver with a blue ribbon. Wintery. Sparkly.

"No. Not until late January."

"Early Christmas, then."
 

"Maybe." I frowned. It looked like a clothing box.

"Open it!" She plunked onto my bed.

I sat beside her, slid off the ribbon, pulled off the lid, and folded back white tissue paper.

I gasped. "The blue dress." I breathed the words.

A card sat in the middle of the dress.

Kayla peered over my shoulder and gently fingered the delicate fabric of the dress. "Wow! Stunning. What's the special occasion? The dance?"

I shook my head. Kayla knew as well as I did that I was on social probation. Everyone either knew or guessed. But she was too polite to come out and say it. Instead she simply sounded politely puzzled.

"I'm not going."
 

My name was written on the card in Dak's handwriting. I didn't even care that Kayla was there. I slit the envelope open and pulled the card out.

Wear this tonight. I love you! Dak

Kayla hugged me. "I'm happy for you, Morgan. I really am. You and Dakota make a cute couple. Keep this up and you'll be lavaliered by the end of the year."

Lavaliered.
Being lavaliered was tantamount to being engaged. It was a big deal. Lately, I'd begun to dream about it.

After Kayla left, I pulled the dress out of the box and held it up. A pair of see-through lace thong panties, silver, rested on the tissue beneath the dress. Yes, Dak was definitely trying to seduce me.

Dakota picked me up at eight. He was wearing a suit and blue tie that matched my dress. The matching tie was the thing that the girl usually picked out. I was happily surprised he'd thought of it. And he was carrying a corsage for me.

I wore the dress, and the panties, and left my hair down so that it flowed over my shoulders in long waves. I'd spritzed on the perfume that turned him on. I wore a pair of silver sandals that were totally impractical in the frigid December night. And not appropriate for walking anywhere on the uneven hills of campus and town.

He pulled me into a passionate kiss and held me possessively around the small of my back with the corsage box still in his hand. "You look good enough to eat."

I wiped my lipstick off his face with my thumb. "My lipstick looks good on you."

He grinned and pulled away, opening the corsage box and helping me slip the corsage over my wrist.

The pink rose looked good against my pale, nearly winter skin. I inhaled deeply. It smelled like a commercial rose, light on scent, but like every dance I'd ever attended. "What's this for?"

He just grinned.

Guys were showing up to pick up their dates. We blended right in.

"You're a man of mystery tonight. Where are we going and how are we getting there?" I smiled up at him. "Do I need my bus pass?"

He took my arm and led me toward the door. "The car and driver awaits."

"Driver? In this small town?"

He wrapped my shawl around me and led me outside. "Pledges have their uses."

He helped me in the car. I recognized our pledge driver and smiled at him. He drove us to a small hotel in town that housed a popular Italian restaurant. Dak had booked us a private table in the corner. We sat next to each other and flirted through dinner.

The restaurant had a small dance floor that was outside the bar.
 

"Want to dance?" Dak asked me after dinner.

The music was old-fashioned and cheesy, but when I was in Dak's arms, it didn't matter. I didn't care. The room melted away and it was just the two of us.

I whispered in his ear, "This is so sweet. Much better than the winter semiformal."

"That's what I was going for." He stroked my hair.

"I wish it didn't have to end."

"It doesn't. Not tonight. Not if you don't want it to."

I looked up into his eyes and raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying?"

"I booked us a room here. If you want it." He looked nervous. "I think it's time."

The low huskiness of his tone sent shivers of anticipation down my spine. "Me too."

He smiled and ran his hand down my arm. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that."

I put my mouth to his ear. I wanted him in the worst way. "Do we need to check in?"
 

"Checked in this afternoon."

I kissed him lightly, wanting so much more. "Confident move."

"No, just damn optimistic." He pulled a room key from his pocket and took my hand. "Whenever you're tired of dancing, say the word."

"I'm tired now." I smiled seductively at him. "Of dancing."

He mumbled something beneath his breath, took my hand, and pulled me back to the table to collect our coats and my purse. The hotel was small, only three floors. Our room was on the third floor. We took the stairs.

He unlocked the door and held it open for me. The room was softly lit with flickering electric candles. A single red rose sat in a vase on the table near the bed. And the bed was turned down, with chocolates on the pillows.

"It's not much." He was grinning. "But it is the best this town has to offer." He swept me off my feet and carried me across the threshold like it was our honeymoon, kicking the door closed with his foot. I wrapped my arms around him as he carried me to the bed. He was breathing hard with anticipation as he set me down.

"Lock the door," I said as I leaned down to unfasten the buckles on my sandals.

He grabbed my hand. "Don't get undressed without me." He locked the door, put the chain on, shrugged out of his jacket, and put it over the back of the chair by the desk.
 

He came to me and kneeled before me.

"What are you doing?" I felt breathless with anticipation.

"Undressing you." He ran his hand up my bare leg, beneath my skirt to the edge of my panties, teasing the pulsing between my legs by stopping just short of touching me.

He unbuckled one shoe and gently pulled it off. Then the next.

"Take off your shirt," I said as he stood.
 

He unbuttoned it like a male stripper, while I went hot all over at the sight of his rippled abs and defined chest. I'd seen him before, but not like this. Not with the light of love shining with the lust in his eyes.

The air crackled with desire. Whoever said you can't feel chemistry pulsing in the air was wrong. I felt it, a tangible thing I wanted to reach out and grab.

He grabbed my hands. "Stand up." He pulled me to my feet and slid the straps of my dress off my shoulders. "Spin around."

I obeyed, feeling my breath catch as he unzipped me, stroking my back with a light touch designed to turn me on. My dress fell off.
 

I turned around to face him, seeing my reflection in the mirrored closet doors opposite the bed. Looking at the fine lines of his sculpted, muscled back. I reached out for him, wanting to lick him and suck his nipples. Wanting to coil around him.

"Patience." He pulled me close and kissed my neck as he unfastened my bra.

I reached for his pants.
 

He grabbed my hands and held me at arm's length. "You are so gorgeous." He sounded almost reverent. The look in his eyes was a mixture of love, adoration, and passion.

I'd never made love to him face to face sober. The last time we'd had sex, it had been just that. This felt like the first time as he pulled my bra off and bent to kiss my breasts.

I gasped with the pleasure of the feel of his hot tongue on my nipples. I longed for him to lick me all over. I wanted him in me. "Take off your pants."

He grinned and stripped off his pants and his underwear in one move. His dick was hard and ready and aiming for me as he laid me gently on my back on the bed.

"You're naked." I kissed him lightly as I stroked his dick. "I'm still wearing my panties."

"As a barrier to entry, those panties are useless." He flashed me a rogue's grin. "Why do you think I gave them to you?" He slid one finger beneath them.

I moaned at his touch, wet and ready for him.
 

He kissed my neck and then my breasts as he made little circles of pleasure with his fingers between my legs.

I clutched his hair and brought his face up so I could look at him. "Dakota Bradley, stop teasing me."

"I'm seducing you slowly."

"I've had enough seduction. Take me. Now." I wrapped my legs around his naked waist and positioned myself beneath.

He moved his mouth to within inches of mine. "Any way you want it."

I was still clutching handfuls of his hair. "I want it now."

He covered my mouth with his and plunged into me with his tongue and his dick at the same time. Dak could kiss. Oh, how he could kiss. His tongue caressed my mouth in the most intimate way.

I arched beneath him, rocking with him. Our rhythm had always been perfect, like we knew instinctively how to move together. Like we belonged together, I realized with a shock.

He broke the kiss and turned. I realized he was looking in the mirror, and followed his gaze.

"Seeing what a stud you are?" I asked him.

He looked down at me. "Watching your beautiful body moving with mine."

I cupped his face. "I like watching, too."

He smiled. "I love you, Morgan. I love you."

My breath caught. I thought my heart would break with joy. No guy had ever said he loved me in the middle of the act. They said it after, like it was a thank-you or something. The way Dak said it, I knew he wanted me to know he did.
He loved me.
The knowledge was both erotic and fulfilling. The pleasure grew between my legs in a way that only Dakota made me feel.