Chapter Eight

Abel glanced at his watch for the fifth time in the last five minutes. It was almost six and he expected Erin any minute. It was the first time in years that he found himself looking forward to something so much, and although the feeling was strange, he liked it.

Being home, and especially being around Erin, reminded him of the young man he’d once been. The years of investigating and writing about the most gruesome parts of human nature had changed him. He’d lost faith in the goodness in humanity and seen only the pain and the horror. Erin was changing all of that.

She was exactly what she seemed to be— a hardworking, loyal, kind, compassionate, sexy woman. Just being around her was better than any medicine could be for curing the pain in his heart and the sorrow in his soul. In the couple of days he’d been home, he felt better than he had any time in the last year.

It was only when that thought went through his mind that he realized what he’d thought. Home. No matter where else in the country he’d roamed, he always considered the farm to be home. He was already reconsidering his career, so perhaps it was time to think about where he wanted to live. And more especially, who he wanted to be with.

Pacing back and forth on the deck did him no good, so he threw himself onto the oversized deck chair, spread his legs in front of him, and rested his hands on his stomach. There was nothing left to do but wait. The tossed salad was chilling in the fridge and the potatoes were baking in the oven. He had two steaks marinating on the counter just waiting to be thrown onto the barbecue.

Glancing over to the side, he checked the pile of charcoal that he’d piled in the center of the barbecue. He’d light it as soon as Erin arrived and while they were waiting for the coals to turn white, he’d offer her a glass of the nice crisp white wine he’d bought especially for tonight. If he decided to move back home, he’d have to invest in a gas barbecue, but for now the old charcoal one would serve the purpose.

He tapped one of his fingers on his stomach before sighing and closing his eyes. The heat of the summer sun felt good on his skin, and he finally felt some of the tension leach from his body. The longer he sat there, the more the sounds of a late summer afternoon seeped into his consciousness. Birds sang in the distance, a slight breeze rustled the leaves in the trees, and the scent of freshly cut hay wafted on air.

Patience was a virtue he usually had in spades, but tonight, it had all but deserted him. He told himself that it was only because he hadn’t cooked a meal for a woman in over eight months, but deep down he knew it was because he couldn’t wait to see Erin.

Abel patted his jeans pocket to make sure the little present he’d bought for her was still there. He’d driven several hours today to find a store that carried what he’d wanted, but it had been well worth the effort. Especially if she liked what he’d purchased. His cock shifted and began to swell at the mere thought.

The sound of a vehicle approaching had him out of his chair in a moment, striding across the deck, and down over the porch stairs. He shaded his eyes, smiling when he recognized Erin’s truck. By the time she pulled to a complete stop, he was already standing by her door and opening it.

“Hi.” She smiled shyly at him as she slid her long, jeans-clad legs out of her truck.

He didn’t give her a chance to move away from him, but hauled her up against his chest and enfolded her in his arms. She responded immediately by scooting as close to him as she could, twining her strong, supple arms around his neck. He lowered his head slowly until their mouths touched. Her lips were firm and soft against his. He felt her hands wrap around his skull, tugging him closer.

Giving into her unspoken request, he deepened the kiss. His tongue teased the seam of her lips until they parted, and then he slowly forged his way inside. Her mouth was warm and her tongue met his, stroking it sensually. Cupping her chin with his hand, he angled her head as he deepened the kiss. She melted against him, silently offering herself to him. Reluctantly, he dragged himself from her sweet lips.

“I’ve been wanting to do that all day.” His voice was husky with need as he caressed the side of her neck for a moment before allowing his hand to drop back to his side.

A slight tinge of a blush covered her face as he continued to stare at her. “Me too,” she responded almost shyly before reaching behind her and pulling out a battered, canvas knapsack. Abel took it from her and waited while she rummaged under the front seat and pulled out a plastic bag. He started to take that from her too, but she clasped it to her chest.

Wondering what she would be hiding from him, he stared at the outline of the item in the bag. It was about the size of a magazine. That’s when it hit him. Of course, this was the famous magazine that she’d spoke of yesterday morning. He couldn’t stop the wicked grin that spread across his face. “You’re going to have to show it to me at some point if I’m going to know what you want me to do.”

“Later,” she mumbled, not quite meeting his gaze.

Abel stopped teasing her immediately. Cupping her chin with his hand, he tilted her head until her large blue eyes were fixed on him. “Whenever you’re ready, and whatever you want. Those are the only rules.” He kissed her lightly on the lips before moving her away from the truck, and closing the door. “But supper first.”

She nodded and allowed him to tuck her under his shoulder and lead her up onto the back porch. “I’ll put your stuff inside,” he told her. “Do you want a glass of wine while I’m in there?”

“Sure.” She sent him a grateful smile and laid the bag with the magazine on top of the patio table.

Standing in front of him, with her hands clasped in front of her and a wisp of hair in her eyes, she looked so young and innocent. She was wearing faded blue jeans, a soft t-shirt of pale green, and a pair of white sneakers. Ordinary clothing, but somehow on her, they were more seductive than the most skimpy lingerie. The jeans hugged every curve of her ass and her strong thighs, while the soft shirt cupped her breasts and outlined their shape to perfection. Abel felt his mouth begin to water and his cock begin to lengthen and thicken.

“I’ll be right back.” He turned and went into the house before she noticed the large bulge pushing against the zipper of his jeans. The last thing he wanted to do was rush her straight into bed. He’d promised her supper so he’d feed her first. Even if it killed him. And it just might.

Erin gulped in a huge lungful of air the second that Abel was out of sight. Her head was still spinning from his greeting. She fanned her hand in front of her face, hoping to ease the flush she could feel on her cheeks. The man was lethal. His kiss alone was enough to drive all her senses into overdrive. Easing herself down into one of the chairs scattered around the patio table, she tried to calm her racing heart.

She was embarrassed by the fact that her nipples were hard nubs against the cups of her bra and were visible through the fabric of her shirt. Then there was the wetness in her panties. Erin squirmed in her seat trying to get more comfortable, but only succeeded in making it worse. The friction of her clitoris against the crotch of her panties and jeans almost made her moan. She felt like flinging her head back and screaming, she wanted him so badly. It was all she’d thought about since he’d left her kitchen last night.

More than anything, she would have loved it if he’d scooped her up in his arms and carted her straight to bed. She would have been much happier eating later, after they’d satisfied their other appetites. Dropping her forehead to rest on the top of the table, she counted to twenty.

She could hear Abel rummaging around in the kitchen, so she knew she didn’t have much time to get herself under control. He’d gone to the trouble of preparing her supper. No man, other than her brothers, had ever cooked for her, and they had only done it the few times she was too sick to do it herself. This was special and she was determined to enjoy every moment of it and not ruin the evening he had planned.

Raising her head, she sat back in her chair, and crossed her legs. She hoped she appeared cool and relaxed. It was the look she was going for. The screened door opened behind her and Abel placed one glass on the table and handed her the other.

“I didn’t know if you drank, but I figured I couldn’t go wrong with white wine.” He sauntered towards the barbecue on the corner of the back deck.

Erin watched his butt as he walked. The jeans he was wearing fit him like a second skin, leaving little to the imagination. And since she’d already seen all of him, her mind filled in all the details. The black tank top he was wearing stretched tight across his chest, outlining all the muscles in his torso and back. His wide shoulders and thick arms were bare, and the muscles rippled as he started the barbecue.

Catching herself before she sighed out loud, she glanced around the deck to distract herself from Abel’s scrumptious body. The covered back porch actually ran the entire length of the house and Abel’s parents had added a twelve foot square patio area off one end. The patio table, where she was seated, was tucked closer to the house, so that it was partially shaded by the porch roof. The barbecue was located in the far corner of the patio, and a large metal deck chair that was covered with a soft cushion was situated right next to it. Erin picked up her wineglass and moseyed over, leaving the partial shade of the house behind her.