A date. We were going on a real date. It was weird. I had watched Dash on dozens of dates since this whole thing had begun, but this was something different. Even our trip around New York hadn’t really felt like a date—more like a spontaneous adventure. This was something that Dash had planned specifically for us. And I couldn’t wait.

We couldn’t risk anyone seeing us leave together, so I hiked a couple of blocks from the hotel, and then waited for him to come pick me up. I wanted to dress up for him, and the only nice thing I had was a dress that Emmy had made for me. She was an incredibly talented designer, and the benefit of being best friends with a talented designer was that she occasionally made you gorgeous dresses that showed off your back and legs.

I knew I had made the right choice when Dash saw me, and his mouth dropped open.

“Holy shit.” He let out a whistle. “You look incredible.”

I couldn’t help giving a little twirl, looking over my shoulder so he could get a glimpse of the whole look, including the draped back which exposed everything from my hips upward. It was black, like the rest of my clothes, but Emmy had painted these beautiful watercolor-esque patterns all around the hem and neckline.

“Where are we going?” I asked, climbing into the car.

“You’ll see,” he grinned. We drove about twenty minutes, along the shoreline, until we reached a cute beach town.

“A boardwalk?” I exclaimed as we pulled in to park. “Please tell me there’s salt water taffy.”

“And a ferris wheel.” Dash pointed towards the end of the pier.

It was beautiful. The whole thing looked like something out of The Notebook, an old-timey pier with creaky wooden planks and vintage shops with striped awnings. And since it was night, everything was lit up and magical. It almost looked like a fairy tale.

“What should we do first?” I looked around, trying to take it all in.

“Whatever you want.” Dash looked amazing in a pair of well-worn jeans and a tight shirt.

God, I loved his tight shirts. I especially loved what was underneath them, but that would have to wait. For now, I would have to be satisfied with salt water taffy, cotton candy, and candied apples.

We tried everything. We wandered up and down the pier like we had all the time in the world. It was incredible. After all the scrutiny on set, it was amazing to have some privacy again, and I could tell Dash felt the same. He seemed to relax—actually relax—and the whole world just disappeared around us.

“Want me to win you a teddy bear?” he asked as we walked by a shooting booth.

“You seem awfully confident you can,” I teased.

“You think I can’t?” he responded with a smile. “Is that a challenge?”

“You’re damn right it is.” I pulled out a five-dollar bill and slapped it on the counter.

He raised an eyebrow at me and, ignoring the five-dollar bill, handed some of his own bills over to the guy behind the counter, who handed him the plastic gun. It was some sort of duck-hunting game, where the ducks were metal cutouts moving along the wall at a fairly quick pace.

“How many to win a teddy bear?” Dash asked.

“Five in a row,” the guy told him, looking totally bored, chewing gum with his arms crossed. “Good luck.”

“I appreciate the confidence from both of you,” Dash said dryly, and lifted the gun. Tucking it against his shoulder, he closed one eye and aimed.

Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop. Pop.

Five ducks in a row. My mouth dropped open.

“Car-racing isn’t the only thing I’m good at.” Dash pointed to a large purple teddy bear.

“Dude!” The guy behind the counter handed it over. “That’s why you look so familiar. Can I have your autograph?”

“I think you made his night,” I told Dash as we walked away, me carrying my giant prize.

“What about you?” Dash asked, turning to me, the teddy bear between us. “Have I made your night?”

I let go of the teddy bear, it falling onto our feet as I pressed my body against his.

“The night’s still young,” I told him, and, grabbing his shirt in my hands, pulled his mouth down to meet mine.

* * *

I wasn’t sure how we got back to the hotel. I had done my best at keeping my hands to myself on the drive back, but I couldn’t help my fingers from wandering over his strong thighs and across his tight, six-pack abs, wishing that we were already in bed.

Holding the bear in front of me to obscure my face, we hurried across the lobby towards Dash’s suite. I couldn’t get there fast enough, and the moment the door closed behind us, I was on him, pulling his shirt free and unbuckling his belt. He didn’t hesitate to help, kicking his shoes and socks off before discarding his jeans and briefs.

“Holy shit,” I murmured when he was naked, echoing what he had said to me when he saw me at the pier.

“Come here.” He hooked a finger in the neckline of my dress and pulled me to him, his mouth coming down hot and hard against mine.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling my body to his. I could feel his hard cock against my stomach through the soft, stretchy material of my dress. His hands slid to my shoulders and with a simple shove, my entire dress fell free, dropping down to my ankles in a silky puddle.

“Damn,” he breathed, taking a step back to look at me.

All I was wearing was my lace thong and my red, red stilettos. I moved to take them off, but Dash stopped me.

“Why don’t you leave them on?” he suggested, his voice thick with desire.

I shivered with my own anticipation. I then hooked my fingers into the waistband of my thong, and removed it, leaving me completely naked except for my heels. I had never felt sexier. Dash looked at me like I was the only woman in the entire world.

I expected him to take me right then and there. To push me up against the wall. Or just pull me down onto the floor. And I wanted it. I wanted it all.

But he came towards me slowly. He could have touched any part of my body, but he pushed the hair back from my face and cupped my chin, bringing my mouth to his. The kiss was hot, but it was also sweet and tender. It was unlike any of the other kisses we had shared, and it seemed to go on forever. I was lost in it, just the sensation of his hand against my face, his lips against mine.

“You’re beautiful,” Dash murmured, pulling away and pressing his forehead against mine. “So fucking beautiful.”

His words took my breath away. It was so intense. Too intense. My heart squeezed uncomfortably in my chest, and I knew that I was in danger. That despite all our intentions, this was turning into something serious. At least, it was for me.

Falling for Dash was not part of the deal. So, ignoring the unwelcomed feelings swirling through me, I leaned forward, pressing my naked body against his. Sex I could handle. Hot, sweaty, orgasmic sex. Sweet, gentle kisses were something else entirely. Something I wasn’t ready for.

Luckily, Dash responded to my need for more. He looped his arm around my waist and pulled me up against him, our bodies flush against each other. I rubbed my hard nipples against his chest as he nipped at my lower lip.

“Bed,” I gasped as he ducked his head and took one of my breasts into his mouth.

“I’m not in any rush,” he told me, getting to his knees with a wicked grin.

His hands gripped my hips as he pressed his lips against my stomach, kissing downward. Lacing my fingers in his hair, I let my head drop back as his tongue stroked me. Pleasure shot through me, my entire body feeling hot and tingly as Dash licked me.

He swirled his tongue around my clit, and my fingers tightened in his thick hair, holding onto him for dear life. I knew that if I let go of him, I’d collapse onto the floor, and I wasn’t ready to let go. Not when I was close. Because I was so, so close.

When my release came, it nearly overpowered me. I let out a long moan as my orgasm rushed through me, my legs buckling. Dash caught me before I hit the floor, scooping me up in his arms and carrying me to the bed. Kissing my ankles, he removed each heel, tossing them across the room, one at a time.

Then he lay me out on the mattress, but before he could follow me down, before he could cover my body with his, I gave his hand a tug, pulling him down into the blankets, turning our bodies so I was on top, my legs straddling his hips, his hard cock pressed against my stomach.

“I love this view,” Dash groaned as I reached down and stroked him.

“It’s about to get a million times better,” I purred at him, grabbing for one of the condoms on his bedside table.

He put his hand on my hip as I rolled the latex down over him, giving him a squeeze that made him bite his lip. Then, lifting myself up, I positioned the blunt head of his cock against my hot, wet opening and slowly lowered myself down on him, not stopping until he was deep inside of me.

It was so good.

And it felt even better as I began to move.

I started slow, circling my hips, teasing us both. His fingers dug into my ass, his head thrown back as I rode him. I could see the cords standing out in his neck, his teeth clenched together as I leaned forward, placing my hands on his chest.

Somehow I managed to take him even deeper, the sensation making us both gasp. My orgasm was there, just out of reach, and I rocked my hips forward, desperate for that release, for that pleasure.

“God, you feel so good,” Dash groaned as I lifted myself up and came back down on him, his cock hitting spots inside of me that made my toes curl from the intensity of the sensation.

I couldn’t respond. My focus was on our bodies, on the way we fit together. Reaching up, Dash cupped my breasts, his thumb stroking over my hard nipples before one of his hands snaked down and found my clit.

That was it. I screamed as I came, losing myself in the pleasure. I vaguely felt Dash grab my hips again, his own hips arching up off the bed, pounding into me, hard and wonderful. His thrusts were wild and intense and within a few moments, he found his own release.

I collapsed on top of his chest, his heart thundering under my ear, our bodies slick with sweat, my own heart full and aching.