Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Seventeen

DAISY MAE FOUND herself drawn to the idea of being intimate with Steve, but she was unsure if she was ready to take that step. Ever since she could remember, she had yearned for him, but now that an opportunity with him lay before her, nerves overwhelmed her. A profound emptiness gnawed at her core as she longed to escape, yearning to preserve his memory without facing the painful possibility of rejection.

She chose not to flee but remained steadfast, her heart yearning for Steve to reciprocate her feelings. His playful banter and subtle hints kept her guessing about the depth of his emotions. When he kissed her, every nerve in her body tingled with desire, making her wonder if it was enough for him to take her to bed tonight, leave his job, and stay with her.

No. She had made up her mind not to burden him with that request. She knew he wouldn’t fulfill it, and the inevitable disappointment would cause her more significant heartache than his departure. The interaction would revolve solely around physical intimacy with no emotional connection. This would be the case if he desired to engage in sexual activity with her.

Despite the challenges she faced with her boat, including sabotage, she maintained her focus on Steve. After he finished securing the boat to the dock, she turned her attention to him, eager to discuss their next steps and plan for the rest of the evening. As he sprang back onto the boat, his intense gaze locked onto her, pulling her in so firmly that she felt as if she were gliding toward him. It was clear—he yearned for her.

“So,” she paused, uncertain what to say next.

“So,” he said back, smiling that smile that had to have women dropping their panties. She knew that she was ready to drop hers.

“Do ya want something to drink?”

He squinted and studied her intently. What was he hoping to discern? Could he detect her nervousness?

“ Oui .” He walked to her and stopped an arm’s length away. “Do ya want to drink here and watch the sunset?”

Her limbs crackled with heat as she stood close to him, feeling the intense energy between them. She was acutely aware of his body’s defined contours and the subtle prominence of his shorts. She wrestled with the idea of forgoing the drinks, but her jangling nerves craved some form of courage.

“ Bière or water?” she asked.

“Water.” He settled on a secluded bench at the back of the boat, prompting Daisy Mae’s curiosity, considering two plush chairs were available. Then it dawned on her—the seating arrangement meant she had to sit beside him. She considered this a small victory.

“I be right back.” Daisy Mae made her way downstairs, the creaking of the old wooden steps echoing in the silence. She opened the door of her quaint refrigerator and carefully pulled out two glistening water bottles. As she carried them, she couldn’t help but notice her trembling hands. Never had she experienced such overwhelming nervousness.

She had engaged in sex a few times in the past, but it had left her feeling unfulfilled. However, she had a strong intuition that her experience with Steve would be exceptional, filled with enchantment and intense passion.

Daisy Mae took a deep breath to calm herself. She might not have to approach him after all. His bulge suggested he wanted her.

As she prepared to climb the stairs, her gaze lingered on her neatly made bed. Despite having already straightened the covers when she dressed, a sense of doubt prompted her to give it a second inspection.

She handed Steve a water bottle as she stood on the boat’s deck. He acknowledged her with a nod of thanks and gestured for her to sit next to him by patting the seat. “Sit.”

She nodded jerkily and then sat still as a board.

“Relax, Rocket. I no here to molest ya.”

“I know dat.” Just that light banter melted the steel in her back, and she turned to him. “Did ya enjoy yourself?”

Steve took a moment to glance at the array of stuffed animals they had dropped onto the deck. A wave of joy spread across his face, causing a large smile to form. “ Oui . I did.” He paused to take a refreshing sip of water, then pivoted to face her. “How ’bout you?”

They sat mere inches apart, their eyes locked in a hypnotic trance. Daisy Mae’s breath hitched in anticipation as she yearned for his kiss to be so passionate that it made her forget her name. She hesitated at the thought of kissing him. In the past, she had kissed men she was dating, but in this case, they weren’t dating. They were— What were they? Star-crossed lovers. Only they weren’t lovers. Yet.

Raising his brows, Steve asked, “Rocket? Ya wit me?”

She shook herself out of her romantic musings, returning to the present moment, and then she smiled. “ Oui . Merci for winning me the stuffed animals.” She’d treasure them, and they’d be prominently displayed on her bed when he left. “It be a beautiful sunset.”

Steve set his water down and turned serious. “I no be beating around the bush. I want ya, Daisy Mae–right now. I need to be inside ya, making ya mine…touching every inch of ya…kissing my way down ya sexy body…giving ya enough pleasure to last a lifetime.”

Daisy Mae felt her throat go dry. He didn’t beat around the bush. “I want ya, too,” she squeaked out. Not wanting to answer him that way, she cleared her throat and said firmly, “I want ya, too, Steve.”

Taking her water bottle from her, Steve set it aside. “Then git over here.” His arm slithered around her waist, drawing her gently onto his lap. Right up against his hardness. And not just body hardness. Dang, he was built in all the right places.

Steve put his forehead to hers and whispered, “I be wanting ya for so long.”

Really? She wanted to ask how long, but that wasn’t appropriate now. “I be wanting ya since I knew what want was.”

“Oh, Rocket.” Their lips collided in an intense, passionate kiss. She wrapped her arms around his neck and instinctively shifted in his lap, deepening the embrace. She couldn’t get close enough.

With their tongues at play, Daisy Mae moaned her pleasure. Finally, she’d have the love of her life in her bed. That niggling doubt of doing this and then his leaving tried to surface, but she squashed it with her need for this man. It rivaled the love of her boat.

When their lips parted, Steve let out a long sigh. “Wow.”

Wow, indeed. Her toes had curled on that one.

“Let’s go below,” he suggested.

She was quick to act, graceful as she slipped off his lap and confidently led the way, her senses heightened by the closeness of his presence. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this bayou sunset would forever be etched in her memory.