“Getting a bit more comfortable. No reason not to, right? We’re all alone.”
“So we are.”
She tipped her head to the side as she dropped her blouse on her bed. “First time for that.”
“We were alone the other night.” When he’d almost kissed her.
“I was tired and emotional then.”And you’re a good guy.
“And now?”
“Now I’m…” She shrugged. “Okay, still tired and emotional.”
“I should let you get some rest.”
See? Good guy. Phffft. “Ah.” Well, he wasn’t wrong on that count. “In a minute.”
She prowled closer to him. He was so tall and broad. She wanted to pet him all over. That would be an excellent distraction.
“That’s a dangerous way to look at me,” he said quietly.
“Are you saying I’m not safe with you?” she asked breathlessly, fluttering her hands against her chest. That would be a fun game to play.
He gave her a lazy, dirty grin that said he knew exactly what she meant. Oh, God, that look was a panty-melter for sure. “Definitely don’t assume you’re safe with me.”
Ha. So not completely a good guy. That was just fine by her. She leaned in, close enough to breathe in the scent of him. She caught the hint of a sharp, masculine body wash, but mostly he smelled like a warm, sexy man. She wanted him with a burning intensity that shocked her to the core. “You want to take advantage of me, Dean?”
“No comment. I think you should go to bed.”
“Yes…bed.” She reached for his hand and he laced his fingers through hers. “Tuck me in?”
He groaned as she moved them closer to the bed, but stopped her before they got all the way there. Spoilsport. She moved closer and pressed her hands against his chest. He was warm and hard and strong all over.
He circled her wrist with his fingers, then tugged her hand off his body. But he didn’t let go. “I want you like crazy, Liana. You know that.”
“But…”
He gave her a pained look and tugged her a little closer.
Not close enough.
Not by a long shot.
“I don’t want to hurt you,” he murmured, brushing his other hand against her cheek. Just a glance. Just a tease.
She shivered. “Don’t overthink this. Maybe it's just a really good way to spend the next six weeks. Or ten minutes. I don't expect anything.”
He shook his head, and when he looked at her again, his eyes were softer. Green flecks glinted at her as he searched her face, first with his gaze, then again with his fingers. He touched her jaw, her cheekbone, and down to the edge of her mouth.
She parted her flushed lips and resisted the urge to lick them.
His fingers drifted down her neck, over her throat, making her swallow hard, and around to the shadow at the nape, where he tangled his hand gently in her hair.
“Here’s the thing, princess. You had a rough day today.”
“I’m a big girl,” she protested.
“No doubt. But I don’t want you burning my t-shirt, either. I want to kiss you again, but I don’t want to hurt you.”
