“The house?”
“No, the color. I loved the house. Loved my parents too.” She sighed. “I still miss them sometimes, but it’s been eleven years since they’ve been gone.”
He played with a strand of her hair. “That must have been tough. Especially when you had Emily.”
“Yeah. I really wanted my mom there. I know she’d love Emily.”
“Who wouldn’t?” He smiled. “Your daughter is just like her momma.”
She stared at him, seeing a man she wanted to keep. Forever. She cleared her throat. “Ah, what about you and your family?”
“My mom passed when I was sixteen. It sucked. She was the life of any party, always with a ready smile, so giving. We all loved her so much. About killed my dad.”
“I’m sorry.” She leaned in to kiss him and didn’t linger, wanting only to offer comfort.
He smiled, his eyes a little sad. “She would have liked you a lot.” He laughed. “I could see her doing the exact same thing to my dad that you did to me in that restaurant, telling him off if he thought about paying for her when she didn’t want him to. Mom was more a lover than a fighter. Unless you messed with her family.” He shot her a look. “Or her pride. She could be prickly about stuff.”
“Reggie, it wasn’t pride keeping me from taking your money.”
He raised a brow.
“Okay, so maybe it was. But I don’t want to be a taker.”Like your ex-girlfriend.“I like to think I’m more of a giving person.”
“Yeah? So give me something.” He downed the rest of his beer.
She did the same and wished she hadn’t. “Wow, that was a bit much.” She coughed.
He hugged her, his body shaking with mirth. “Maggie, you make me laugh.”
She felt warm, and it wasn’t just a buzz. The overflowing love she had for Reggie was inexplicable yet real.
“You want me to give you something?” she asked and took off her top.
His amusement faded.
She nodded to her bra. “Take if off for me, would you?”
“Whatever you want.” He removed it and stared at her, his breathing raspy.
“I want to give you my heart.” She put his hand over her breast, and her nipple beaded.
He closed his hand around her and leaned close. She had her legs pulled under her on the couch, giving her a little added height. And it made them nearly level. Perfect for kissing.
She closed her eyes when Reggie kissed her, his mouth coaxing, his seduction subtle yet packing a wallop. He put his other hand on her breast, molding her chest with hands that burned.
“So hot,” he said, reading her mind, and slid his tongue inside her mouth. He showed her how much he cared by giving her so much pleasure. Reggie didn’t like to rush, savoring her. Even when they came together suddenly, he always made sure to see to her pleasure first.
This lovemaking wasn’t hurried, and it contained an element of affection that overwhelmed the carnality, pulling her deeper under his spell.
He angled his mouth over hers and carefully put her cast along the back of the couch, out of the way.
“Reggie?”
“Let me.” He stared into her eyes. “You’re so beautiful, Maggie.” He didn’t smile.
She grew nervous, not sure why. But it felt like something monumental was happening between them. “I…”
He leaned forward and took her nipple in his mouth.
