Her pulse thrums in a delicious flutter of need and desire that confirms this is the truth, even if she is scared. “I do.”
“Even if all we do is snuggle and watch movies and talk,” I add. “If you would rather shower alone, I understand and will not take offense.”
It’s adorable, the way she bites on her lower lip as she stares up at me. Her fingers play with the front placket on my shirt, fingering the buttons and stitching before lightly brushing over my bare abs. “I’d like to shower together.”
“Youset the pace of this.”
She nods, then looks up again. “Would you really spank me for lying?”
“Absolutely, I would. I still might. I reserve the right to give you a punishment spanking for that. You donotlie to me. Ever. I willneverlie to you. In the future, be advised lying to mewillearn you a spanking.”
She blushes again. “I’m sorry I lied.”
“You even knew I’d know.”
“Yeah.”
I tuck her hair behind her ears and cradle her face in my hands. “Love, I am theoneperson you never need lie to. I’ll always be honest with you. Trust flows both ways, and I need the truth from you, even if you think it’ll hurt me.”
She bounces up on her toes and kisses me, her arms wrapping around me. I linger, savoring the sweet taste of her.
Please, don’t let me fuck this up.
Her lashes flutter. “How about that shower?”
“Sounds great.”
I swear I had honorable intentions.
I really, truly did.
Except when we reach the bathroom, she grabs me by the front of my shirt and pulls me in for another kiss that heats up…
Fast.
A supernova hits a fuel tanker leaking gasoline all over a dynamite factory kind of fastfast.
She backs me against the wall and, as we kiss, she shoves my shirt down and off my shoulders. I shrug out of it and discard it while she’s already working on my belt and slacks.
She’s wearing a tank top and shorts, and her hair’s still that lovely shade of black. I cup the back of her head to take control of our kiss, or she won’t end up at work tonight, and I’ll be spending another night in her closet rather than leave her.
Because if this woman takes a leap of faith with me, I’m damned sure going to catch her.
Every time.
22
Dexter
I slow down our kiss—Iknow, Iknow. But I’m a gentleman.
Except being a gentleman still gets me stripped to my boxer briefs with a raging hardon that I can’t disguise, and I’m trying to help Eilidh out of her clothes.
Her violet eyes darken into gorgeous, sparkling nebulas I’d love to spend eternity swimming through. Spending all day today surrounded by her scent…
Despite the circumstances, I think today was the deepest, soundest sleep I’ve had in what feels like forever. It felt like being hugged by her while the darkness and oblivion took me. I didn’t have any nightmares.
For once, I awoke feeling refreshed instead of resigned.
