He let go of her chin and ran his hand through his hair, deciding how to answer. “I didn’t say anything because I didn’t think you were attracted to me. I wasn’t sure you evenlikedme. Figured you thought I was some dumb jock your brother was always bringing around.”
Her face softened and she brought a hand to his cheek. “I could never think you were dumb. A jock, absolutely. But I always knew you were smart. And…”
He held his breath, forcing himself to remain silent.
“I’ve wanted you for years, too.”
Now he turned the question around on her. “Why didn’tyousay anything?”
She rolled her eyes. “Oh, I don’t know, maybe because you were a gorgeous badass pro hockey player, and I’m your best friend’s annoying little sister?”
“You’re not annoying.”
She smirked at him. “That’s not what you thought when you were nineteen.”
“I don’t rememberwhatI thought when I was nineteen. Also, most guys are assholes when they’re nineteen.”
He was encouraged by her bark of laughter. “I like to think I’ve grown up a lot since then.”
Her fingers slid up his chest to his shoulders, stroking over them. “That you have, Chase.”
Capturing her roving hands with his before he forgot the reason for this conversation, he gave her a mock stern glare. “Not what I meant. And I still need to explain why I stopped you.”
Harper huffed out a sigh, but it didn’t disguise her look of vulnerability. “Okay then. Why?”
He brought both his hands up to cup her face and gave her a lingering kiss. “I need to know how far you want this to go, and what you want out of it.
“We’ve established that we want each other. Did you only want to make out? Are you looking for a one-night stand? Maybemorethan a one-night stand?
“Because I need to be honest with you here: I don’t think I can stop at making out. If you don’t want more than that, we shouldn’t continue.”
Chase’s heart pounded as he pondered whether or not to lay it all on the line. But he hadn’t come this far to chicken out.
“And if you want more than that, you should know that I don’t want to stop at one night.
Her eyes rounded and her lips parted, and he resisted the urge to slip the tip of his thumb between them.
“I want to see if we can have something real, something lasting. I believe we can. I’d like to try.”
A slow, dazzling smile spread over her face. For the first time in several minutes, he could breathe deeply.
“I’d like to try, too.”
That was all the permission he needed. Slipping his hands under her lush, round ass, he pulled her to him and lifted as he stood, her shrieks of laughter ringing out as she clung to him.
“What are you doing?” she asked on a giggle.
“We’re not doing this for the first time on a couch. I want to see your gorgeous, naked body all stretched out for me. I want to take my time with you.”
“Okay,” she said, sounding breathless, and he bit back a smile.
Setting her down next to the bed, he slipped his hands underneath her sweater and T-shirt, peeling both off at the same time. The little pink bow that rested between her breasts delighted him, and he bent his head to kiss the soft skin just above it as he grabbed her leggings and slid them down so she could step out.
Harper reached for the zip of his hoodie, but he brushed her hand away. “Nope. Up on the bed, and off with the bra and panties. I want to look at you while I undress.”
Her eyes flashed and he wondered if she’d balk. He almost hoped she would; he’d love to see how she’d respond to a light smack on the ass.
But she sat down demurely on the side of the bed and reached for the front clasp of her bra, flicking it open and peeling away the cups, and he forgot how to function. His hands froze as she lay back on the bed, reclining against the pillows and lifting her hips to wiggle out of her panties.
