“No.”
The word was out almost before I finished my sentence.
Again, I hummed.
“Would you stop doing that? Just say what’s on your mind.”
I sat up. She wanted me to speak my mind? Fine.
“You obviously have something on your mind. For whatever reason, you don’t want to talk about it. I don’t know if it’s just me you don’t want to talk to or not at all, but I think you need to let it out if either of us wants to get any sleep tonight.”
She sat up next to me and snapped on the bedside lamp. Her eyes flashed with fire in the light’s warm glow. “I didn’t ask you to stay, Luke. You can go home. I won’t be there to disturb your sleep.”
I scoffed. “Not physically, no, but metaphorically, you’ll be there. Knowing you’re here by yourself will be enough to keep me awake.” I would probably sleep even less at home than with her rolling around just feet away.
“I can take care of myself.”
“I know. Doesn’t change anything.”
Her jaw worked, and she looked away briefly. “Why me, Luke?”
A frown bit into my forehead. “What do you mean?”
“Why choose me when you can have someone like Taylor Bray?”
Oh, hell. I sucked in a sharp breath. Apparently, we were having this conversation now, whether I was rested enough or not.
“Because I don’t want Taylor. I want you.”
“Why? You never answered that. I mean, I look at you”—she lifted a hand gesturing to my face and my naked chest above the covers—“and, well…” She trailed off, glancing down at herself and shrugged. “Then I look at her and can’t help but think how perfect a match she is for you. She’s beautiful.”
“So are you.” My frown took on a more curious note, but a low anger simmered in my belly. How did she not see how gorgeous she was? “Taylor is no less beautiful than you are, Mina. It’s just a different kind of beauty. Hers is flashy and on display. Yours is more subtle. You don’t need all the trappings of makeup and clothes to show the world how beautiful you are.” I shifted closer and lifted a hand to trace the line of her cheek. “You have the most amazing eyes. Clear. Bright. They’re like looking at the sea. And don’t get me started on what you do for a pair of jeans. One of my favorite things is to fill my hands with the curve of your hips.”
Her pupils dilated ever so slightly, and I knew I was on the right track. I inched closer, brushing her dark hair back from her face and sliding my hand around the side of her head. “I don’t want flashy beauty. Honestly, Taylor’s a little shallow, and that’s not what I want. I want a woman with substance. You have that in spades.”
“Oh,” she breathed.
I took a chance and moved close enough our thighs touched. “Yeah. Oh. If I didn’t want to be here, I wouldn’t be. If I didn’t think you wanted me here, I wouldn’t be, either.” My brows twitched with a small frown. I hadn’t asked her opinion on the matter. “Do you want me here?”
Those bright blue eyes searched mine. Her hand came up to run over the stubble dusting my face. “Yes.”
In an instant, that single word set my heart alight.
Raising my other hand, I skimmed her shoulder, feeling the warmth of her skin through her shirt. “Don’t ever doubt I’mwith you because I want to be. Taylor’s the past. Hell, she was barely even that.” I moved my hand over the top of her shoulder, caressing her collarbone and cupping the side of her neck. Those delicious blue eyes of hers fluttered, and a tinge of pink colored her skin.
That same magnetic pull that caused us to throw caution to the wind almost two weeks ago and hop into bed together reared its head again. The world receded as I leaned in toward her lush mouth. Her hands came up, fingertips skimmed my chest. Dipping my head, I brushed a soft kiss over her lips. Memories of our previous bedroom endeavors played through my head.
One thought in particular edged front and center. Pulling back slightly, a slow, sexy, teasing smile tugged at one corner of my mouth. “I think we should try some strawberry sauce.”
The little frown that creased her forehead was adorable and sent a shaft of lust straight to my groin. I bit back a groan, only to have her tease it free when she tipped her hips into mine.
She nipped my chin. “Only if I get to lick you like a lollipop.”
Oh, yes, please.
“You’re on, witch.” I sealed my mouth over hers in a hard kiss.
CHAPTER 26
