North’s pupils dilated as he leaned into me, his cologne tickling my senses. “We’re going to prove that to you many, many times tonight.”
I sucked in a breath, excitement and nerves thrashing in my stomach.
“Let’s go.” He nodded toward the stairs.
This was it.
I was really doing this.
We thankfully madeit to his room without bumping into anyone, and now I wanted the floor to open up and swallow me. After carefully returning his guitar to its case, North turned around and asked me to take off all my clothes.
Swallowing hard, I hid my hands behind my back so he couldn’t see my fingers nervously threading together. “Uh … maybe we could do this without getting undressed.”
“Fuck no,” he said with casual but forceful resolve. “I want you naked.”
I glanced around the room, looking for a means of escape.
North cursed under his breath and then crossed the room to me, drawing my skittish gaze back. Was he already regretting this?
To my surprise, he clasped my face in his palms and shook his head. “I’d like to skin those bastards alive,” he murmured, and I gathered he was referring to my exes. “How can you be so confident in everything else you do but this? It pisses me off.”
“Maybe we shoul—”
“Don’t.” He caressed my cheek with his thumb and then slowly slid his hands down to rest on my neck. Goose bumps prickled in the wake of his touch as he stroked my throat. There was a gentle dominance in his touch that my body definitely liked. “Don’t say we shouldn’t do this. Not if you want it.”
I swallowed hard, and I knew he felt it beneath his hands. “I do want to. I just …”
North leaned in so close his lips almost touched mine. I shivered as he whispered, “Talk to me.”
Be brave.
Be brave!
“I’m afraid if I get undressed, you …” I suddenly wanted to burst into tears, and that wouldn’t do at all. “I can’t.” I pushed away from him and turned toward the door. “I’m sorry, I can’t do this.”
But North was in front of me, blocking my exit. His expression was patient, worried. “I will get out of your way if that’s what you want. But I don’t think it is.”
“North …”
“Talk to me, Aria. Whatever you say won’t ever leave this room. I promise.”
I would not cry. I rarely cried, and I wasn’t about to start now in front of North Hunter. “I’m a mess. This isn’t sexy. Who wants this? No guy wants this.” I moved to shove past him, buthe grabbed hold of my biceps, tugging me close. My tears spilled over with no warning, horrifying me. “Let me go!”
“No, I will not let you go when you’re upset.” He crushed me against him, tucking my head into the crook of his neck. “We don’t have to do anything. Okay? Just don’t cry. I can’t stand seeing you cry.” His voice broke with hoarseness, and the sincerity in his words cut through my embarrassment. My fingers clenched into his T-shirt, and I shuddered against him as I tried to get a handle on my emotions.
I didn’t know how long we stood there, but it was long enough for our breathing to slow. North just held me, running a soothing hand up and down my back until I was calm.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“You’ve nothing to apologize for.”
There was something about being held by him, feeling his powerful arms around me, and not having to look him in the eye that made it a little easier this time to admit, “I’m afraid if I get undressed … that you won’t find me attractive anymore.”
North’s arms tightened around me, but he said nothing.
Oh, God, just saying those words had made me unattractive, hadn’t they? “North?”
“I’m sorry. I’m just talking myself out of hunting down your ex-boyfriends and leaving them without the ability to procreate.” His voice trembled with anger.
