His elbows braced on the bed next to her ears, his hands cupped her cheeks. “And the first time, I fuck it up. It’s not an excuse, pretty girl, but I thought you knew. Thought you knew how much I care about you, thought you understood what I got for you is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. Should have been clearer that you are the only woman I want to be with, the only one I want to touch, and the only one who matters.”
He kissed her lips softly and slowly, like he was dragging out everything he was saying so she’d understand. His breath was hot but he never hurried it or rushed the kiss.
“You gotta forgive me.” He kissed her again. “You have to, pretty girl. I’m not gonna stop until you do. I don’t want you falling in love with me, I want you tobein love with me. I want you to feel everything I’m feeling for you.”
“I do,” she whispered, leaning up for another kiss. Two words was all it took. His mouth drew deeper into hers. She didn’t want to lose him, she just wanted him to recognize how she felt, how hurt she was and apologize.
****
Her head rested in the curve of his neck, the scent of vanilla and cranberries wafting his nostrils. This was the good stuff. Sure, sex with Kenzie was incredible but there was something just as good, just being with her, lying in silence, knowing he hadn’t lost her. When he had stripped off her shirt and panties, he saw the heat and desire in her eyes. He had to fight against the need to take her. Her fingers caressed his abs in a light touch as if she were weaving a feather across his muscles.
“Whatcha thinking?” She curled deeper against him, resting her head below his chin.
“I was making a mental note for the future. The naked apology works.”
Her body shook against his as she giggled. “I won’t fall for it again.” She wrapped her hand around his hip, sliding her thumb slowly over his hip. “You plan on screwing up in the future?”
He snorted. “It’s inevitable. Besides, I know the naked apology works now so I’m golden.”
She slapped his stomach playfully and shifted forward to look down on him. The waves of her hair fell forward tickling his chin. She was so damn beautiful. He had been with all types of women in the past, a list longer than most men. But this girl? Not one woman from his past could even come close to the natural beauty in front of him. He angled for her mouth but she backed away, squinting suspiciously.
“So, you plan on screwing up again?”
“Baby, seriously? Of course.”He caught himself from laughing as her scowl deepened forming two lines between her brows. “You only have yourself to blame?”
“What are you talking about?”
He lifted his brows and smirked. “Well, now that I know the naked apology leads to naked cuddling. You can bet your ass I’m gonna fuck up and piss you off. I might even do shit on purpose.”
She rolled her eyes. Her lips pressed into a straight line, trying desperately to mask her smile. She failed and dropped her head against his chest.
“You’re a jerk.”
“Guilty.”
They lay quietly and he thought she had fallen asleep. He closed his eyes, in dire need of rest. With all that happened last night, topped with the uncomfortable couch, he was beat. He drew in a breath and felt himself nod off.
“I like your family.”
He opened his eyes. “Yeah?”
She nodded against his chest. He said nothing else, reeling in the joy of her four simple words. He wanted her to like them, spend time with them, and become of part of them. His family was the most important aspect of his life and he wanted Kenzie in on that.
“What was your mom like?” She leaned up on her elbow and searched his face before he could answer. “If you don’t want to talk about her it’s fine. I’m not trying to pry or anything.”
A slow smile crept over his face. “I like talking about her.” He shrugged. “It’s hard for some of the others like Roxanne. She and my mom were tight, and she was younger.” He reached out, shifting her hair behind her ear. “I think it’s different when a girl loses her mom, not harder, just different.”
She nodded.
Realizing he was sending her back to her own loss he grinned in hopes of distracting her. “The first time I met herwas at social services. I was a fucking wreck, scared as hell. I’d lived most of my life with my grandparents then a short time with Cheryl. Always had some semblance of a home, ya know. Even as shitty as it was at times.”
Living with his biological mother was shit.
“I was in a foster home for about eight months. Pretty much got the lowdown from the other kids that being adopted was nearly impossible seeing as how I was eight and most people wanted babies. I was so fucking young, and scared all the time. Then one day, my mom and dad showed up.” He laughed at the memory.
“I was sitting in their meeting room. My social worker brought them in. I still remember my mom’s smile. Hadn’t seen someone smile at me like that since my grandma. They sat down, introduced themselves, and just started talking. She talked about their house and property. Sat there for an hour, and honestly, I couldn’t tell you what was said. I was so focused on her smile. When our time was up, she asked if I thought I might like to visit them sometime.”
Bogs grinned at Kenzie and laughed. “I said, ‘How about now?’”
