"Try." He insisted.
"We just met and we barely know each other."
His amused expression and eyes flickering down to her naked body denied that.
"This is sex."
"Is it?" Letting go of her chin, he used both hands to cup her cheeks. "It feels more like a spiritual experience to me. I've never felt this way about anyone before, and I've been around the block a time or two. I know when a meeting of bodies is just slaking a thirst. This is not it. We have a bond. I felt it when I first saw you."
"I wasn't looking for this, for you. I was about to make an excuse and leave the bloody function, because I was bored and then you walked in. I call that divine opportunity."
Fear spiked and enveloped her as she stared at him.
"You don't know what you're saying."
His lips quirked at that.
"I do believe that I know what's what. You're scared."
"And you're not?"
"A little." He laughed at her baffled expression. "More than a little. I never expected this."
"We should slow things down."
His expression turned cold.
"No."
"Rodney."
"How slow do you expect us to go? After this. What? Take a step back, think things through? That sort of thing?"
"Yes!" She cried, eyes bright. "See if this is something we really want."
"Are you saying you don't want me?"
"Don't be stupid." Dragging her chin away, she scurried towards the wall and drew her knees up to her chin. "That's undeniable. I would be lying if I said that. But it's too much, too intense. I never thought..."
He moved over to join her.
"You never thought it would be this intense." Clamping his hands on her arms, he turned her to face him. "I wasn't looking for this either. I was burned pretty badly in the past."
"You don't know me!"
Her eyes slid away from the intensity of his.
"Then tell me what I need to know."
"I'm overreacting." Her breath was strangled inside her throat. "I... This is new for me."
"Me too." He continued to stare at her quizzically. "All right let's just stay away from the heavy for now. Is that okay?"
She nodded. Acting on impulse, she moved into him. His arms closed around her immediately and held her close.
"All right?" His deep voice rumbled against her cheek and soothed her scattered nerves.
"Yes."
