“That’s so sweet.” I take it from him. It’s so big I basically disappear behindit.
He shrugs out of his jacket and hangs it on the hook behind him, brow furrowing. “Is something burning?”
“Just a few candles.” Maybe I went a little wild.
“You should unwrap that. There are a few surprises in there.” He takes the basket back, and I follow him down the hall, pulling the satin bow at my waist. Except instead of unfurling, it turns into a stupid knot.
Flip comes to an abrupt halt when we reach the living room.
I finally get my robe untied and let it pool at my feet. I prop one hand on my hip and attempt another sexy pose.
“Holy shit, Talls. I thought you meant a candle, singular, not an entire store’s worth. What if Parsnip knocked one over?” He starts blowing them out, rushing from candle to candle.
I’m standing here in my sexy lingerie, and he’s worried about the fire code.
I blow out a frustrated breath and trudge down the hall to my bedroom. I flop down beside my sex toys, pick up my favorite vibe, and sigh. “He didn’t even notice the lingerie.”
Flip appears in the doorway, carrying the bottle of champagne. “I’m so—Jesus help me.” His mouth drops open. His eyes bounce from the sex toys on my bed to me and darken. He sets the bottle of champagne on my dresser and crosses the room in two long strides.
He runs his hands through his hair and laces them behind his head. “Talls, kitten. Fuck.”
“That’s sort of what I was hoping for,” I mutter.
He moves some of the toys out of the way, eyebrow arching at the last one I added to the mix, and takes a seat on the edge of the bed. Then he circles my waist with his huge hands and moves me to straddle his lap. I stare at his chin. I’m still holding my vibrator like it’s a magic wand, capable of transforming this scenario into the one I hoped it would be.
He plucks it from my hand and sets it aside. “You lookincredible.”
“It took you five minutes to notice.” I sound every bit the dejected virgin. Also, that’s an exaggeration. It was probably less than two.
“Kitten.” He tucks a finger under my chin. “You know you don’t have to work this hard to seduce me, right?”
I poke at my cheek with my tongue. “Then why haven’t we had sex yet?” I let my eyes fall closed as I blow out a breath. “Sorry. I know it’s not about me. I just… all the phone sex lately has been really hot and intense. I thought maybe tonight would be the night.”
He cups my face in his hands, nodding slowly. “I know you’re ready, Tally.”
“But you’re not,” I finish for him.
“Physically, I’m ready, but emotionally…I’m just…scared, kitten.” He wraps an arm around my waist, uses the other to move all the toys aside, and lays me out on my bed, stretching on top of me. “You can feel what you do to me, right?” He rolls his hips, erection pressing against me.
I hook a leg over his. “I can feel you.”
“Never doubt that I want you.” He kisses the corner of my mouth. “Because I do, desperately.”
“What are you afraid of?” I run my fingers through his hair, wanting to understand.
“I don’t want to burn too hot, too fast, and risk fizzling out.” He traces a line from my temple to my jaw. “It’s easy to get caught up, and then it doesn’t last. That’s the opposite of what I want.” He kisses me softly. “I love that we get to take our time. I get to learn your body, to explore you, to have all this time to fall for you.” His expression softens. “I’m in so deep with you, Tally. I’ve never felt about anyone the way I feel about you, and that is as terrifying as it is amazing.” His eyes search mine, soft and imploring. “I know you’re waiting on me.”
He presses his lips tenderly to mine. “It doesn’t have anything to do with keeping you pure, or your innocence.” Heglances at my toys, which scream exactly how not-innocent I am. “But I want our first time to be special for both of us, without any pressure or expectations. Does that make sense?”
“It does.” I stroke his cheek.
“I’m sorry I’m not ready yet, kitten.”
“It’s okay. I understand why.”
He slants his mouth over mine. I sink into the warmth of his body, of his unsteady hand on my face.
Eventually he breaks the kiss and glances at the toys now resting against the outside of his thigh. “This is quite the extensive collection.”
