“I did.” She shook her head. “I do. It’s just that…I’ve been here before.”
“To my apartment?”
“No.” She couldn’t help but chuckle, though her humor was short-lived. “I mean, I’ve had guys who thought they wanted to be with me, but when they realized what I was”—she licked her lips— “what Iam, it all became too much for them. I don’t want that to happen to us, Alex.” Eden prayed he could make sense of her ramblings. “I don’t want to wake up one day and suddenly find you staring back at me like I’m damaged goods. Or worse, some sort of freak.”
In less than a second, he was directly in front of her. A muscle in his sexy jaw bulged as he gently grabbed her hands and stared down at her.
“Close your eyes.” When she did as he’d asked, Alex held on a little tighter. “Now, tell me what you see.”
Concentrating solely on their connection, Eden focused on what he wanted her to see.
The same red from before flashed behind Eden’s eyes, but there were other colors there, too. More pleasant colors that spoke of his love and affection for her. What stood out to her the most, however, were the dark shades of grey that hadn’t been there the other times he’d touched her.
“You’re mad.” Eden started to pull away, but he didn’t let her.
“Damn straight,” he nearly growled. “Now, look closer, Eden. Tell me who it is I’m mad at.”
Not really sure she wanted to know, Eden decided she at least owed him this. With a deep breath, she focused on the signals she was receiving from him once more.
“The men from my past,” she said aloud.
“Good. Who else?”
Her eyes flew open. Blinking, she whispered, “Me.”
Alex nodded. “I don’t know what kind of men you’ve been with, but I’d love to find every single one of the bastards and beat their asses into the ground for making you feel that way. And I’m tempted as hell to put you over my knee for believing those things about yourself.”
Taken aback by the fierceness in his voice, Eden’s heart began pounding against her ribs. “Alex?”
He leaned inward, the tips of their noses nearly touching. With his lips a hair’s breadth away from hers, he whispered, “You are perfect, Eden. Inside and out. I don’teverwant you thinking otherwise.”
Her chest tightened. “I know you believe that, Alex, but—”
“Good.”
“Let me finish.” Eden placed her hand on his solid chest. “You feel that way,now. It’s later, I’m worried about.”
A sudden flash of determination was the only warning she had before he closed the final distance between them.
Vibrant, intense colors filled Eden’s mind as his soft lips moved expertly against hers. With the tip of his tongue, he coaxed her to let him in.
Willing to give this man whatever he wanted, Eden parted her lips and invited him inside. Their tongues met, Alex’s serving as a conduit to his every thought. His every feeling.
The longer their mouths continued moving in a slow, sensual tandem, the more Eden could see herself through his eyes. She could actuallyfeelwhat kissing her was doing to him. And it was magical.
Though she knew he didn’t really want to, Alex pulled away. Without conscious thought, Eden licked her lips, loving that she could still taste him there.
“I hope you saw what I felt just then,” he breathed. “Sweetheart, I need you to believe me when I say I’m all in.”
Her heart swelled, remnants of their euphoric kiss leaving her a little dizzy…and a whole lot turned on.
“I believe you.”
The smile he gave was almost as satisfying as his kiss.
“Glad we got that settled.” He used his index finger to tuck some hair behind her ear. “I want you to stay with me tonight, Eden. Hell, I’d love it if you stayed every night. But I don’t want to pressure you into anything you aren’t ready for.”
Eden giggled. “This isn’t my first time having sex, Alex.”
