“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“For what?”
“For coming on so strong.”
Obsidian laughed. “I assure you, that’s not the problem, Penelope.”
“Then what is?”
Turning toward her, he cupped her face in his palm and sealed his mouth to hers. He let her taste his hunger, his need. This female rocked him to his very core, evoked emotions he’d never felt before.
He pulled back, met her eyes. “I want you, Penelope. I can’t deny it. I won’t.”
His hand wandered to her thigh, slowly inching upward, cupping her naked hip as he pulled her close.
“But I’m not pushing for anything. I’m here because I want to be here. With you. Even if it’s only to hold you while you sleep.”
“Sleep is the last thing on my mind right now.”
Before he could put space between their bodies, she reached for his neck, pulled him back down to her. Obsidian shifted closer, one knee settling between her thighs, hands flat on the mattress, braced beside her head.
“I like feeling you against me, Obsidian. Everywhere. It’s all I can think about.”
The sexy rasp of her voice had his cock harder than steel.
He crushed his mouth to hers, inhaling her soft, sweet moans, loving the way she moved beneath him, as though trying to become one. Her ragged gasps were so loud in his ears, her tongue persistent in response to his. His cock, hard and throbbing, pressed intimately against his zipper, eager to get closer to her. He wanted nothing more than to strip Penelope right here, to lose himself in her for all of eternity.
Except, he knew the pain of separation would be unbearable once that happened, and until he knew she would be with him, Obsidian wasn’t willing to do that to her.
This time, when he pulled back, he stared down into her face, brushed her hair back. There was no way to tell her that he already loved her. She wouldn’t believe him since their introduction had been only recently, and for some reason, she was stuck on the timing of their intimacy.
Didn’t make it any less true.
“How about we make a deal,” he offered.
She smiled. “What kind of deal?”
“We don’t think too hard on the what or the how and simply see where this goes. At its natural pace.”
“Natural pace. I like the sound of that.”
“Good.” This time, Obsidian forced himself to get up, to put a safe distance between them. “Why don’t you do your thing and I’ll order us something for dinner.”
“Would you mind if I shower?”
“Not at all.”
Her eyes roamed his face, as though she was considering her options. When her gaze locked with his once more, she nodded.
As for what decision she’d come to, he hoped he would soon find out.
Chapter Nine
PENELOPEWASBEINGSILLY.
When Obsidian slipped out of the room, she remained where she was for a minute, staring after him. His scent wafted up from the T-shirt she wore and the pillow he’d slept on, surrounding her, comforting her.
She was acting like a virginal teenager, and honestly, she was far from it. Okay, maybe notfarfrom it. No, she hadn’t been with a lot of men in her life, but she’d never shied away from sex. The few times she’d been intimate with a man, she’d been in it wholeheartedly. No regrets other than she wished she’d been with someone she was more compatible with.
