They were kissing hot and heavy on his sofa and Sarah wanted more. Lots more.
“Sarah.” He attempted to pull back when she fumbled with the snap of his jeans. “Do you like cheesecake?”
“What?” She blinked at him as if he’d lost his mind.
He had.
“Do you like cheesecake?”
“Is that a trick question? Some secret code for an amazing sexual act you want to introduce me to?”
Jude fought groaning. He wanted to introduce Sarah to amazing sexual acts. Lots of them. Not doing so was getting more difficult, but the timing wasn’t right.
He wasn’t sure what exactly it was that wasn’t right, but they should wait longer before having sex.
“I bought dessert but forgot until just now,” he blurted out, sensing her frustration. She wasn’t the only one frustrated. He was tired of cold showers, but would be taking a murderously long one again tonight. “I wasn’t sure which topping you preferred so I got strawberry, blueberry, and cherry.”
She frowned. “Are you for real?”
“Last time I checked. Why don’t we try some of each topping and see which is best?”
When he started to stand, Sarah grabbed his arm. “Am I doing something wrong?”
She was doing everything right. Too right.
Rather than stand, he leaned back, swept his fingers through his hair, then shook his head. “You couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“I’m confused.”
He felt confused, too, so it only made sense that she’d feel that way. She deserved an explanation. Maybe he could give one without muddling up things.
“I want to take things slow with you,” he began.
Her brows formed the V of a deep frown. “Because I’m slow?”
He shook his head. “Because you’re different.”
She took a few moments before asking, “Is that a bad thing?”
He faced her, clasped her hand with his. “It feels as if it’s a good thing, a very good thing that’s worth taking our time and not rushing sex. Don’t you agree?”
Gaze locked with his, she squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to go slow with me, Jude.”
“You’re wrong. I need to take things slow.”
He couldn’t explain it to himself so he sure couldn’t explain it to her, but he had to take things slow with Sarah. How much longer he’d have to wait, he wasn’t sure, just that sex too soon would ruin things with her.
He’d ruined his relationship with Nina. The circumstances were different, but he wouldn’t risk doing the same with Sarah. When this was all said and done, she’d look back on their relationship with a smile, would know she’d been special, would still be his friend.
Anything else was unthinkable.
* * *
The following week passed quickly. The emergency department had been crazily busy and Sarah doubted it would slow until after the holidays.
She never knew what would be i
n the next bay. She’d even taken care of a person who’d been trapped in a collapsed subway. She and Jude spent their evenings together, sometimes late into the night, but he always said goodnight at her door.