“Well, stop.”
“I don’t seem to be able to do that.”
That got her. “You’ve tried?”
“Not really.”
She wanted him. Now. “I hate not being in control.”
“Of me? Or of yourself?”
“Of me. Of my feelings. The situation.”
The warm, full look in his eyes flooded her with feeling, until she was drowning in sensations she couldn’t identify, analyze or control.
Rick stood and took her hand. She looked up at him. Moved when he tugged her gently forward. And withstood his gaze as he studied her.
She watched his head lower. He was coming closer, and she did nothing to stop him. His mouth covered hers.
Sue thought she whimpered. She knew she soared. God, life had never felt like this. Never so vital. So…intense.
And then he pulled her down to the couch.
“Tell me why you’re so afraid of losing control.”
Uh-uh. That kind of stuff led to secrets. Telling them.
“You never know what might happen.”
“Oh, I think in this situation what’s going to happen is pretty clear.”
His arm around her, he ran his fingers through her hair. She shivered. And craved more.
“You’ve had a lover, right?” The question wasn’t judgmental, one way or the other. Maybe that was why it wasn’t threatening, either.
“Yeah. A couple.”
“And?”
“Nothing.”
“What does that mean?”
“I felt nothing.” Just like she was scared to death she was going to feel if he ever touched her down below. She was going to turn off. Back away. Emotionally first, then physically.
“You said it had been longer than a year for you. How much longer?”
Wetting parched lips, she said, “A lot.”
His hand moved from her hair to her shoulder. Beneath her T-shirt. He’d know by now that she wasn’t wearing a bra. If he hadn’t already figured that out.
“Was someone…rough with you? Is that what you’re trying to tell me?”
“No. It wasn’t anything like that. I can’t…don’t…”
“Maybe you just weren’t with the right man.”
No man was the right man. When anyone got too close, she dried up.