“I don’t expect a life with no ups and downs, but I want to feel something with my whole heart. Not a relationship that looks good on paper, or seems logical. I want an emotional connection. I want someone who wants me. Not a version of me, but the real me. I want to be loved and accepted for who I am. Love with no reservations. Is that wrong?”
“No.” His voice sounded rough. “It isn’t wrong.”
“But I’m asking a lot.”
“I’m not an expert.” All he knew was that he’d never felt any of the things she’d described.
“I never expected love to just land on my doorstep. That’s why I date and go out and have a good time. You can’t meet someone unless you get
out there.” She leaned her head on his chest and he hesitated, conflicted.
He’d convinced himself that their relationship didn’t contain an emotional element but she hadn’t stepped into his arms for sex, she’d done it for comfort.
He probably should have pushed her away, but instead he closed his arms round her, holding her tightly.
She was probably hoping for words of reassurance but he had none to offer.
All he knew was that he wanted to make her feel better.
Lifting his hand, he smoothed her hair. He wanted to slide his fingers through the silky strands and kiss her until she could no longer pronounce Richard’s name. But that was sex, not comfort, so he took that urge and buried it deep.
He was barely breathing, doing his best to keep their contact low-key and under control, but then she pressed closer to him.
He breathed in the scent of her, felt softness and curves blend with the hard lines of his own body, and stilled.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to ease away from her but she pressed herself closer.
“Kiss me.”
“Sky—”
Her arms were round his neck. “I want you to kiss me.”
He should let her go. Nothing, he knew, had the potential to shift the delicate balance of a sexual relationship like strong emotions, but the strong emotions were the reason he couldn’t let her go.
He slid his hand down her back, drawing her against him, and she rose on tiptoe and kissed him, the way she had that evening in the London Eye.
Her lips were soft and searching and he opened her mouth with his and heard her purr of pleasure as his tongue slid against hers.
The intimate contact changed everything. The kiss went from comfort to carnal in a single scorching breath. The blood pumped through his veins until the sheer heat of desire threatened to incinerate them both.
“Alec—” Her arms tightened round his neck and he nudged her back against the fridge.
His brain was screaming at him to stop. Sex with emotion wasn’t what either of them had signed up for, but she was urging him on, her fingers in his hair.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” But he couldn’t stop kissing her, couldn’t stop tasting her. She was soft and sweet and sexy as hell and she pressed closer still, the heat of her driving every thought from his brain.
“You’re not hurting me. You’re making everything better.” Her hands went to the front of his shirt, her fingers freeing buttons until it fell open and he felt her hands slide over his skin, stroking and exploring with fevered desperation. And then her fingers were on the snap of his jeans and his brain ceased to function.
He was so hard she struggled to free him and he covered her hand with his and helped her, his mouth greedy on hers as they kissed.
Her clothes proved easier, or maybe he was more desperate because they fell away under his impatient hands until she was naked from the waist down.
Without breaking the kiss, he lifted her and sat her on the counter.
She wound her legs around him, and he felt her fingers dig hard into his shoulders.
Still kissing her, he shifted position and buried himself deep.