“Hmmm, you’re probably right. There are some beautiful shades of grey that may be a better choice until I ease you into the color wheel.”
“Sounds like I’m getting a woman’s touch?”
“Only if you want it.”
“We’ll find time this weekend to hit a store.”
She jerks, her eyes lighting up. “You’ll go shopping?”
“I’ve shopped before, but bet going with you will be more fun.”
“I’ll make it fun, promise.”
My hands settle on the small of her back, my palms cupping her ass and closing the few inches between us. “Whatever makes you more comfortable when you’re here.”
The light in her eyes fades, and she tightens the hold on my neck. “I don’t need anything but you.”
The raw honesty in her voice hits me deep, and my forehead falls to hers, searching to find the right words. “Harley,” her name comes out strained and she nuzzles closer.
“We’re new and things have been shaky. Maybe it’s too soon to say that, but I haven’t exactly hidden my feelings.”
“We covered this ground. Never keep things from me.”
“It feels surreal, standing here in your arms like this.” She tilts her neck, sweeping her lips across mine tenderly. “I really, really like it.”
We stay this way for a few minutes, kissing gently. A slow burn builds inside, racing through my veins. Her tongue slips through my lips, curling around mine at the same time she arches her back and presses deep into me. My hands slide down, bunching the material of her skirt until my fingertips glide over her silky smooth skin.
“Baby, where is the rest of your underwear?”
“I don’t like panty lines.” She smiles against my lips.
A new hunger builds inside, and I growl down her throat, gripping her ass cheeks firmly. She shifts her hips, purposely rubbing against the bulge in my shorts, and I rip my mouth from hers, dropping my face to the column of her throat. My tongue darts out to lick the vein racing against my lips. “We need to leave this room.” The statement comes out more as a warning.
“Why?”
“You know why.”
She sighs. “One of these days, I’m breaking through that impenetrable self-restraint.”
I bend my knees, lowering my hands to her thighs, and hoist her up, twisting to sit her on my dresser. She lets out a small yelp, locking her ankles around my hips, and when I pull back, her eyes are glittering wildly.
“My self-restraint is non-existent with you.”
The argument forms on her face, telling me what she’s thinking. Before she can speak, I continue. “Forget about the years we were apart, because that wasn’t as much restraint as it was determination.”
“What about now?”
“Now it’s about much more. I’m not sure I can explain it.”
“Try.”
I slide one hand from under her thigh, along her back, until my fingers thread in her hair. “I’ve waited a long time for you to be mine, Harley. And I’m never taking that for granted. Fucking you against a shower wall or dresser for our first time isn’t the way I want this to happen.”
She tries to bow her head, but I hold her in place. “Let me do this my way.”
“I don’t have a choice.” Her voice is small, and a tinge of pink splotches her cheeks.
“You deserve to be cherished and devoured by a man who knows how lucky he is to have you. Fortunately, that man is me. Wipe any doubts from your mind and trust me.”
“I’ve always trusted you.”
A new high rushes through my system. This is an honor that I’ve felt only a few times in my life. But unlike those times that were wrapped in tactical and power accomplishments, this is much more. “How about dinner?”
“I am hungry. I skipped lunch today to run a few errands.”
“What errands? I had the day off, you could have asked me.”
A coy smile tugs at her lips. “The kind of errands a woman does to surprise her boyfriend.”
The possibilities of her ‘surprises’ set my mind spinning. We have to get out of this room before I break every one of my rules. “Let’s go.”
“Are we going out or staying here?”
“Staying here.”
“Then do you mind if I change?”
“No.” I set her down and smooth her skirt. “I’ll wait.”
She throws a wicked glance my way and reaches behind her to unzip the skirt while walking to her bag. Once there, she slides the skirt off. I plant my feet and cross my arms, watching her every move. She unbuttons the four buttons on the front of her blouse and slips it over her head, leaving her in nothing but the deep purple matching bra and skimpy panty set, and strappy silver heels. As hard as I try to keep my eyes straight, I can’t stop them from roaming over her.
She bends over her bag, taking her time digging through, and turns slightly to give me a view of her ass. The same perfect fucking view she teased me with in the shower.