With
any other man, I would have been nervous at the very least. But whatever Leif was about to do was going to make me laugh, I knew it.
He fussed with something on the dresser, then my mouth fell open with a gasp. Tiny pinpricks of light projected all over the walls and ceiling. It was like being in the center of a galaxy. Most of them were white, but there were enough cloudy bits of blue and purple to make it seem extra spacey.
It took me a moment to notice that the slightly larger stars, which seemed closer, were moving incredibly slowly.
Leif came over to lie beside me. “I’ve never been able to meditate. So once in a while when I’m stressed out, I lie here under the stars, and just slow down my breathing. I figure that’s close enough.”
“I’m scarcely an expert, but that sounds like a good start.”
He took my hand, threading our fingers together as we stared at the ceiling, breathing slowly. For my first time in bed with a man, it was remarkably wholesome.
I’m sure that he was doing that on purpose, so that he didn’t frighten me. But it was making me want him even more.
“I’m trying to think of a way to say this so that it doesn’t seem like I’m being too forward,” he said slowly, “but you’re welcome to sleep here under the stars with me tonight, if you like.”
Squeezing my hand, he quickly added, “Or I could put the projector in your room. There are, as always, as many options as you like.”
The thought of sleeping beside him was exhilarating. I wanted to let down my guard. I wanted to let him in. I wanted to stop being so stupidly nervous about everything.
“Well, there is plenty of room in this bed,” I said softly. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
Leif released my hand to prop himself up on his elbow, so that he could stare down at me. “Maybe through the power of sleep osmosis, some of your sweetness and light will transfer to me in our dreams,” he said with a saucy smile.
“Sleep osmosis? Is that from some sci-fi movie?”
“Nope. I just thought of it now. It could totally be a thing.”
“It’s not a thing,” I deadpanned
“Are you a scientist?” he asked. There was just enough light from the projection to pick up the sparkle in his eyes. “Until you show me your science degree, Missy, there’s definitely a microscopic chance it could be possible.”
Rolling toward him, my hand landed on his hip, then ran up his side, finally settling in the center of his chest. My racing mind was being chucked aside by the brand new physical feelings that demanded my attention.
I wanted to explore. I wanted to know what it felt like to share a lot more of myself with him.
Leif remained perfectly still, and I realized that he was waiting for me to come to him. That thoughtful gesture was the straw that broke the back of my reserve. My hand snaked around his neck, pulling his lips to mine in a slow, intoxicating kiss.
As his thick arms wrapped around me, pulling the entire length of our bodies together, I heard myself moan with contentment.
Leif’s large hand slipped up the back of my thin top to caress my skin, making him murmur softly against my mouth. “Hayden, I don’t want to scare you, but the things I’m feeling for you…so much, so fast…just touching you makes my head swim.”
“I feel the same way,” I murmured, reaching my hand into the neck of his shirt to explore the muscles across his back.
I couldn’t reach very far, so he asked, “Do you want me to take this off?”
“Yes.” Which was more surprising, that I wanted him to start undressing already, or that my answer came so darn quickly?
Leif pulled away just long enough to yank off his shirt, throwing it on the floor behind him. It was hard to keep from gasping. Now that my eyes were more accustomed to the low light, I could make out the chiseled abs and broad chest clearly.
He was gorgeous in the sun while we were in the pool, but everything certainly seemed a bit different here in the dark.
“Hayden,” he whispered, pulling me against him again. “I want to touch you, taste you everywhere. But I’ll wait if—”
“Yes.”
My lips parted as his tongue slipped in, tasting me as his hand glided under the front of my little camisole. We both shivered as his thumb coasted slowly over my nipple.