Moving carefully, he rested his hands on her shoulders and brought her around to face him. “Do you honestly think it was just a ride on the Ferris wheel that brought us to this?”
As though to keep her lower lip from trembling, she pulled it through her teeth and shook her head no.
Placing his arms around her, he drew her close and hugged her. Just that. And he held her for a long time, with his cheek resting on the crown of her head, toes touching, sharing body heat. Barefoot, swaddled in his T-shirt, she seemed smaller and daintier than before. Embracing her like this made him feel virile and protective. In fact, since meeting her, he had felt like goddamn Conan.
He chuckled at the thought. She raised her head from his chest and looked up at him. “What?”
“Nothing. Just thinking how good you make me feel.” Then his smile was replaced by a worried frown. “What about you? Are you all right?”
She tilted her head in puzzlement. “Yes.”
“I mean… with… you know.”
“Oh.” Her gaze dropped to his Adam’s apple. “Yes. Thank you for doing the responsible thing.”
He kept a box of condoms in the nightstand drawer. But never had one been so difficult to open and put on. Embarrassed now by his clumsy wrestling match with the stubborn thing, at a time when he had wanted to be at his suavest, he muttered, “In the nick of time.”
Surprising him, she rested her hands on his chest and stroked it lightly. Hardly above a whisper, she said, “For me, too.”
Desire was manifested in a low moan as he cupped her chin in his hand and tilted her head back for his kiss. Passions sparked again. Ignited. Burned. Hotter than before.
The whispers intensified the intimacy.
“You like this.”
“Yes.”
“Too hard?”
“No.”
“I didn’t realize.”
“Neither did I.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It didn’t matter.”
“But if I hurt you—”
“You didn’t. You won’t.”
“Do you mind if…”
“No.”
“Jesus. Look at you. Beautiful. You’re already—”
“Yes.”
“So—”
“Oh…”
“Wet.”
“I’m sorry, sorry.”