A smile lit her eyes as much as the stars glinting off her gold glasses. "I need to move forward with my life, and while sex shouldn't be everything, I think the longer I wait to figure this out, the more I'm going to worry and freeze up inside."
She gripped his shirtfront, twisting, her small fist resting against his chest. "And, God, please say something soon, before I absolutely die of embarrassment. I thought men wanted the chance at uncomplicated sex."
"Lady." He paused, shaking his head. "There isn't one thing about you that's uncomplicated. And that's one of the many things I like about you."
"So all my babbling there made sense somehow?"
"Absolutely." Easing back with a quick, tender-as-he-could-make-it kiss, he shifted the Jeep into gear.
Later he would think about the fact that he didn't feel much like the man she described. In spite of his countless flaws he recognized well, he'd always prided himself on never starting a relationship if it didn't stand at least a chance of going somewhere. For the first time, he was about to break his rule.
Because no way in hell could he turn his back on the chance to be with this woman even just once.
Chapter 12
Outside Bo's house, Paige grappled for the Jeep's door handle while chanting in her head that she could do this, she would do this. She wanted this, him, all of it, so don't think.
Do not think. After a mad dash across town for privacy— a mad dash across the country since they'd left North Dakota, for that matter—finally they were alone.
Bo grazed her arm with his knuckles. "Sit tight. I'll be right around."
To open the door for her? Old-fashioned, but sweet nonetheless. Although, she hoped he would hurry before she thought too much about all the embarrassing things she'd told him while sitting outside her old house. She watched Bo through the windshield as he sprinted around the hood with a speed and obvious urgency that sent a jolt of anticipation through her.
He swept the door open, dropped his keys in her hands and scooped her out of the front seat, startling a surprised yelp from her as she grabbed his shoulders for balance. "You're crazy."
"For you? Hell, yeah." He charged up the front walk to his house carrying her, stars dancing overhead as she jostled. "Unlock the door, would ya? Use the key with the red-tape marking."
"You could put me down."
"Or you could just open the door so we can get inside sooner."
"Fair enough. One red-tape key coming up."
Once inside, he slid her down along the front of him until there was no mistaking how very much he wanted her. "Finally."
"Finally," she echoed against his mouth.
Looping her arms around his neck, she urged his head down and took the most from the moment as fully as she took his mouth, his kiss, the heat of more dry lightning and want that had been building for weeks. Even longer perhaps, years since she'd indulged in fantasies of a man and a moment just like this.
Bo skimmed more kisses along her cheek, up into her hair until he nuzzled in that way he had of catching her fragrance, which sent a whole new shiver through her. Thank goodness she'd allowed herself the silly vanity of jasmine-scented shampoo and loose hair for the evening.
Her hands climbed inside his shirt to hold him closer, and yes, to feel the warmth of his skin. "I think it's time we test out your sexual peaking theory."
"With any luck," he paused, inhaling along her neck, "there's going to be plenty of peaking going on soon."
"How soon?" She arched to look up at him, which happened to bring her h*ps closer to his, cradling the hard ridge of his obvious desire against her stomach with delicious intimacy.
"Not too soon, I hope. Although if you keep wriggling like that..." He groaned, backing her toward the hall, his arms linked around her waist guiding her along with him in a sort of tuneless dance toward his bedroom.
She'd showered in the guest bath earlier while he was in his room, so there hadn't been time to see more of where he lived. Although in seconds she would be seeing far more of him.
He toed open the door. "Time to live in the moment. No intrusions or interruptions."
They crossed the threshold into his room, the ardent caress of his hands beneath her shirt leaving little rational thought to register much of her surroundings beyond the queen-size bed, a framed Hard Rock Cafe poster...and yes, yes, yes, a sprawling bed with an inviting red-striped comforter.
And had she mentioned the big bed? "No interruptions?"
"None." He backed from her slowly, hands touching until the very...last...second.