Secret Weapon

“Okay.”

“What do you think about the fact that I have sex with Derek and Jonas and…?” She hesitated.

“And Sloan?”

She nodded.

“Well, it’s pretty hot.”

“You don’t think there’s anything wrong with it?”

“Of course not. All of you obviously have a strong mutual respect and a lot of affection for each other. And you don’t just grab any guy off the street and jump in the sack with him, I assume.”

“When I first had sex with you, I didn’t even know who you were.” She stared at her cup, swirling the liquid around inside it.

“Yeah, but that was a stranger fantasy and you trusted Sloan’s judgment. And Sloan is exceptionally trustworthy.”

“A lot of people would think that I’m … a little reckless.”

“Look, sweetheart. When it all comes down to it, it’s just sex. There’s nothing wrong with a little recreational sex. And living out your fantasies.” He grinned. “That’s incredibly exciting.” He tipped up her chin and gazed into her uncertain blue eyes. “And I think when you find you want a deeper relationship, you’ll make some man … or men … very happy.”

Her eyes widened.

“So you’d be … open to a long-term relationship with me … and other men?”

“I want to be with you. If you want to be with me, too, long-term … then we’ll figure it out.”

“I … um … last night, when you said…”

“When I said ‘I love you’ and you said ‘that’s so good’? Or were you just commenting on my technique?”

“I…” She took his hands in hers. “I have to be honest with you. I think the world of you, but…” Oh, damn, how could she say this?

The gleam in his eyes faded and he slumped a little. “Oh, boy. Here it comes.”

She squeezed his hands. “Liam, you just got out of a long-term relationship. Isn’t it possible you’re just a little eager to find someone? That you really want to be in a relationship so you’ve convinced yourself you’re in love with me?”

He stroked her hair from her face, tucking it behind one ear with a gentleness that touched her heart. “Janine, you’re a very special woman. I don’t have to convince myself to love you.”

She tipped her head and smiled. “That’s very sweet, and I told you I feel something special for you, too, but it’s not love. Isn’t it possible that what you feel for me isn’t l

ove, either?”

His lips compressed and he shook his head slowly. “I don’t know. I just know that I don’t want to let you go. I want to keep seeing you.” He drew her closer, his green eyes staring deeply into hers, and cupped her cheek. “To keep touching you, and holding you.”

She smiled. “And making love to me.”

“And definitely making love to you.”

She leaned forward and kissed him. A sweet, tender kiss. “And I want that, too. We have a very special connection.” She kissed him again. “But not love. Okay?”

He nodded. “Maybe I was a little overzealous. I’ve just never met anyone like you before.” He leaned back. “So let me ask you something.”

“What’s that?”

“Are you in love with Sloan?”

Her heart thundered in her chest at his words. She pursed her lips. “That’s … a little complicated.”