MATT WATCHED PENNY walk around his bedroom. She picked up the cologne on the dresser and sniffed it. Then she picked up the few items of clothing he’d dropped on the floor and folded them, placing them neatly on top of the dresser.
“This room looks like you. It’s definitely a tough-guy room.” She glanced back at him with a grin.
“I’m just glad to have you here, in my home. Finally.”
“I’m glad I’m here too. I almost didn’t come.”
“Why did you, Penny? Really? You know I want you. I couldn’t deny that even if I wanted to. I’m pretty sure my hard-ons give me away. But I want more than that. So much more. If you don’t feel that way about me, then it’s probably better that we continue to keep our distance. I can’t survive another day of making love only to have you push me out the door as soon as it’s over.”
“I want to tell you something.” Penny stepped away from the dresser and took his hand. She dragged him over to the bed. They sat on the edge, facing each other. After a few moments, she started talking. “Before I met you, I dated a really great guy.”
“The suit?” Matt could barely keep himself from growling and beating his chest.
“Yeah. His name was Scott and he was an assistant district attorney. He was smart, handsome, and a genuinely nice guy.” Penny dropped his hand and stood. She paced back and forth on the carpet a few times before she stood before him.
“So what happened?” It wasn’t like he didn’t already know, sort of. However, he wanted to hear it from her. It wasn’t enough to know they’d broken up. He needed to know how. He needed to know why. Was it because the other guy had moved on? Or was it Penny’s doing?
He hoped it was Penny’s doing.
Penny sighed and held up her hands. “I don’t know. That was the whole problem. On paper we were perfect together. I might have gone on to marry him except something happened.” She turned and looked at him. The look in her eyes was so unbelievably tender that Matt couldn’t believe it was directed at him. “I saw you again. After that I couldn’t even contemplate marrying him. Everything missing in my relationship with Scott was what I felt for you.”
Yes. Matt wanted to howl at the moon he was so overjoyed. There wasn’t anything in the world a man wanted to hear more than his woman declaring that he gave her what no one else could.
“As soon as we met, I felt that connection I was always hearing about. I wanted to be near you, to talk to you. To kiss you.” She blushed a little and sat next to him. “It made me uncomfortable at first since you were coming to me for help. But I looked forward to seeing you week after week. The days you missed treatment were really hard to get through.”
“They were for me too, baby. You have been the highlight of my life for the past two months. I want so much more from you than an occasional night of passion. Do you? Or is that enough for you?”
Penny climbed into his lap and held his face between her palms. “I’m so sorry I treated you the way I did. I was just running scared. I do want more from you. I just don’t know how much more, and I know that’s not fair to you.”
“Let me worry about what’s fair to me. Just spend a little time with me. By the time I’m done with therapy, you’ll know if you want me to stay.”
“What if I don’t?”
“You’ll know.” He pulled her closer and held her still so she couldn’t look away. “So beautiful.” He trailed his fingers up and down her arms and she shivered under his caress.
“I love the way you touch me. You always make me feel so feminine and beautiful. You touch me like I’m delicate, even though I’m not.”
“You’re not delicate, you’re strong, which I find incredibly sexy. But being strong doesn’t mean you aren’t precious. Because you are, Penny. You are so very precious to me.”
She let out a soft pant and gripped the front of his shirt in her hands.
He took that as a directive and pulled his shirt over his head. “That can go.”
Her hands raced over his skin greedily. When she skimmed over his stomach and stopped at the waistband of his shorts, it was Matt’s turn to hold his breath with anticipation. He lifted his hips so she could unbutton him and then helped her slide them off. He quickly shed everything else while Penny took off her own clothes.
When she leaned over him the next time, her magnificent breasts swung in his face. It was a privilege to cup the heavy weights and take a taut nipple in his mouth. She sighed above him as he gently laved the tip. He loved watching her fall apart, the faces she made, the soft sounds that rose from the back of her throat.
He rose and walked to the bed, kissing and caressing the whole way. By the time they fell atop his sheets, Penny straddled him. She looked into his face as she took him deep inside. Matt gripped her hips as she rocked against him, taking him closer and closer to the edge every time. It wasn’t long before he hung suspended on the edge, staring up into Penny’s eyes.
They tumbled over together, Penny gasping her pleasure against his mouth.
After a few minutes of cuddling, Matt reluctantly got up to dispose of the condom. Once he got back in bed, he yanked Penny back against his chest.
“This time you aren’t running out on me.” He held her tightly and rolled, tucking her against his side. Her back was slick with sweat and it gave him a visceral level of satisfaction to know he’d worked her up. After a few minutes, Penny pushed up to sitting. His grip on her waist tightened.
“I’m not running away. Promise.” Penny’s eyes sparkled as she climbed from the bed. “I just need to wash my makeup off before I fall asleep.”
Matt dozed lightly, hearing the distant sounds she made, cabinets opening and shutting, running water, and the squeak of the pipes as she turned the faucet off. The bed dipped under her weight a few minutes later and his eyes popped open.