Three Little Words (Fool's Gold #12)

She blinked at him.

“I can feel you withdrawing,” he told her. “Don’t do that. Stay with me.”

“I’m here,” she assured him.

She could see he was worried. There was tension in his shoulders. He was frustrated by what he didn’t know and too much of a gentleman to push for an answer. An impossible situation. She didn’t know how he stood it.

Not knowing what else to do, she closed the distance between them and put her hands on his chest. “Kiss me.”

He wrapped his arms around her and obliged.

As always his mouth was firm but gentle. His lips claimed hers with restrained passion. He wanted her, but he wouldn’t push. He wouldn’t take. When he moved his tongue against her lower lip, she parted for him.

With the first stroke, she felt the burning heat of arousal between her thighs. Her br**sts ached. She wanted to tell herself it was because she hadn’t had sex in what felt like forever. But she knew that wasn’t the reason. The real reason was she hadn’t made love with someone she liked in years. Not since she was much younger and willing to trust.

He drew back. “Stop it,” he told her. “Stop going away.”

He felt that? Could sense her mind drifting?

“I can’t help it,” she admitted, unsettled by his ability to read her. She both wanted more and was terrified by the implications. “You frighten me.”

“Not possible. How can I do that?”

She turned back, aware her emotions had come to the surface. Control seemed tenuous at best. But this was Kent and she couldn’t lie.

“You like me,” she admitted. “You know as much as I’ve ever let anyone see and you like me.”

He looked confused. “I don’t understand.”

She waved at him, indicating his face and his body. “This is who you are. You have flaws and good qualities. Your life is predictable. You call your mother, give to charity. I’ve been trained to reveal nothing. To give the appearance of being someone I’m not. I survived by being tough.”

“Not exactly pillow talk, but okay.” He stepped toward her. “I trust you, Consuelo. You’re right. I like you a lot. You’re complicated, but I can deal.”

There it was. Acceptance. He knew there were secrets and he didn’t care. He trusted her.

She wanted to argue, to tell him he was wrong. That she wasn’t trustworthy. Only she knew in her gut that she would never do anything to hurt this man. She couldn’t. It would be easier to cut out her own heart.

Walking away was the easy answer, she thought. So simple and what she knew. The harder path was to stay.

She glanced at the stairs, then back to him. Without saying anything, she took his hand.

She led him to the main floor and then down the hall to the master. Once there, she closed the door and turned on the lamp by the bed. Then she faced him.

A half smile tugged at his lips. He stood by the bed, his stance relaxed, his posture straight. As if he had all the time in the world.

She’d worn a long-sleeved knit dress and high heels. She stepped out of the heels, then undid the side zipper and let her dress drop to the carpet. That left her wearing a push-up bra and a thong.

Kent’s eyes widened. She watched him swallow, try to speak then shake his head.

“Holy shit,” he muttered.

She laughed, feeling the last of her concerns fall away as easily as the dress. Maybe there were issues she had to deal with, but that was for another time. Right now she wanted to make love with Kent. She wanted his hands on her body and his tongue in her mouth. She wanted to stop thinking and start feeling.

She put her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “Well?”

“Okay, then.”

He unbuttoned his long-sleeved shirt and shrugged out of it. Shoes and socks followed. He was in good shape. Not overly honed like the men she worked with, which she liked. Kent looked like what he was. A suburban dad with a sexy edge, she thought, as a shiver of desire slipped through her.

He stepped out of his jeans, leaving him in surprisingly small briefs. The dark cotton fabric sat low on his hips and barely contained his impressive erection. The muscles deep in her belly clenched.

“I would have guessed white,” she said, pointing to the briefs and walking toward him.

“I think these are more fashion forward.”

She laughed and continued moving until she was nearly touching him, but not quite.

“You’re incredibly beautiful,” he said, staring into her eyes. “And your body. Jeez. Can I just...”

He hesitated, as if not sure asking was okay.

“Anything,” she said, curious as to what he would touch first.

His hands settled on her hips, then slowly, so slowly, circled around to her butt. He cupped the muscled curve and squeezed. His eyes drifted closed as his fingers dug in deep.