won’t.” Did she really believe that? That the act itself wouldn’t hurt? No. But even if there was some kind of physical discomfort, she knew that he would never wound her deep down inside, where it really mattered.
“Then promise me.”
“I—I... It’s too embarrassing.” She averted her eyes.
“You don’t have to use words. If you don’t like something I’m doing, hold onto me like this...” he gripped her arms “...and push. That’ll be my signal to back off. It’s that easy. And I’ll be okay with it. I promise.”
“Are you sure?”
“Have I ever broken a promise to you?”
“No.”
He leaned down and kissed her lips. “Okay. Your turn. Promise me.”
She waited long seconds before she got up the nerve to say it. “I promise.”
* * *
At her words Brad released the tension that had been steadily building in his jaw. He wanted this woman more than he’d ever wanted anyone in his life. And he’d just promised to stop the second she gave his arms a little squeeze. He hoped to hell he actually could. It had taken almost every ounce of his strength to sit up when she’d shaken her head and refused to agree to his terms. But he’d found the willpower then, and he would find it again if it came down to it. But right now all he wanted to do was kiss that beautiful mouth all over again.
The second his lips lingered on hers, a sigh rippled through her chest as if she’d been waiting her whole life for this. The thought inflamed him, made him want to take her in a rush, but he pushed the need aside and instead savored the way she returned his kisses, reveled in the tiny sounds she made when he lifted his head to move somewhere else. How could any man in his right mind call her frigid?
Chloe was anything but.
Instead, there was an untapped innocence about her that he’d never thought he’d find sexy—until now. Virgins need not apply had always been his motto.
He didn’t need the headaches or the complications. But this was something very different. And he found himself wanting to break all his self-made rules to have her.
Just this once.
Chloe wasn’t looking for another husband. And he certainly wasn’t looking for anything lasting either.
Maybe he was as untouched as Chloe was, in some ways. And that thought made him tighten all over again.
Her hands on his shoulders pulled him back to her, until they were breast to chest. He eased away just long enough to recline beside her again, then wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her neck and breathing her scent deep into his lungs. When her head shifted slightly once or twice, he leaned back and frowned, then realized her ponytail was pressing against the cushions.
That couldn’t be comfortable. “Let me get that.”
He tilted her head to the side, finding the elastic and sliding the loops—one at a time—over the length of hair. His fingers pushed into the thick, glossy strands and set them free. “Better?”
“Yes.” She licked her lips. “Do you want to go into the bedroom?”
He did. Wanted to see her sprawled on that huge bed for a reason other than sleep, wanted to watch as she straddled him and took him deep inside. But something made him hesitate. That refusal to promise to make him stop.
Had she done that before? Let Travis do things she didn’t want to do without attempting to stop him?
He nuzzled her cheek, his decision made. “Let’s stay here for a while.”
He was going to make this all about Chloe. Show her that all men were not created equal. Some really did care about their partner’s enjoyment. Show her how much it enhanced his own pleasure to know she was responding to his touch. To his murmured words.
He could wait. For ever, if necessary. But he had a feeling Chloe had already been kept waiting far too long.
IT BURNED.
His touch. His lips. His body—even through his clothes. And Chloe was slowly going up in flames.
She’d never gotten this far before without tensing, without dreading what she knew was coming next. But Brad’s fingers had edged beneath the hem of her shirt with care, sliding over the bare skin of her stomach until she found herself arching toward him rather than cringing away inside. He’d spent what had seemed like hours just getting to this point. As if there were nowhere else he’d rather be.
Lips touched her. Skated over her collarbone just as his hand covered her left breast, using the barest amount of friction. She pushed into his palm, asking silently for more. He responded with an equal amount of pressure in return.
He was right. She didn’t need words.
And neither did he, evidently. His actions spoke volumes.
He cared about how she felt. About what she wanted. Something about that was freeing. Made her realize that Travis had been all wrong about her. She was able to respond. Just not to him.
Chloe pulled in a deep breath to increase the contact, wanting something but not sure what it was. When he kissed the corner of her mouth and stayed there while he trapped her nipple between his fingertips, a whimper erupted from her throat.
That’s what she’d wanted. He’d known.
His breath released on a shaky note. “You’re driving me crazy, you know.”
She was driving him crazy? He didn’t know the half of it. She was so far over the edge she wasn’t sure she’d ever be able to make it back in one piece.
Turning her head, she captured his mouth, letting him know the feeling was mutual. He deepened the kiss, his tongue finding hers and coaxing it to follow his, until she found herself where she’d never thought she’d be. He tasted of wine and all things male, and she slid her tongue in a little bit further. He rewarded her by stroking the pad of his thumb across her imprisoned nipple.
The pleasure intensified, along with her desire to take things to the next level. She’d never craved the male and female joining the way she did now. It reminded her of the expectations she’d had when she’d been young and naïve. Before they’d been shattered by reality.
But Brad was making her hope all over again.
Even through her bra the pleasure had been intense, but the second he pushed the fabric aside and the contact was flesh against flesh, she grabbed hold of his arms, hanging on for dear life.
Brad froze, and she wasn’t sure what was wrong for a second then remembered their signal. He really would stop.
The second she asked.
Instead of pushing him away, she pulled
