up with you, spend the night making love with you. But only if that’s what you want, too.”
When she didn’t answer right away, he figured he’d pushed too hard. But then she nodded. “I’d like that,” she murmured in a low voice.
He let out his breath in a soundless sigh. Last night they’d been carried away by the slow dancing and champagne. Tonight it was a deliberate decision, on his part and on hers. One that he didn’t want her to regret.
“I’m so glad,” he said. “I was afraid you were going to make me beg.”
“Never,” she murmured with a laugh, and the last of his tension eased away.
He’d never looked forward to being with anyone the way he wanted to be with Molly.
Molly couldn’t believe Dan had spoken so bluntly about how he wanted to spend the rest of their night. As they rode the elevator up to her apartment, she was tempted to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming. He’d been so wonderful, so attentive at dinner. For the first time in so long she felt beautiful, special.
And she wanted to hold on to that feeling for at least a little while longer.
She couldn’t believe this was a mistake. Not when it felt so right. They were going to make love. She knew it. He knew it. For some reason, inviting him up last night had been easier but, oddly enough, she found tonight to be more romantic.
At least now she knew that he truly wanted her. Almost as much as she wanted him.
Still, she was nervous about taking this step, knowing that once they made love there was no going back. As they stepped into her apartment, she mentally kicked herself for not going out to buy some wine today, rather than window shopping.
“I only have soft drinks to offer you,” she said apologetically, when he’d closed the apartment door. She turned to go into the minuscule kitchen to get something for them to drink out of the fridge.
“Molly …” The way he said her name made her heart melt, and when he stopped her and pulled her close she didn’t resist. “I didn’t come here for something to drink. I came here for you.”
Before she could say anything more, he lowered his head and kissed her. Instantly, she forgot everything except how much she loved his mouth taking possession of hers.
Somehow he slid her coat off without her knowing, gathering her close as he deepened the kiss. She clung to his broad shoulders, enjoying the combination of sweetness and strength.
When he lifted his head and led her down the hall toward her bedroom, she gasped for breath and tried to gather her scattered thoughts.
“Are you sure Josh is all right?” she asked, when they entered her bedroom. Was she crazy to be here with him like this? “Maybe you should check on him.”
Dan yanked her close and kissed her again. “Are you stalling?” he asked a minute or so later. “Nothing short of a tornado is going to stop me from making love to you tonight.”
She laughed, but then her mouth went dry when he gently pulled her sweater up and over her head. In mere seconds he’d loosened the waistband of her skirt until the garment fell and pooled at her feet. Her bra and panties quickly followed.
For a moment she wanted to cover herself, but then his eyes darkened as he gazed at her. “You’re so incredibly beautiful, Molly,” he said in a voice husky with need.
She couldn’t speak, but tugged at his clothes until he was as naked as she was. And then he kissed her, and kept kissing her, even as he picked her up and carried her over to the bed.
Warmth radiated from his skin and she trailed her hands up and over his biceps, enjoying the sensation of springy hair as she reached his chest, softening the strong muscles. She loved being able to touch him. All over.
Everywhere.
When she trailed her hands down to his magnificent butt, he growled low in his throat and left a trail of kisses as he made his way down to her breast.
She gasped and arched her back when he licked and suckled her nipple. Moving restlessly beneath him, she tried to pull him closer.
“Plenty of time,” he murmured between kissing the tip of one breast and then the other. “I want to taste every inch.”
Dear heaven, she wanted that, too.
“Molly.” He lifted his head and stared at her. “You’re sure about this, right? You haven’t changed your mind?”
And just like that her nervousness faded away. She reached up to rest her palm against the side of his face, the same caress he’d given her after falling out of his wheelchair. “Yes, I’m sure. I haven’t changed my mind.”
“Thank God,” he muttered, and lowered his head once again to her breast.
And then all ability to think vanished as he proceeded to make good on his promise to kiss her all over.
Molly closed her eyes and hugged Dan close as their ragged breathing gradually slowed. The intensity of his lovemaking was unlike anything she’d experienced in her entire life.
After a few minutes Dan groaned and rolled over onto his side, taking her with him, apparently unwilling to let her go. She tucked her head into the hollow of his shoulder, and inhaled deeply, filling her nose with his scent.
She must have dozed even though she hadn’t intended to. But she woke up when she felt Dan ease away from her and roll off the bed.
“Where are you going?” she asked, before she could bite her tongue.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to wake you.”
She clutched the sheet to her chest and squinted toward the blue illuminated numbers on her alarm clock. “It’s barely five o’clock in the morning.”
“I know, but I need to get home before Josh wakes up.” He sounded apologetic but drew on his clothes. “I was trying to decide if I should wake you up or just let you sleep.”
He’d obviously chosen the latter, although he couldn’t know she was an extremely light sleeper. She tried not to feel bad that he was leaving. Logically, she knew he needed to get home to his son. For some foolish reason she’d envisioned them sharing a quiet breakfast together.
“Go back to sleep, Molly,” he murmured, leaning over to kiss her. “I’ll call you later on today, all right?”
“Sure.” She forced herself to get up and grab her robe, so that she could lock the apartment door behind him. She clutched the lapel tight and tried to smile. “Good night, Dan.”
“Good night, Molly.” He kissed her again before he left. And she locked the door behind him and went back to bed.
But she didn’t sleep. Being all alone in the aftermath of the intense pleasure they’d shared brought all her earlier doubts back. Had he been anxious to leave? Had he planned all along to leave before she’d woken up? Was he regretting staying with her even as long as he had? Had he realized she was nothing more than a plain Jane with nothing special to offer?
Had
