“I don’t want to give you up either.”
He dropped his fork, reached for her, and pulled her from her chair and into his lap. “You have no idea how much that means to me.”
She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I think I can guess.”
He snorted. “Smartass.”
She shrugged.
He lowered his head and took her lips.
A breath shuddered from her lungs as her body started to tremble. Her breasts tightened, and the inside of her thighs flooded with wet heat. She mewled her displeasure when he raised his head, making him smile.
“How about we finish dinner and we’ll take showers? We can watch a movie before bedtime.”
Although she was disappointed he had stopped, she knew he was trying to please her and not push. She nodded and sat up. He helped her to sit back in her chair.
She picked up her fork and started eating again.
Elation had taken over her emotions even as she tried to think in a normal, calm way and not let her feelings get out of control. She had been planning on asking him to take her home, but the thought of being away from him physically hurt, so she decided to stay but still keep things at a slow pace. The fact he wasn’t pushing her into having sex made the decision easier.
At bedtime, they both showered and then cuddled, entwined together under the covers. She always wore her panties and one of his shirts, and he wore his boxers because he’d told her how much harder it would be to keep his hands to himself if she were naked.
It seemed so natural, like they’d been doing it for months or even years instead of the few times they’d spent the night together. It just felt right.
She waited impatiently for what always happened next.
He lifted himself up onto his elbow and looked down at her. “Are you ready for a kiss?”
She grinned and reached up to slide her fingers into his soft damp hair. “I’d like that very much.”
He bent forward and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead, then her cheeks, and then took her lips. Right away, it felt like an inferno started to build inside of her. She mewled as she tried to press herself tighter against him. “Please.”
“Please, what, baby?”
“I need your hands on me.”
He slid his hand up and down her torso before sliding it underneath the shirt she wore and cupped her breast, making her arch off the mattress.
“Do you like having my hands on you?”
“God, yes,” she hissed. “I need more.”
“We can’t go too far, baby. How about we kiss, and I play with your breasts? I just don’t want to push you into anything when your desire is strong, and you can’t think straight.”
She nodded and gave herself over to the sensations he built in her.
“If we go much longer, we’re both going to be aching more than we already are.”
“Then let’s stop. I already ache, and I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable either.”
He placed one more sweet kiss on her lips before pulling his hand out and tucking her against him. “Good night, love.”
“Good night.”
Later that night, as she lay awake, one scenario after another played through her mind. One big part of her wanted to give herself over to him and let herself go while the small, cautious part of her screamed at her to slow down.
She decided to give herself a few weeks to see how she felt before she let him have her heart, body, and soul. Although, she knew she wouldn’t be able to wait to let him make love to her. Her cravings were getting out of hand, and it had started to affect her work. She couldn’t afford to lose her job. It was the only stable thing in her life she could depend on one hundred percent.
As the days passed, she became more comfortable with him and started to open up more. It terrified her on some levels, but the thought of not being with him frightened her more.
Chapter Eleven
The next few weeks seemed to fly by, and it seemed every day that passed, more and more of her stuff was ending up at Kaleb’s. He was also going crazy buying things for her and spending too much money, she thought, but she hadn’t gotten him to listen to her yet when she begged him to stop buying things.
The last time she complained, he cupped her face and told her how much enjoyment he got out of seeing her in things he’d bought her. Since then, she hadn’t said anything when she saw new things in her closet, in the kitchen, or around the house.
He had just picked her up at work on a Friday, and she could tell something was wrong.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen today?”
Kaleb squeezed her hand. “No, not really.”
“Kaleb, tell me? Does it have anything to do with us?”
He glanced at her when they stopped at a light. “Yes.”
She felt her stomach twist painfully, and her heart throbbed in her chest. “Do you want us to break up?”
His head jerked toward her, and a frown darkened his face. “Jesus Christ, absolutely not. That’s never going to happen.”
She relaxed at the emotion that rushed from him. “Then what?”
“I know you think we haven’t been together a long time, and you’re still feeling insecure, but the fact you still have your place is driving me nuts.”
“Why?”
“It makes me feel like you’re not truly, one hundred percent mine yet because you have an easy out if you get mad at me.”
“I wouldn’t leave if I got mad. I can’t see myself ever wanting to leave you.”
“Then give up your place and
