“Believe me, I’d love nothing more,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. “But not in that ridiculous outfit. Put on some jeans and a T-shirt. Then I’ll see if I’m ready to listen to what you have to say.”
He sighed. “I thought… I’d hoped you’d be pleased with my clothes and appearance.”
“This isn’t you, Stunner. At least, not the Stunner I know. Some blonde bimbo in Florida change all that?” Could she be any snippier? “Did the women of Salvation’s Bane prove to be more than you had at home? More sophisticated and sexy? Did they take care of those manly needs all men seem to have?” She knew this was more than she had a right to throw at him. Given her past, it was downright cruel, but she couldn’t stop the words and hurt and anger. She’d kept everything bottled up so tightly, only letting a little of it out when she realized he wasn’t going to call her back, that there was simply no stopping the emotional explosion now.
“No, Suzie,” he said, scrubbing a hand over his face like he was tired beyond description. “I’m sorry.”
She sighed, a little deflated once the initial explosion was out. “No reason to be sorry. I’m in a bad mood and taking it out on you.” She took the two steps separating them and wrapped her arms around his middle. “I’ve missed you so much.” His arms came around her, holding her as tightly as she held him. “Don’t mean I ain’t kickin’ your ass later though.” She sniffed, aware she was crying and probably ruining his expensive suit.
He pulled away, sliding his hands up her arms and over her shoulders to cradle her face in his hands. He held her gaze for long moments, as if he was searching for something. Suzie simply stared back at him, knowing he’d get what he needed eventually. No amount of rushing him would help. In truth, she didn’t want to rush him. The closer he was to her, the more he touched her and held her, the better she felt. Like a weight being lifted from her entire body. Finally, he nodded once, brushed a kiss over her forehead, then headed for the door.
“Where’re you going?” Suzie’s heart hammered. All the tension had drained from her while he’d been near. Now that crushing weight once again descended. He gave her a puzzled look, looking down at his clothes and picking at the crisp black button-up shirt. Hell, the man even had expensive-looking cufflinks. He’d gone all out, and she’d been less than impressed. Way to go, Suzie. “Oh.” A flush of embarrassment flooded her. “Guess I did demand you change clothes.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I mean, if you didn’t get more you’d be running around here naked. And you couldn’t do that. Right?” Jesus! Did she sound like she wanted him naked in her apartment? “I didn’t mean you should be naked.” She twisted her fingers together, wringing her hands in her nerves. “I mean, unless you want to or something.”
He barked out a laugh then. Without his beard, his smile was devastating. “I think you like the idea of me naked in here with you. But I’ll only get naked if you will. Ain’t barin’ my soul unless you do.”
Suzie sat down on the couch abruptly, her knees giving out so they were unable to hold her trembling body. Stunner shrugged out of his jacket, those piercing blue eyes seeming to penetrate her very soul. He stalked toward her as if she were his prey. In a way, she guessed she was. He’d obviously come here for her, but to what end? Was he serious about this fiancé business? Because she wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Or, rather, how she should feel about it.
“You know I’d never hurt you, Suz. Right?” When she nodded, he grasped her chin in those strong fingers of his and tilted her head up to him, holding her still for his kiss.
It wasn’t a deep or passionate kiss. More a gentle lingering, a moving over her mouth with his as he got a feel for her. His taste was like heaven. And what that simple touch did to her body? Well, Suzie was sexually innocent. Not so much in body -- Kiss of Death had taken care of that when she was eleven -- but in everything else. She had no clue what desire was supposed to feel like, but she was certain this was it.
She’d never even so much as looked at a porn video on the Internet, or even gone looking for images of people naked or having sex. She’d never read graphic romance novels, or romance novels at all, really. Anything to do with sex she’d shied away from, never wanting to relive that part of her life again. She saw how the men in Bones were with their women. No matter how young or old or their level of experience, the men were unfailingly kind and gentle. They pushed their women sexually sometimes, but never to the point of pain or humiliation. They’d all commented on it at different times.
Now, Suzie suspected that some of their talking about how their men treated them during sex might have been for her benefit. It had been their way of letting her know there were decent men out there who could help her with this in a caring, compassionate way, and maybe even show her things she’d never considered. Though she was still uncertain and more than a little frightened, she craved this. She wanted to experience what all her friends in Bones had experienced with their men. But only with Stunner.
When he lifted his head, he stroked her cheek as if to praise her for
