Page 84 of Make Me Dream of You

He smiles just before his expression breaks and then his hands are cupping my face, too.

“It’s a relief that you know. That you know everything. I’m so glad it’s you, Livvy.”

“You are?” I think I already know, but I need to ask anyway. “And the girl you met you wanted to try and start something with?”

He moves in, dropping his hands to press into the mattress on either side of my hips. “I was talking about you, Liv.”

“Oh.”

Heat radiates from his skin. His scent fills my lungs. He’s so close, it’d only take a second to close the gap between us. Feel his lips on mine.

His fingertips graze up the side of my wrist.

“Do you want this?” he whispers.

I want to say yes, but I can’t speak. I’m frozen.

He runs one knuckle along my jaw, raising goosebumps on my neck that tingle down my side.

“What am I going to do with you…my angel?”

I let out a shaky breath. “I’m not Angel.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“I mean, she’s sexy and confident and in control. I’m none of those things?—”

He scoffs. “Of course you are?—”

“No. I misled you. I deceived you.”

“What are you talking about?—”

“I’m a virgin,” I blurt.

He pulls back and sits, expression unreadable.

I straighten. “I’m sorry. I’m a fraud.”

“Liv,” he says, his voice low and stern. “You are not a fraud. You are smart and funny and gorgeous. And when you dropped your robe to pose nude for me, you were the epitome of sexy and confident.”

“I was terrified.”

He slides nearer to me on the bed. “Fooled me.”

“I haven’t done any of the things we talked about.”

“I don’t care.” He leans in closer.

“You don’t?”

He shakes his head. “Liv, do you want to do all those things we talked about? In our scenarios?”

“Yes,” I exhale.

“With me?” His hand finds mine, our fingers interlocking over the blankets. “Because I want to do them. With you.”

I nod. “Please.” But the word comes out on a quivering breath.

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