Page 35 of Stars Shine In Your Eyes

“Last night, I tried to convince myself kissing you wasn’t this good. But it is. So damn good I don’t ever want to stop.”

“I don’t want to stop either,” she said, her voice sounding no steadier than his. “But I need you to know I’m not ready for a relationship. Not ready for anything that could be even remotely serious. Not after what happened with my ex.”

“I’m not looking for a relationship either.”

What she just said should have been music to his ears. But all he could think was, Why not? Why not fall deeper, just this once? Because she was special. What was he waiting for? Why was he continuing to hold back?

At the same time, he couldn’t break his promise to her. “I vowed I wouldn’t hurt you again,” he reminded her.

She stared into his eyes for several long moments. Her curves pressed against his, her body warm and soft. Her lips were so kissable, he almost gave in and took them with his. But he needed to wait for what she was going to say. For the decision that he could tell she was trying to make.

“I’ve never done anything like this before. But I believe you. I believe you won’t hurt me again. And I want this. I want you. Eyes wide open. These two weeks only.”

He was so tempted, even though a part of him was saying this wasn’t right. That Josie deserved more than two weeks together in bed. More than being friends with benefits.

But in the end, he wanted her too much to say anything other than, “So we’ll just be friends? Really, really good friends?”

She nodded. “No messy emotions.” She suddenly looked shy as she said, “Just great—”

“—sex,” he finished for her.

“Yes,” she said, barely above a whisper. “Just great sex.”

He couldn’t hold back a smile, even as he shoved his concerns away. He’d be an absolute fool to turn Josie down.

CHAPTER TEN

Josie tried not to let nerves get the best of her as they walked from the manor house cottages back to Malcolm’s houseboat. But there was no way to stop the fluttering in her belly or her worries that she somehow wouldn’t measure up. After all, she hadn’t been with very many men. And she suspected that Malcolm had far more experience than she did. On top of that, what would he think of her body? She was no supermodel. Just a totally normal woman, with unexceptional curves and an average percentage of body fat. What if, once she was naked, he didn’t like what he saw?

Oh, if only this walk weren’t so long. The longest fifteen minutes of her whole life. Long enough for her to think maybe the best idea would be to call the whole thing off. To say she was just kidding. To say it was better if they focused on the project at hand and didn’t tangle things up with friendly sex.

“I swear,” he said, “I can hear every single one of your thoughts.”

His comment startled her, made her laugh. “That obvious, huh?”

He stopped on the path, not caring that other walkers and bikers had to go around them. “Whatever you’re worried about, don’t be. Whatever we do together, it’s going to be great. And if you don’t like it, don’t want to keep doing it, you just tell me, and we’ll stop.”

She swallowed hard, nodding. “I appreciate that. I know you’d never make me do anything I don’t want to do. It’s just…” It was embarrassing to talk about her lack of experience. But if she was about to take off her clothes and roll around with him, she should be able to say this, shouldn’t she? “I haven’t… I haven’t been with very many people.”

He kissed her then. Just pulled her close and kissed the breath out of her. Kissed all the thoughts out of her too. Maybe that was his goal—and if it was, it worked like a charm. “I’m glad, Josie. The truth is, I haven’t either.”

She looked at him in surprise.

“I’m not saying that I haven’t earned my reputation as a bit of a playboy,” he told her. “But it’s far less earned than people think. One-night stands got old pretty quick when I was younger. And I like to think I have some standards.”

Hearing that did help put her mind at ease a little. Maybe the playing field wouldn’t be that uneven.

Oh, who was she kidding? It was still totally uneven. Because he was Malcolm Sullivan. And she was just normal.

“I’m not a supermodel,” she blurted. Then, realizing what she had said and how it sounded, she felt compelled to add, “I mean, of course I’m not. You can see that. You don’t need me to tell you that. But I just don’t want you to—”

“You’re beautiful, Josie. The most beautiful woman I’ve ever kissed.”

That made her laugh again. “That’s really nice of you to say, but you don’t have to lie.”

But he didn’t laugh. He only looked more serious. “I’m not lying. You’re beautiful on the outside. And you’re beautiful on the inside. Let me tell you, it’s quite a combination. Every time you smile, you make my head spin. I haven’t been able to think about anything but you since I picked you up from the airport.”

She blinked at him, wanting to believe him, but finding it so hard to do.

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