Page 50 of Once Upon a Beast

I lifted my hand and placed it on the side of her face. “So very much.”

Layla let out a jagged breath, leaned into my hand, and closed her eyes. I put a little bit more pressure on her face and she leaned into it. I wanted to bend down and kiss her, I wanted to take her in my arms and show her what I had been talking about the night before, but it was too soon. I sat next to her and waited for her to open her eyes.

After a few moments, she did. They locked on mine as she spoke, “What you said last night. I’d never had a man talk to me like that. I had never known that words could have such an effect on a person.” She let out a nervous laugh. “I mean, I’ve read enough books, I should have known. But what you said, and how it made me feel, I’d never felt by reading a book.”

“And what did you feel?” I prodded.

“Excited, thrilled, sexy, turned on, and a little scared.”

“I like all of those but one. The last thing I want to do is scare you,” I said.

Layla reached up and squeezed my hand before she moved away from it. She sat up and turned so she was facing me. I leaned back on the couch a little bit but not too far. Layla looked over my shoulder and I knew she was trying to find the right thing to say to me.

“It wasn’t you that scared me. Okay, maybe it wasn’t you completely, it was more what I was feeling because of what you were saying. I had never felt that before. It was overwhelming. It was all those things I said it was. I never thought I would want a man to talk to me the way you did, but I did. Very much.”

I smiled brightly at her. “You did?” This was not the reaction I thought she was going to have but I was thrilled that she had.

“Yes.”

“So why did you hang up so quickly? I thought I scared you off.”

“I’m sorry. I realize that later. I should have stayed on the phone. I should have told you what I was thinking but I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t know what I was going to say.”

“Do you now?” I asked tentatively.

“I think so.” Layla reached over and took my hands in hers. I looked down at them and then slowly up at her. She took a deep breath as she got up the courage to speak. I didn’t say anything but waited, though not very patiently.

“What you said was the sexiest thing anyone has ever said to me. It made me think of all the things that I would like to do with you and for you. I have never had a man who has made me feel as much as you do. I know I don’t want any other man to. I feel like it has taken us forever and no time at all to get to where we are today. I know you want me; you have made that abundantly clear and I thank you for that.

“Now it is my turn.” She squeezed my hand again and took a deep breath. “I want you, Nic. There are so many things that I want to do with you and to you. I have imagined what it would be like to have you in my arms and in bed countless times and I have a very vivid imagination.”

Looking at her, having her say almost the same words that I said to her were music to my ears. I squeezed her hands and brought them up to my lips.

“Are you sure? Are you okay with this?” I asked slowly.

“Yes, Nic. I’m very sure. Please, kiss me, make love to me, take me to your bed, and let me see just how vivid your imagination is.”

Chapter 26

Layla

No sooner had the words come out of my mouth that Nic crushed his mouth to mine. His hands went around my waist and pulled me to him. My mouth opened, greedy to have him kiss me. His tongue dove inside my mouth and I moaned my appreciation. I moved towards Nic, practically straddling him in my need to be closer to him.

The kiss was everything I wanted it to be and more. My hands wrapped around him, drawing him closer to me. I wanted to feel every part of him next to me. I wanted to know every inch of his body and I could tell Nic wanted the same thing. Our tongues moved around each other as my hands went around his back and up to his shoulder. His very broad and strong shoulders.

I don’t know how long we sat there, kissing each other, but it was Nic who came up for air., putting his head on my forehead. “Wow. Yeah. Lay, that was incredible. I. You. Yeah,” he said with a laugh.

“My thoughts exactly,” I said and he laughed. The kiss had been more than I ever thought it would be. There was so much I was feeling for the man I didn’t think I could articulate it either.

“You really know how to kiss,” he said.

“I think I really know how to kiss you,” I replied.

“That is a wonderful answer,” he said.

I moved to kiss him again but he put his hand on my chest, stopping me. I gave him a confused look and he smiled and cupped my face in his hands. “Are you sure about this? I don’t want to rush or pressure you.”

“Nic, you aren’t. I’m the one who practically begged you to make love to me. I’m the one who came over to your place to tell you. The only thing I’m not sure about is how long it is taking you to do it.”

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