Page 91 of Tangled Up In You

He only paused long enough to pull a condom out of his wallet because not even this wild version of himself could ignore being safe. He wanted to love her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted to be everything to her. He just didn't know if that would be enough.

But he wasn't going to worry about any of that tonight. He was going to live in this moment as long as he could.

Molly rolled onto her side as the morning sun drifted through the curtains. When her gaze moved over Adam's handsome features, she smiled to herself. His brown hair tumbled over his forehead. There was a dark morning shadow of beard across his strong jaw, which was finally relaxed. There were no serious lines running across his face. He looked happy.

Or maybe she was just putting her feelings on him because she felt almost giddy with satisfied pleasure. Last night had been more than she'd imagined, and she'd done some imagining over the past week. But she hadn't realized what an incredibly hot body Adam had been hiding beneath his clothes, or how wild and passionate he could be when he finally let go of his rigid control. She hadn't thought he could make her smile so much or that he could be so unbelievably generous. She also hadn't realized how much more she could like him.

That was scary. She immediately pushed that thought away. She didn't want to think past the next few minutes. She had this gorgeous, naked man in her bed, and she was pretty sure she could do anything she wanted.

She started by running her fingers down his bare arm, his bicep flexing beneath her touch, his skin deliciously warm. Then she snuggled closer and kissed the corner of his mouth—one side, and then the other.

Adam's eyes flickered open, and she gazed into the dark, deep blue that reminded her of the lake.

"Morning," he said huskily. "How did you sleep?"

"Great. Probably the best night of sleep I've had since I got here. I haven't quite made the place mine yet."

"Speaking of that, you need to get rid of that owl. I felt its eyes on me all last night." He tipped his head toward one of Phoebe's ceramic owls on the dresser.

"I thought you were only looking at me," she complained.

"Well, when you fell asleep, it was just me and the owl."

"I did fall asleep on you, didn't I? Sorry, but that was your fault. You were exhausting—in a good way." She gave him a kiss, then sighed. "Why do you have to look so good in the morning?"

"You look good, too."

"I feel like my hair is a tangled mess."

"I like it that way," he said, running his fingers through her hair. "I like everything about you, Molly."

"Spoken like a man who wants to have sex again," she teased.

He grinned. "That's the other thing. You make me laugh. You're fun, Molly."

"Well, thank you. I have to say you were more fun than I expected, and I'm including the skinny-dipping adventure. Do you think any of your friends would believe you stripped down and went in the lake with me?"

"I'm thinking we should keep that to ourselves, or I'll never hear the end of it."

"I guess it could be our secret."

"I appreciate that. You got me out of my comfort zone, Molly, and I'm glad you did."

"Sometimes we all need a push to try a different direction."

"Or a dare," he said with a grin.

"Or that." She paused. "Do you want some breakfast?"

"Maybe after…"

Her heart sped up at the promise in his eyes, and then she let out a little gasp as his hand covered her breast and his lips touched her neck. Then his hand moved down her body, leaving a tingle of nerves in its wake. "Yes," she agreed. "Let's eat later…much later."

It was almost nine when Molly got dressed and made her way into the kitchen, where Adam had already made coffee.

He held out a mug. "Perfect timing."

She reached for it, but he held it away. "Kiss first."

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