Page 31 of Saving Shepperd

“Not that I’m assuming that’s what you want with me, to be your girlfriend. I’m just asking?—”

“It is what I want. If you do, I mean. Or at least I’d like to try to see how things go between us.” Christ, this all sounded so ridiculous.

Her full, genuine smile was back, and it nearly knocked me off my feet. The woman was so gorgeous when she was open and not guarding her reactions.

“You’re so beautiful,” I admitted and moved in for a long kiss. I couldn’t stop myself from tasting her again.

With our lips pressed together, she murmured a quiet, “Thank you.” We kissed there in the kitchen for a few minutes, but I could’ve gotten lost with her for the rest of time.

Shepperd broke our connection and asked, “Should we go to bed? I think this day has officially kicked my ass. I want to lay my head down and forget it ever happened,” she confessed while I turned out the kitchen lights.

We moved through the living room, and I clicked the lights off there too. At the doorway of the master suite, I realized we never talked about sleeping arrangements. Should I assume she wanted to sleep in my bed with me? That’s what my heart wanted. It was definitely what my dick would choose.

Shepperd looked at me quizzically when I stalled in the doorway, so I just broached the subject with no finesse. “Where do you want to sleep?”

She tilted her head to one side.

“Well, I didn’t want to just assume you’d be comfortable in the same bed. Which I totally vote for. But if you want your own space, there’s a guest room right here.” I motioned to the door across the hall. “You could set up shop in there if you’d rather.”

“Would you mind sharing your bed?” she asked timidly.

“Not at all. Honestly, I’ve fantasized about you sleeping with me,” I admitted, shocking myself that the words flowed so easily.

Her grin was as breathtaking as her genuine smile. Seeing this woman happy and content was quickly becoming my obsession.

“Good, I’d like that too. But now…” she trailed off as we entered my bedroom, “I really want to hear more about these fantasies of yours.”

I grabbed her around the waist and pulled her against me. I couldn’t resist burying my face in the crook of her neck, making her burst with a delightful, playful squeal.

“No way,” I chuckled into her skin. “Those are mine to keep to myself. Don’t want to scare you off just when I got you here.”

She pulled back with a devious look. “Oh, I have my ways of making you talk, Mr. Masterson.”

“Yeah?” I said with a hundred hopeful ideas running through my mind. “I’d like to see you try.”

“Challenge accepted!” she announced excitedly and marched off toward the bathroom. A low light came on at the vanity when the sun went down, so she easily navigated through the unfamiliar space.

But she pulled to an abrupt stop in front of the mirror. I was hot on her heels, so I almost crashed into the back of her when she stopped so suddenly. The look on her face took my mood from playful to concerned in an instant.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have anything. I keep forgetting I literally have nothing with me other than the clothes on my back. I can’t even brush my teeth. Or my hair, for that matter.” She dropped her face into her hands and let out a deep breath. “This was so stupid,” she grumbled into her palms.

“Hey, listen,” I said, wrapping my arms around her tiny frame from behind.

She didn’t look up, not even to meet my gaze in the mirror.

“Shep, look at me.” I shocked myself with the tone of my voice. It was low and deep and completely in charge. I didn’t want to rewind to the unsure, insecure and emotional girl that I found at my door earlier. I also knew her temperament could change radically in very little time, and I just didn’t want to go back to that place right before bed.

She lifted her gaze to meet mine in our reflection. “I have everything you’ll need for tonight. Tomorrow we can go to your parents’ house after work and pick up more stuff if you decide you want to stay, okay? Don’t stress about it. We’ll work it out.”

“Are you sure? I just need a toothbrush and some toothpaste. I can sleep in my underwear.”

A groan escaped my lips. Christ, just picturing her in nothing but her bra and panties while I held her body to mine made my blood pressure spike. The sound made her smile, even though she tried to hide it the second she realized it was happening.

“You like that idea, I see,” she said and pressed back into my thickening crotch.

“Behave yourself, young lady. I’m trying to be a good guy here, and if you do that again, I’m not sure I can keep the promise I made to myself.”

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