Page 38 of Journey to You

“Did you ever want something so badly as a kid, something you wished for, something that consumed you, yet when you got it you didn’t know what to do with it?”

Understanding turned her eyes verdigris. “I was like that with my first doll. I really wanted it, then when I got it for Christmas, I didn’t know whether I should feed it or burp it or change its nappy first.”

“You’re laughing at me.”

“I’m not.” Her twitching mouth made a mockery of her last statement and he chuckled.

“I’ll be honest with you, Tam. I came on this trip because I wanted you. Then I started to get to know you, really know you, and it’s like…”

How could he explain it? Like being hit over the head with a four-by-two? Like being struck by lightning? Like having the blinkers ripped from his eyes only to see the stunning, vibrant woman he desired was so much more than he could’ve possibly imagined?

“It’s like?” Her soft prompt had him saying the first thing that popped into his head.

“It’s like finding the person you want most in this world is holding the key to your heart too.”

Hell, had he really said that?

Inwardly cringing at his emotional outburst, he met her gaze, the shimmer of tears in her eyes slugging him harder than the realisation this had already moved beyond caring for him, that he was already half in love with her.

“I know that’s too heavy—”

“Don’t you dare apologise for saying that.” She eyeballed him, her gaze defiant as the tears spilled over and rolled down her cheeks. “Do you have any idea how I feel hearing you say that?”

“Like bolting?” he ventured, earning another wide-eyed stare.

“Like this.”

She stood so abruptly her chair slammed onto the floor, and she traversed the tiny table in a second, flinging herself onto his lap and wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

“Maybe I should blurt my innermost thoughts more often if this is the type of reaction I get?”

Her eyes gleamed with mischief. “No,thisis the type of reaction you get.”

She covered his mouth with hers in a desperate, frantic kiss filled with longing and passion and recklessness.

The type of kiss that filled his heart with hope, the type of kiss with the power to teach him this relinquishing control lark wasn’t half as scary as he’d built it up to be.

She was warm and vibrant and responsive in his arms, her hunger matching his, and as she shifted in his lap, inflaming him further, he knew he had to put a stop to this before they jumped way ahead of themselves.

He’d like nothing better than to carry her into the bedroom and pleasure her all night long but he’d botched things with her once, he’d be damned if he made another mistake now. And that’s what sex would be, despite the blood pounding through his body urging him to follow through. He wanted to take thingsslow this time. He’d rushed her on the train journey, had almost lost her because of it, and there was no way he’d make the same mistake twice.

“Tam?”

“Hmm?

She nuzzled his neck, giving his good intentions a hiding as she straddled him, her breasts pushing against his chest, the heat from her core scorching him.

“I can’t stay.”

She stilled and raised her head, her eyes glazed and unfocused. “Why not?”

Cradling her face in his hands, he brushed a soft kiss across her swollen lips. “Because I want to do this right.”

He didn’t have to add ‘this time’. He saw the respect in her eyes, the understanding, and knowing this incredible woman was on the same wavelength as him sent another flood of intense longing washing over him.

“Great, the playboy has morphed into a goody two shoes,” she said, sliding off his lap in a slow, deliberate movement designed to tease as he clenched his hands to stop from reaching out and yanking her back down.

“You’ll see how good I really am.” He stood, pulling her back into his arms, enjoying her squeal of delight. “Soon. Very soon.”

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