Page 26 of Tucker

“Now that I know you’re interested, no.” His thumb brushed a corner of her mouth. “I’m not a man who holds back when he wants something, and I’ve wanted you bad since that first day I saw you.”

She’d wanted him the same—and instead they’d wasted so much time. “I wish you’d said something earlier.”

“I thought I was one of many, that your teasing didn’t mean anything.” He kissed her throat, and it was almost too sweet to bear. “Because I cared and I thought you didn’t, it seemed smarter to steer clear.”

With her toes curling and her breath coming faster, she whispered, “I definitely care.”So very much.

He kissed his way up to her jaw, then over to her ear where he breathed, “If I’d known how you felt, believe me, I’d have been doing this a lot sooner.” He bent to her throat again, his mouth damp, hot, as he gave her a gentle love bite.

Kady’s breath shuddered in. “I like that.”

She felt his smile. “Do you?”

“There are so many things I’ve wanted to do with you.” She leaned back to see him. “Only you, Tucker.”

He looked away, his mouth tight for a moment. “You don’t have much experience—”

“Nearly zero, really.”

“So you might have a more...romanticizedview of things.”

Kady tipped her head. “Meaning what?” Was he only interested in the physical side of a relationship? If so, there’d be a problem.

Because she wanted it all.

His short laugh sounded rough. “We haven’t even been on a date.”

“We’ll have time for that, right?”

“Yes.” His gaze caught hers, green eyes to her blue, so intent, as if he saw everything about her. “I want a relationship, not just sex.”

Relief put a smile on her face. “Good. Me, too.”

He pressed a finger to her mouth. “But I’m just a man and you’re testing me, so you should know that sex is definitely on my agenda.”

Against his finger, she whispered, “Good.”

“I’m trying to take things slow.” When she started to object, he kissed her. “I have a feeling you’ve built up expectations, and I don’t want to disappoint you.”

“You couldn’t.” Now she kissed him. “You asked what I love about you.”

His eyes flared a little at theLword, but she didn’t let it bother her. “I love that you’re so strong but never feel the need to prove it. I love that you’re an authority figure, but those who know you well still feel comfortable with you. I love that my family respects you, and that you respect them. I love that you treat everyone with consideration. And I really, really love that you didn’t think twice about rescuing a muddy dog that’s just given birth.”

Somewhere along the way of her diatribe, his surprise had settled into satisfaction. Propping his good shoulder against the door frame, he said, “That sounds like an awful lot of love.”

“Yes.” Her chin went up. “I hope that doesn’t scare you off.”

“I’m not going anywhere, and for the record, I don’t scare easy.”

Obviously, given that he’d agreed to mingle with her entire family. “That’s something else I love about you.”

As his satisfaction heated, his gaze slowly moved over her, breasts to waist to hips and legs, then back up again. He appeared strained and a little dangerous. “Time for you to go home, Kady, before I jump the gun.”

“Tucker—”

“You’ve tempted me enough. I need a few more days so I can lose this sling, and then we can make up for lost time.”

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