Page 30 of Choosing You

“Well, shit,” he murmured.

He had no idea how long he stood there against the bedroom door when Sloane knocked on it. He jumped and then mentally cursed himself for behaving like such a damn idiot. Turning, he opened the door and froze.

She freshened up.

Her hair was slightly mussed. Her lips were freshly glossed, and she smelled like heaven.

But it was the look in her eyes that had him swallowing hard. “Sloane…”

“I know that earlier I mentioned that I normally take things slow with the men I’ve been involved with, but…”

His heart began to hammer hard in his chest.

He watched her take a steadying breath and then she met his gaze head-on. “Will, we’ve had three years’ worth of foreplay. I don’t want to go out tonight. I don’t want dessert or to go out drinking or dancing. I came to Sweetbriar Ridge to find you and…I want you.”

A slow grin crossed his face as he reached out and tugged her to him. “Thank God!”

His arms went around her as she went up on her toes to kiss him. There was no pretense, no awkward adjustments; it was all just like a perfectly choreographed dance. For a minute he second-guessed this—after all, just a few minutes ago, he was the one to get up and walk away. But knowing that it was Sloane’s decision and that she was comfortable with it, there was no way he could walk away this time.

Slowly, he turned her and walked her backwards toward his bed and said a silent prayer of thanks that he cleaned up the place this morning. Sloane sighed against him and when they were next to the bed, she surprised him by snaking her hands under his shirt. Her hands felt incredibly smooth against his skin, and Will couldn’t help but break the kiss and sigh.

“I’ve been wanting to do that since you got out of the truck in front of the coffee shop,” she said reverently.

Will immediately whipped his shirt off and then groaned when Sloane leaned in and began kissing his chest.

Seriously. Best. Day. Ever.

His hands skimmed up her sides, over her shoulders, and anchored in her glorious mane of hair. He whispered her name. And then again. After the third time, she looked up at him, her eyes glazed, her lips wet and so damn sexy he almost forgot what he was going to say. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I sat out there for a few minutes and realized that we do know each other. I learned more about you today than I think I knew about some of my previous boyfriends who I had dated for months.” Then she gave him a knowing smile. “And besides, Cora said you were one of the best.” As she said the words, her hands skimmed down his chest, over his abs, and further down to the button of his jeans.

Will clamped his hand over hers and chuckled softly. “I greatly doubt that’s what she was referring to.”

Then her expression turned serious. “If you’d rather we…I mean, if you think we should wait…”

What? Was she kidding him? “Sloane…”

Taking a step away from him, Sloane held his gaze as she slowly lifted her shirt up and over her head. Standing before him in a black lace bra and a pair of matching skinny jeans, she was beyond sexy. “I know I’m not playing fair…”

And then a grin spread across his own lips as he took a step towards her. Toe to toe, he reached out and cupped her breasts in his hands and watched her eyes close as her head fell back slightly. “I don’t want you to play fair,” he growled, lowering his head so he could kiss her throat. “But know that I may not play fair either. I’ve been waiting a long time for this.”

She was quiet for a minute. Will wanted to think she was lost in sensation as he kissed and touched her everywhere he could. And when she lifted her head a few minutes later, she raked her hands up into his hair and said, “I think we’ve both waited long enough.”

He readily agreed.

Together, they sank onto the bed and slowly rolled and maneuvered around until they were facing each other. Will’s breath was a little ragged, but so was hers. In all his dreams and fantasies about her, this was exactly where it started.

Right before things got downright dirty.

But now that he genuinely knew her and spent the day with her, the last thing he wanted to do was treat her like this was just about sex. They had a connection. It didn’t matter that it was only today, he felt it, and he had a feeling Sloane did too. He wanted to talk to her just as much as he wanted to kiss and touch her.

Reaching out, he caressed her cheek. “You’re really here. This isn’t a dream,” he whispered.

“I know,” she said reverently, lifting her hand and mimicking his actions. “This is so crazy and yet…not.”

Turning his head, Will kissed her palm. “I’m really glad you went looking for me today.”

“I’m just sorry I didn’t do it sooner. I never should have kept running away. It was childish and hurtful and…”