Page 76 of Treat

“I’m not freaked out, I’m jealous.”

Curiosity turned to wary concern. “Because I slept with Esme?”

“What? No.” She waved that away. “I feel like I should high-five you for that. She’s so hot.”

“This conversation is not going at all how I thought it would,” he decided.

“I’m jealous of all the sex you had while I was wearing out my vibrator. I can’tbelieveI never thought of swinging.”

He stared at her for a moment, then began to laugh.

“It’s not funny,” she protested. “I had to replace the damn thing twice!”

He shook his head, still laughing, and sat up to wrap his arms around her. “God, I love you.”

She froze. “You what?”

His laugh faded, but the warmth in his eyes didn’t. “I said I love you.”

Her heart had lurched into her throat. She tried to swallow it down. “That’s what I thought you said.”

When she didn’t say anything else, one tawny eyebrow rose. “Too soon?”

She bit her lip. “Maybe?”

“We’ve known each other for nine months,” he pointed out.

“We’ve been dating for less than twenty-four hours,” she countered.

“We’ve been living together for a week.”

“That’s temporary,” she reminded him.

“Doesn’t have to be.”

Flustered, she stared at him. “You’re kidding.”

“I like having you here,” he said simply. “And also, I love you.”

She tried to ignore the burst of pleasure the words gave her—and the urge to say them back. “My head is spinning.”

“Is that good or bad?”

“I don’t know,” she confessed.

“It’s okay if you’re not there yet,” he assured her, lifting one hand to brush her hair back. His eyes were calm, his smile sure. “It’ll give me a chance to court you.”

She blinked. “Court me?”

“Woo you,” he clarified.

“Huh.” She thought about that for a second. “I don’t think I’ve ever been wooed.”

“Well, then brace yourself,” he warned and dipped his head to kiss her neck.

“Can the wooing be naked?” she wondered, tipping her head back to give him better access.

His laughter rumbled against her skin. “Oh, yeah.”

---