Page 83 of Opening Strain

“He might not, but I do. Only with you.” There. I’ve said it. Laid my heart bare. My gaze bores into hers, trying to dip into her soul.

Her head bows. She whispers, “None.”

The enormity of her answer weighs on me for a second. It doesn’t matter the legion of women I’ve been with—so it cannot matter the small number of notches on her bedpost. “All that matters is what’s between us now. It’s unlike anything I’ve experienced before. Haveyouever felt like this?”

She licks her lips. “It’s different with you,” she admits. “Maybe because you’re uncontrollable.”

I sit taller. “Uncontrollable?”

“Wild. Spontaneous. Daring.”

A slow smile creeps across my face. “I like being all those things.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear. “None of them are me. Nor do I want them to be.”

“Oh, come on.” I tug on her hair to dislodge it from behind her ear. “Staying here with me was spontaneous. Taking me on as your patient was daring.” I lean in closer. “Kissing me was wild.”

She focusses on my lips. “It was that.”

I lean closer still. “Want to be wild again?”

I don’t press her. I’ve never forced myself on a woman before and I’m not starting with this one, who means more to me than any of the others. She’s real and brilliant and challenging. Three things I didn’t know I needed in my life.

“I think I do.”

This is all the permission I need, as my hands cup both of her cheeks and I bring my lips to hers. One touch is all it takes before the wildfire reignites in my soul. With a moan, I give all of myself to her. Well, all I can considering our confined space.

My hands skim her torso, cupping her boobs. She’s natural, which is another thing I like about Jenna. Nothing on her is embellished—she’s not trying to become an Instagram model or get picked off the casting couch. She eats normal-sized portions. Kisses me like I mean something to her.

I take a breather. Before I know what I’m spouting, the truth leaks out. “Jenna. I’ve never met anyone like you before. I like who you want me to be. I want to be him. For you.”

She touches my hair, my ears, my nose. “I understand why you keep this hidden from the world.” Her hand covers my upper left chest. “I only wish you’d let me or your bandmates inside your real world.”

I’m not about to let anyone into my “real world,” let alone this beautiful creature. “Believe me, it’s much better this way.” I trail kisses down the side of her neck, pausing as her pulse pounds.

She tilts her head back to give me better access. Being no fool, I take her up on her unspoken offer. Soon, though, this banquette is too constricting. I want more room to spread out and enjoy her. “Up.”

“What?”

“What I want to do to you requires we have more space. A lot more space.”

“Oh,” she pants. “I, uhm . . .”

No time for her to worry about something stupid, like the dishes aren’t put away. Or the curtains aren’t drawn. Or whatever nonsense is running through her beautiful mind.

I tug her shirt up and over her head. It lands with a tiny plop on the floor. “Unless you want me to lay you out on this table. Which would mean I’ll have to toss these dishes onto the floor.”

That gets her attention. I suppress my chuckle when she leaps from her seat and skirts around the table, causing me to get to my feet and hiss. Stupid fucking groin pull. I remain still for a moment, until the pain dissipates, then walk to the kitchen island. Hopefully Jenna didn’t notice.

“How’s your leg?”

Leave it to my observant physical therapist. “It’s fine. I’m more interested in how you’re doing.” I don a lascivious grin, one I hope hides my pain.

Her head tilts. “How about we put more ice on your thigh.”

“How about we don’t?”

“Which leads me to believe you need it now more than ever. Come on.” She disappears, and the freezer opens. I hear her rummaging with a baggie, then the clinks of ice. Her blonde head appears next to mine. “Why don’t you sit in the family room so you can stretch out?”

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