Page 42 of Sugar Pie
I held her close as we climbed the stairs to our place.
I was hard and ready to strip and take her. I’d never waited half as long for any woman, but Kerry was special.
I needed to know she wanted to sleep with me. So as we walked in, I asked, “Shall I’ll warm up dinner?”
She curled into me. “We can eat later.”
I pulled back and looked into her eyes. He cheeks were flushed. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever held. “Maybe we should take our time.”
She tightened her arms around me. “Why?”
I kissed her forehead and said, “I don’t want to rush you into something you’re not ready for.”
She cupped my face, and her warm eyes were like embers burning into my soul. “I’m good. I want you.”
If she pushed me away later, I would die an unpleasant death. I’d never been rejected, but Kerry had that power. I kissed the hand that she opened for me and said, “I need you to be sure.”
She sucked on the side of her lip and said, “I’m divorced, completely free, and more than ready to know what you and I would be like.”
Then we were fine. I hugged her. “Tell you what. Go take a shower, relax. I’ll fix dinner. If you come out and are ready for me to make love to you, then I will.”
Her face whitened. “Make love?”
There wasn’t another word for me. Kerry wasn’t casual sex to forget. I knew the word “love” was hard for her. “Touching you is intimate and personal and real for me.”
Her eyes misted. “That’s sweet.”
I wasn’t sweet. I just needed to ensure we’d both be okay once we started the fire. I headed back to the kitchen to give her space. “So take the shower. I’ll warm up the food you prepared, and when you’re done, if you still want me, I’m yours.”
She spun on her heel. “No, I don’t want to wait. Come with me.”
I knew I sounded cautious. I craved her more than I’d ever wanted anyone or anything. I just needed her to be sure, so I vowed to take my time and show her that I respected her as well as cared about her. She was the only woman for me.
21
Kerry
My heart pounded hard in my chest. He closed the door, and my breathing became erratic as I stared at him. Every cell in my body trembled from the sight of his muscles rippling under his blue T-shirt. I met his blue-eyed gaze and shook, though I reached for my shirt.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
Tears formed in my eyes. I’d never ached for a man in my life. I swallowed and said, “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“There is nothing to be sorry about.”
He took both my hands. “We can wait.”
Damn.My heart stirred, and my lips tingled for his kiss. I’d heard of panty-melting kisses, and in my heart, I wondered if Warren was my first and only. I blinked, and he stared at me. I shook my head and said, “Okay, not long. I think I need to eat.”
“No problem.”
He was a sweetheart. We returned to the kitchen and quickly reheated my stew. The tension in my body remained.
Everything would change between us if we went to bed together.
Once the stew was done, he spooned it into bowls.
I sniffed the meaty aroma, and my mouth watered. It smelled delicious. I smiled. “So what’s going on?”
