Page 53 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

With such tenderness, she almost couldn’t bear it.

She slid her hands around his waist as Ben wrapped his around her shoulders until their bodies were pressed up against each other. Only, now, Ben didn’t take any steps to hide the fact he was aroused, his firm erection pressing against her stomach. And she knew that if he looked down he’d be able to see just how stiff her nipples were.

But they didn’t move. Hands didn’t shift to more risqué places; the kiss didn’t become more aggressive. His tongue stroked hers, his lips never leaving hers.

“This is probably the wrong time to say this, but I love the feel of your lips on mine, Chay.”

She grinned against his mouth. “I love it too.”

They kissed for a few more moments, or possibly eternity, she couldn’t tell, then nudged her away. “Let yourself into your room and start getting ready for bed. I’m just going to grab you a few things from my room, yeah? Leave your door off the latch.”

As she did as he said, Chaya smiled to herself.

Taking it slow.

He was obviously going to get condoms so he could stay the night with her. She hurried to the bathroom and washed her face. He’d seen her fresh-faced a million times before, so it wasn’t a big deal to remove it. Plus, she could fall straight to sleep in his arms if her make-up was long gone.

She debated changing into her sleep tank and shorts but realised Ben would probably want to undress her, to slip the straps from her shoulders and watch as the black silk slithered down her body. The strapless bra and her panties were black lace, which she hoped he’d love.

As she wandered back into the bedroom, Ben entered with an armful of things and dumped the majority of them on the bed before she had a chance to take a proper look at what he’d brought.

“Come here,” he said gruffly, dipping his finger into the neckline of the dress and tugging her to him.

This was it.

The moment she’d wanted but never truly thought she could have.

When her body was pressed up against his, he kissed her again like he had in the hallway, but this time, his palms slid up her arms until they reached the straps sitting on her shoulders. Gently, he slid a finger beneath each strap and stroked the exposed skin, causing her to shiver.

“Ben,” she gasped, tilting her head to one side so he could continue the exploration of her jaw and neck. His breath teased the hairs behind her ear. Everything inside her blossomed and opened for him. His hands made their way around her back, and tantalisingly slowly, he lowered the zipper.

She wasn’t sure what had changed from his stance that they should date, first, but she was going to roll with it. He fisted the silk over her arse, pulling her even closer, then let go and returned his fingers to her straps, nudging them off her shoulders and down her arms.

“So fucking smooth,” he muttered.

But before she could respond, he lifted his lips from her shoulder, grabbed something from the bed, and slid what appeared to be his T-shirt over her head.

“What are you…?”

He slid the straps over her hands without looking at her sexy lace bra, and pulled the T-shirt down as she slid her arms into it. Once it was on, he unclipped her bra through the soft material, and she felt it drop to the floor with her dress.

Ben shook his head. “I brought you some things. I didn’t know if you remembered to bring an adaptor for your phone for a US plug socket, and I had a couple of spares. There are two bottles of water. One for now and one for when you wake up in the morning. And I grabbed you some painkillers because, as much as you love champagne, you always hate your life choices in the morning.”

“But I thought you were going to…we were going to… Ben.” His name came out on a whine, and she wanted to hit him when he grinned. Okay, not hit him. But perhaps shake him until he eased the ache that throbbed between her thighs.

“I said we’re going to wait. That we were going to get to know each other properly. And, okay, stripping you might be a step further than most people go before a first date, but I really wanted to know you were sleeping in my T-shirt. And I just didn’t want you to be dehydrated or sick without me being in here.”

Ben looked at her and shrugged, the move one of concern rather than indifference.

“But I’m so…”

“So, what?” he asked, stepping closer.

Chaya turned away, knowing her cheeks were blooming red. “You know.”

His lips settled next to her ear. “I might know, but I want to hear you say it.”

She shook her head.

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