Page 69 of Let Me Love You (Excess All Areas 5)

“Remind me why we’re waiting again?”

“Because diving straight in is a bad idea.”

“Spoilsport.” She stuck her tongue out, and Ben laughed.

Between bites, she removed the second box, a fruit one topped with fresh strawberries.

All that was left on the table was an envelope.

She took another bite of cheesecake, then opened the envelope.

Dear Chaya.

Happy Shavuot.

I know this is hard for you, not being with your parents, but remember this holiday is about your own relationship with your faith. Hold on to that because I know how special today is for you.

I wanted you to know I was thinking of you. And be ready to be picked up Sunday at 4. Dress nice, pack casual.

Love

Ben x

Her heart expanded. He was trying so hard to be accepting of a faith that didn’t accept him in the same way.

She leaned into his shoulder. “You really are the best boyfriend. But I’ll need more details about Sunday.”

“And we best start that jigsaw before I give up on the idea of dating, push you down on the counter, and cover you in more of that cheesecake.”

Chaya leaned back on the island. “Like this?” she asked.

He grabbed her and pulled her off the counter. “Chaya,” he warned.

And as he tipped pieces of the jigsaw out on her table, she revelled in the glory of being able to make him lose his cool.

12

“Where are we?” Chaya asked on Sunday as he pulled up in the parking spot he’d been instructed to. Facing them was a low brick wall, ahead of them trees, behind them fields.

If he was lucky, they were going to sleep with each other tonight, and the idea had him half hard. Waiting had been impossible.

But he was nervous about having sex with her and it was time he fronted it. Not because he had any worries about his performance, or whether they would be good together. It was all rooted in what she’d told him on the plane.

And the idea that anything he could do might cause her hurt, harm, shame, or any other myriad of feelings was like a kick in the nuts. He’d been trying to reconcile it in his mind since they’d gotten back.

He’d told himself he was just sticking to his plan. Dating her rather than rushing her into bed.

And he’d blamed their schedules, which had been chaos, but it was bullshit.

So were Alex and Zoe’s schedules, and they still fell into bed with each other every night.

Instead, he’d realised he wanted to make their first time together special. He wanted to woo her a little, make sure she was comfortable, and keep their lines of communication so wide open that you could drive a train straight through it.

He gripped her chin between his thumb and forefinger and kissed her, letting heat simmer between the two of them. There was a lot to be said about anticipation, and, assuming she was on board, he was riding the edge where his body knew what would follow.

“Moor Hall in Aughton. It’s a hotel. It’s also been voted the best restaurant in the UK twice and has two Michelin stars. I called them and they were able to provide a vegetarian menu for you, so you don’t need to worry.”

“You know I’d be happy with a takeout curry from The Great Kathmandu.”

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