Page 49 of Thoroughly Innocent Intent

“If you aren’t who is?”

Colt

Holyshit!Igetknocked on my ass for a living, but no one has laid me out the way she just did with a few simple words.

She thinks I’m worth losing her anonymity, putting up with assholes like that guy at the restaurant? Even the women who get off on having their picture or their name linked with mine, who boast about being on my arm or in my bed, didn’t find enough value in me to stick around past the start of the season.

Yet Sam, who doesn’t want to be in the public eye or boast about dating me due to our working relationship, thinks I’m worth the risk? And we haven’t even slept together yet.

I don’t know why that surprises me, but it does. Sex has always been a big part of my past relationships, chemistry is high on my list of must-haves for anyone I date, and it’s probably the thing that made those relationships last as long as they did.

That and my willingness to spoil my girlfriends with expensive gifts. But my relationships usually started and stopped with sex.

It’s true the physical attraction between Sam and I is just as hot as any I’ve experienced, but we’ve barely explored that. Her reasons for taking a risk on me have nothing to do with sex because we haven’t had it yet, and that’s oddly satisfying. Who knew a woman could hate my fame and like me without my having to take her to bed first?

“Colt?” Sam’s hesitant voice pierces my thoughts. “Did I say something wrong?”

I pull up to her condo and put the car in park, turning to look at her fully now that I’m not distracted. Her pulse is pounding at the base of her throat, her lush breasts rising and falling with her rapid breaths. Her eyes have a little bit of fear in them, not lust. Can she really think she said something wrong?

“No, Honey.” I reach out to cup her cheek. “You said everything I hoped you would. I’m just still trying to convince myself I heard you right.”

She frowns and opens her mouth to speak, but I cut her off. “I was so afraid that thing at the restaurant would be the end of us. I know you don’t want your life on display, and I don’t want that for you. I’m damn glad you’re willing to risk it.” I wrap my hand around the back of her neck and pull her toward me, needing to feel her lips on mine.

What starts as a slow, gentle kiss quickly turns sensual, a sign of how deeply the conversation affected us. That’s a new feeling for me, desire driven by emotion instead of lust, but it’s no less hot. In fact, it might even be hotter.

As our kiss intensifies, I’m vaguely aware of being parked in her drive, which keeps my hands from wandering. It doesn’t prevent my body from responding, or hers based on the way her chest rises and falls.

This is still new to her, so I don’t want to move too fast, but it takes all my willpower not to push things further. However, just as she’s done the past few times things have become physical, she seems to get lost in the experience. Her hands wander over my body, gripping and tugging in an effort to bring us closer.

“Sam.” I breathe against her lips. “We can’t do this here. We’re still in the car.”

She goes briefly still before pulling away slightly to meet my eyes. “Should we…um… go inside?”

I can tell she’s holding her breath, waiting for my answer, but for the first time in my life I’m not sure yes is the right answer. Do I want her? Absolutely. Before she’s ready? Hell no. And I have no idea how to tell when she’s ready.

Besides, I’ve got an early flight, and I’d rather not rush out the door the first time we spend the night together. Although, come to think of it, she may be totally unaware that I’d interpret asking me in as asking for sex. Damn. I’ve never been so unsure of what to do with a woman.

“I’d love to come in.” I kiss her in an effort to stop myself from overthinking.

Until now, I haven’t been past the foyer in Sam’s house, and as she leads me in, I notice a handful of artifacts that I assume are African lining the walls. One seems to be some sort of mask, another a beaded necklace in a thick frame.

“Did you bring these with you when you moved here?” I point to the decorations.

“Yes.” She smiles wistfully when she sees what I’m looking at. “They were actually going away presents from some of the people in the village. They’re part of a traditional costume for a ceremony to celebrate the passage into adulthood.”

“Did you go through a ceremony like that?”

“I couldn’t since I wasn’t officially part of the tribe, but my friends included me by giving me the costume.” She looks at the items fondly.

“Do you miss it?” I wonder out loud.

“I miss the people,” she says softly as she turns to set her purse on the kitchen counter. “Drink?” She wrings her hands together.

“Why are you suddenly nervous?” I step to her and take her fingers in mine.

“I’m not nervous. It’s just…you have this amazing house and I’m just realizing that my place must seem really tiny and uncomfortable in comparison. I mean, you don’t like my office because it’s small, and this isn’t much bigger.” She looks around the room critically.

“Sam.” I give her hands a gentle squeeze. “I only pretend to dislike your office because I want to see you outside of it.”

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