Here was the moment of truth. Right here and now could be the make or break of everything, he could be back to square one with her. Square one was definitely where he didn’t want to be, he wanted this last wall between them breached.
When he felt her tremble, he removed his finger from her chin, but he stayed close, allowing her to feel his body heat. Okay, yes, it was a cunning way to fight back, but sometimes his father was correct. Not that he’d ever admit it to him.
Cherry looked away, her fingers twisting nervously in her blouse. A slight breeze came in through the kitchen window and stirred the tendrils of hair at her temple. Her breathing was still a little ragged, but she seemed calmer.
Patiently, Rick waited. For the first time in his life he was anxious about a woman’s decision on their relationship, but no way was he going to show that to her. One of them had to be strong, and regardless if it was a caveman attitude or not, Rick saw himself as being the one that had to be strong enough for both of them, especially in that moment. Their very future was riding on it and he wasn’t one to gamble, but right now he knew he was dangerously gambling on her emotions. On her feelings. On her attraction to him.
On his love for her.
Cherry swallowed and glanced up at him almost shyly. “I want to give this relationship a go.”
“Do you?” He asked quietly, steadily.
“Yes.”
“How are you going to do that when you don’t trust me?”
“I do.” She looked miserable.
“You don’t trust me.” He kept his tone quiet, letting her feel his patience and understanding. Sure as hell he wasn’t going to give her a glimpse of his frustration.
“Rick…”
“My turn.” When she looked startled, he smiled inwardly. “I want this relationship to work. I trust you, Cherry. I want to share every aspect of my life with you. I’m prepared to go wherever it leads. But I can’t be the only one rowing this boat. This is a two-man boat, and I’m the only one pulling on the oars.” She looked like she was ready to cry again, but he pushed on ruthlessly. “A relationship works only when both people trust each other. I trust you fully, Cherry. I ask that you trust me.”
“You don’t know how hard this is for me.”
“Relationships aren’t easy. It takes work from both people. I’ve made love to you several times, love.” Reaching out, he gently pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “I want to share more than that. I want to look into your eyes when we make love, I want to see what you’re feeling, and I want to share the laughter, the amazement, and the joys. I can’t do that in the dark. It has to be everything. Everything. There are to be no secrets between us, no awkwardness. Trust, Cherry.”
She took a wavering breath, her eyes searching his.
“Trust in every aspect of our relationship,” he said.
She looked down to where her fingers were wringing her blouse.
“Give me that trust.” His words hung between them.
Rick waited. Outside he could hear birds whistling, a car went past, and in the distance children laughed and shrieked. A dog barked. But everything he was interested in was right in his kitchen, standing before him, wringing the hell out of her blouse and his heart all at the same time.
Then she looked up at him and whispered, “Okay.”
His heart jumped. He felt like leaping around the kitchen and pumping his fists in the air. Instead, he met her gaze steadily and smiled slowly. “You won’t regret this, Cherry.”
“I hope not.”
Without saying another word, Rick took her hand and led her from the kitchen, down the hallway and into his bedroom. At the side of the bed he turned to face her.
Cherry was shaking with nerves. Her hand trembled in his and her eyes were filled with fear.
Not exactly what he wanted to see in them, but at least she wasn’t running from him screaming. His job now was to prove how much she turned him on, voluptuous curves and all.
Framing her cheeks in his palms, he leaned down and gently kissed her, keeping it light. He trailed his kisses across her lips, nibbled at the corners, then moved down to the side of her throat.
He felt her response in the way she sighed and angled her head for him.
Moving to her ear, he breathed warmly, “You’re safe in my hands, love.”
And then he swept the world out from under her feet.
He stormed her defences with his kisses and caresses, teasing her, drawing her into responding. He played with her senses, trailing his fingertips down her arms and up her sides, first over the blouse, then slipping his fingers beneath to simply trail up her sides, invoking shivers from her.
And he continued to kiss her, glorying in it when she swayed and leaned against him, her mouth seeking his, her hands creeping under his shirt to splay out over the muscles in his back.