“That’s insane,” I snapped.
“You’re not a guy,” he replied.
“Okay, now that’s insane,” I returned.
“Maybe you don’t get just how cute that nightie is,” Mitch retorted.
Oh boy.
“Mitch –”
“Or just how good it fits you,” Mitch kept going.
Oh God.
“Mitch –”
“Or how fuckin’ great you look with your hair down.”
“Mitch!”
“Or how I gotta fight against goin’ hard whenever you slip outta your cocoon when you get pissed or you forget to stay shielded and that Mara Light shines out.”
That shut me up and it made my fingers curl into his shoulders as I stared, shocked, into his fathomless eyes.
“Yeah,” he murmured, his arm around my waist going tight. “Now, finally, I’m seein’ you get me.”
“I think we’re done talking now,” I whispered and we were. We were definitely done talking.
Of course, the truth of the matter was, I was done talking. Mitch was not and I knew this when his arm got tighter just as his hand at my scalp pulled me so close to his face I felt his breath on my lips.
“Since I have your attention, baby, and I see you beatin’ your retreat, I want you to take this with you when you slide back into that cocoon. Straight up, Mara, I want you in my bed. And when you’re in my bed, I’m gonna be inyou. And while I’m movin’ inside you, I’m gonna make you come with your long, fuckin’ legs wrapped around my back, when my hands are finally on that fantastic fuckin’ ass of yours, your tongue’s in my mouth and you’re kissin’ me as only you can kiss me. I know you got a way of twistin’ shit so it’s fucked up in your brain so I’m hopin’ if I’m direct about just what I want from you, it might penetrate and you might keep it straight long enough to give us both what we’ve been wantin’ for a long, fuckin’ time.”
I was trying not to listen, trying not to let what he said penetrate but I was also failing.
What did he mean we both had been wanting for a long time?
“You with me?” he asked.
“Um…” I mumbled because I wasn’t sure I was about some of it but other parts I couldn’t not be with him and he grinned.
Then he muttered, “You’re with me.”
“I think –” I started and his fingers at my scalp gave me a squeeze.
“I don’t give a shit what you think, sweetheart, ‘cause by the time it passes your lips, it’ll probably be twisted and fucked up. But what I think is that we’re done here… for now. I take your point and you’re right. We’ll talk before anything important goes down with those kids. But you need to take my point that we won’t talk about it until they’ve both graduated from high school. Now, are you good with that?”
“You don’t give a shit what I think?” I asked softly.
“Not if it’s twisted and fucked up,” he replied. “Now, are you good with what I said?”
“But –”
“Mara, we got kids to get ready for school,” he reminded me. “Are you good with what I said?”
“I think –”
His hand left my hair to wrap around my shoulders, he gave me a squeeze and repeated, “Baby, are you good with what I said?”
“Uh… yeah. I’m good with what you said,” I agreed. “Or, at least, that last part.”
His eyes roamed my face and I let them because I couldn’t think in his arms with the skin of his hard shoulders warm under my fingers. I needed to think somewhere else. Perhaps Canada.
“Somethin’ else, sweetheart,” he whispered. “Earlier, I was straight about what I want from you but what you also need to take with you into your cocoon is that I get you more than you think I do. I get you and I like what I get. And you need to know you have nothin’ to fear from me. You know what I want but in gettin’ it, I’ll go gentle.”
Oh my. Gentle Mitch.
Um… yum.
“I, uh…” I started but stopped when his lips touched mine.
“I’ll go gentle, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “I promise. You’ll always be safe with me.”
Oh. My.
“Mitch,” I breathed.
His soulful eyes held mine captive as he repeated firmly, “Always.”
I stared into his eyes and he stared into mine. His were warm but serious. Mine were probably terrified.
Then he prompted, “Yeah?”
“Uh… yeah,” I whispered.
“Good,” he whispered back, dropped his head, veered left and kissed the hinge of my jaw. Then he let me go, saying, “I gotta jump in the shower.”