“Will you please tell me what’s going on?” I beg.
“It’s called the fight-or-flight response. It’s human nature. When faced with a new concept, a dangerous animal, or a potentially life-changing situation, it’s a natural response to want to duck for cover. To protect yourself at all costs. You lost your parents at a young age, then we were separated for many years, and most recently your ex-douche cheated on you.”
“What are you talking about? I need you to start making sense. This has nothing to do with my parents or Tony.” I resist the urge to roll my eyes. He must think I’m insane.
“Pancake, I’m sorry to tell you this, but it has everything to do with that.” He laces his fingers with mine and gazes into my eyes. “It’s okay to be scared. This is a big step for us. It’s something we’ve both wanted for years, and now that it’s about to happen, it’s okay to feel apprehensive.”
“It is?” I tilt my head, my eyes narrowing on his.
“Absolutely.”
“Gosh, I feel like an idiot. Here we are about to have sex, and I completely ruin the mood by acting like a girl. You must hate me.”
“I could never hate you. Quite the opposite, actually.” He leans in close and presses a tender kiss to my lips.
“I don’t deserve this.” His kindness and understanding when I’ve basically just cut and run is sweet.
“Of course you do. Don’t say that.” He presses a kiss to my forehead, and I almost melt at how sweet he’s being. “This is a big step for us, and I’ve told you there will be no going back to being friends once we cross this line. So you have a big decision to make. You know what I want. If you decide to let me in, unconsciously you know that losing me would hurt you all over again.”
I take a minute to process everything he’s said. I don’t know when he got so wise, but I know in my heart he’s completely right. My mini meltdown in the bathroom? It’s because I’m terrified of losing him again.
Staring at our joined hands, I give his a squeeze. “After sex, are you going to leave?”
“No. Fuck no. That just about killed me last time leaving you alone in my playroom.”
Sweet relief floods through me. That almost killed me too.
“We’ll take this at whatever pace you need to. I want you, badly.” His gaze dips down to the front of his pants, where geez, that looks painful. His dick is trying to burst through the zipper. “But I want you to be ready and feel comfortable. I’ll wait however long I need to. I’m not going anywhere.”
Realizing he’s just said the exact words I needed to hear to feel comfortable, my libido returns, reminding me that I’ve wanted every inch of him for years. I lean into his touch, longing to experience the physical feel of his love.
“I can’t wait one more minute to have those sweet lips on mine again, though,” he whispers, bringing his mouth to mine. “Is this okay?” He strokes my hair, gazing at me with such love in his eyes, it’s impossible not to feel wanted.
“Yes,” I breathe, waiting for him to kiss me.
And he does. Just a light press of his lips to mine at first, then his teeth graze my lower lip and his tongue sweeps against mine. Then he’s kissing me the way I remember from my best memories. His tongue coaxes mine; his mouth hot and needy, moves over mine. I grow warm all over and my panties get damp. It’s never been this good with anyone else.
Growing bold and unable to resist, I slide my hand upward from where it’s been resting on his firm thigh. My fingers brush the straining erection that I’m dying to touch. When Reece doesn’t react, other than to continue to kiss me with deep stokes of his tongue, I give his cock a squeeze. A grunt escapes him, and my panties flood with moisture.
“Careful, Pancake,” he says, breaking his lips from mine. “I’m trying to be good here, and it’s taking all the restraint I have not to strip you naked and fuck you raw.”
“Do you remember what I said to you that first night I showed up here?” I ask, feeling daring.
“Of course I do.”
“I wanted hot, sweaty sex.”
“And now?” he asks.
“I just want you.”
The look of wonder reflected in his eyes almost undoes me. “Then come here.” He rises from the bed. “Stand up for me.”
I do as I’m told, sensing I’ve somehow just flipped his Dom switch.
“I want to see all of you, and worship this sexy-as-fuck body the way it deserves.”
At his words, my heart rate kicks up speed. I’ll be exposed in more way than one tonight. This man will own me after this, quite literally.