Taming Her Billionaire Boss(34)
“You mean my virginity?” Her heart rose in her chest at the respect he’d afforded her.
“Yes.”
“But I’m not a virgin,” she pointed out.
“I know that now.”
He’d rejected her all for nothing? It was admirable, but… “You should have asked me at the time.”
He pursed his mouth. “It’s not only that,” he said, sending her stomach plummeting.
“I see.”
“No, I don’t think you do.” He clenched his jaw. “You were so damn generous, Samantha. You were giving me everything and I was worried that you…er…might look more into this than you should. I just wasn’t sure you could handle any emotional involvement.”
She appreciated where he was coming from with this, but her heart still managed to drop at his words. What was it about her that every man felt they had to warn her off?
“Don’t worry,” she assured him. “I’m not planning on repeating history and losing my heart to anyone in the future.”
His eyes searched hers. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Suddenly she felt all-knowing. “Maybe it’s you who can’t handle it, Blake.”
He looked startled, then scowled. “I admit it. I can’t. And to be blunt, I don’t want to even try.” He paused. “But this isn’t about me. I’m thinking of you, Samantha. Not me.”
Her heart tilted. She appreciated his honesty but she could look after herself. And to be equally as honest, how could she give him up without a fight now that she knew he wanted her?
“Blake, thank you for that but you’re doing me an injustice. I’m a grown woman. I know sex doesn’t always mean commitment. I have needs and I know my own mind. I know what I want, and while I’m here…” She looked him straight in the eye. “What I want is you.”
“Hell.”
She flinched. “I’m sorry if that makes things more difficult.”
“Don’t be. It’s your directness, that’s all. It blows me away.”
She felt a rush of warmth. “I do want you, Blake. Very much.”
“Your head—”
“Is on the mend.” She paused, preempting him. “And yes, I’m sure.”
His eyes flared sensuously. “Then do me a favor.”
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She moistened her mouth. “What?”
“Go upstairs and put your nightshirt on for me,” he said, his voice turning heavy with huskiness.
She blinked in surprise. “My nightshirt?”
“You looked so sexy in it this morning. I’ve been thinking about it all day. It’s been driving me crazy.”
Sudden awareness danced in her veins. “Does this mean we’re going to—”
“Have sex? Yes.” A tiny pulse beat in his cheekbone. “But only if you’re sure you can handle a purely sexual relationship,” he said, giving her one last out.
Excitement washed over her. He still wanted her.
She nodded. “I can handle it, Blake.”
“Then go change.”
She got to her feet. It was now or never. And right now never definitely wasn’t an option.
Samantha couldn’t deny she was nervous as she came out of her room in her nightshirt and descended the staircase in a pair of high-heeled gold sandals she’d put on at the last moment. The bottom button was missing from her nightshirt, but the material covered her and what did it matter now anyway?
Blake had turned the lamps off and stood by the log fire, watching her in the flickering light with the same look he’d had on his face last Saturday night when she’d dressed for her date with Joel. She’d been trying to capture Blake’s attention that night to make him jealous. Tonight she’d definitely caught more than his attention. Tonight they both knew they would be a part of each other. The power of that thought stunned her.
“Come over here, Samantha,” he said huskily when she reached the bottom step. The air throbbed between them and she quivered, moving forward without a falter as she made her away across the carpet to him.
His blue eyes moved slowly down over her, and something flared in them. “You’re still missing the button,” he said, as if to himself.
She blinked in surprise as she reached him. “You knew it was missing?”
“Oh, yes. It came off this morning in the bathroom…when I lifted you up on the sink.”
She could feel herself go hot all over. “Oh. I hadn’t realized.”
“I know you didn’t,” he said, with a pointed look. He pulled her up against him. “God, you’re so damn sexy, Samantha Thompson,” he murmured, gathering her close. “My very sexy lady.” His body was hard and she trembled. “Now, does that feel like I can turn myself off so easily?” he said thickly, his breath stirring over her face.