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Her brow goes up sharply. “Yeah, me too.”
My thumb rubs circles over her belly. “Loren,” I begin without even knowing what I’m going to say next. “I had an amazing time last night.”
“So did I. Thanks again for taking me to your ball, your highness.”
I chuckle shortly. “I’d actually forgotten about that part. I meant that I really enjoyed your company.”
“Oh,” she says softly, her lips forming a perfect oval. “Well, um, ditto.”
I let my hand drift over to her side and gently urge her in closer. “I like spending time with you. Maybe more than I’ve ever liked it with anyone else before.”
Whoa.
Where did that come from?
I guess I’m doing that “be yourself” thing now? Or have I just reached a whole new level of awkwardness?
She gulps and blinks a few times. “I guess that’s a good thing, since we’re sort of stuck together now.”
I nod. “But just as friends and co-parents, right?”
“Right,” she says, and her voice is so low that I can tell she doesn’t believe it.
“And what if … what if I proposed an amendment to the ground rules?”
“What kind of amendment?”
It’s getting harder to breathe by the second, but I manage to pull her in so that her body is nearly flush with mine. “Maybe we could give this a real try before we resolve to stay friends?”
“Oh,” she says again, even more breathless than I am.
I lick my lips, my mouth suddenly feeling unnaturally dry. “I can’t help how much I like you, Loren.” She shivers when I run my hands down her back. “I don’t think you understand how badly I want you,” I add, my voice sounding deeper.
“I see.” Her eyes are wide, and she’s almost panting, but she still seems hesitant.
I urge her upper body closer. “I know relationships haven’t been my thing in the past, but I could be different for you. I … I want to be different when I’m with you.”
I have no idea who’s talking for me anymore. But I’ll let this guy have free rein if it gets me a shot.
“Oh,” she repeats a third time, and her chest is heaving now. It also looks like she might cry.
And, yep—there she goes.
“Hey, are you okay? Did I say something wrong?”
She cringes and stiffens in my arms. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this, Blake. We aren’t built the same.”
“What do you mean?” I ask as I bring my hands up to swipe the moisture from her face.
“I know you’re not used to going this long without connectingphysicallywith someone. And it’s not that I’m not attracted to you. I mean, I wish I weren’t, if I’m being honest. This would all be so much easier,” she rambles.
I frown. “Slow down. I don’t understand what you’re talking about.”
She sniffles. “You … you said youwantme,” she replies, barely audible. “But I made those rules for a reason. I can’t just give that part of myself away again. I don’t think I’ll be able to bounce back this time, and the last thing we need is to build resentment between us.”
I nod softly, but my chest feels like it’s just been hit with a sledgehammer. “You think I only want sex from you.”
“Maybe you think you want more now, but the novelty will eventually wear off, and you’ll get bored with me and the whole relationship thing. And I can’t afford the risk, especially not in my condition.”
