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‘Seriously, Rachel.’ He took a step towards her, his shirt open at the throat, his gaze a bit hooded, his eyes so bright and his hair so dark and his jaw so hard... He was just too beautiful. It should have been a crime. It certainly wasn’t fair. ‘Tell me.’
‘Tell you what? How little experience I have when it comes to this?’ She gestured to the bed.
‘Only if it would make you feel better, to have me know.’
‘One time, okay?’ The words rang out and she closed her eyes in mortification. ‘I’ve done it one time, and, trust me, it was completely forgettable.’ There. It was out. Thirty-two years old and she’d had sex once, with a guy who had turned out to be a complete cad. But she didn’t want to go into those
humiliating details now.
‘Okay,’ Mateo said after a moment.
‘Okay?’ Rachel stared at him uncertainly.
‘Now I know.’ Mateo shrugged. ‘It doesn’t make any difference to me. I’m not put off, if that’s what you’re afraid of.’
‘Not yet.’
‘Not ever. A lack of experience isn’t a turn-off, Rachel, trust me.’
‘That’s assuming you’re turned on in the first place,’ she muttered. She felt tears again, and tried to hide it. This was all getting a bit too much.
‘Why would you think I wouldn’t be?’
‘Why would I think you would?’ she challenged. ‘We’ve known each other for ten years, Mateo, and you haven’t felt anything like that for me in all that time.’
‘And nor have you for me,’ Mateo countered. Rachel decided to remain silent on that point. There was only so much honesty she could take. ‘It’s changed now. We’re looking at each other differently now.’
‘You haven’t exactly had trouble keeping your hands off me,’ she felt compelled to point out. ‘Quite the opposite. We’ve kissed exactly three times since we’ve been engaged.’
Mateo’s lids lowered as he looked at her meaningfully. ‘We’ve done more than kiss.’
‘Barely. And even then you were pretty quick to haul me off your lap.’ The humiliation of that moment stung all over again, and a tear fell. She dashed it away hurriedly and Mateo swore under his breath.
‘Rachel, I had no idea you felt this way.’ He looked flummoxed; the colour leached from his face as he shook his head slowly.
‘I’m not expecting you to fall in love with me,’ she managed stiltedly. ‘Or even be wild with passion for me. I know I’m not exactly—’
‘Don’t say it.’ Mateo sounded fierce. ‘Don’t run yourself down, Rachel. You’re amazing. You’re beautiful. You’re my wife.’
‘Then show me,’ she whispered brokenly. ‘Show me.’
Mateo held her gaze for one blazing second and then he swiftly crossed the room and, cupping her face in his hands, kissed her deeply.
He’d kissed her before, and it had always made her senses spin. Now was no different, as his mouth slanted and then settled over hers and his tongue swept the softness inside, making her body sag and her knees weaken. He kissed her as if he knew her. And that made all the difference.
Rachel wrapped her arms around his hard body and he pressed closer, one knee sliding between the billowing folds of her gown as his kiss took possession of her, and her spinning senses started to drown. She was overwhelmed. Overloaded. Undone. And all by one kiss.
When he finally lifted his head to give her a questioning, demanding look, she managed the weakest smile she’d ever given.
‘That’s a start.’
‘A start?’ he growled, and he kissed her again. Deeper this time, until she was truly and utterly lost, and yet at the same time found. She’d never been kissed like this before. She’d never felt like this before. And she wanted more.
Mateo broke the kiss to give her another one of his burning looks. Then he began to unbutton his shirt. Rachel swallowed hard.
‘I’ve never seen you without your shirt on before,’ she remarked conversationally, except her voice came out in a croak.
‘You’re going to see me with a whole lot less on than that.’
