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“And what is it?” he asked, surprised his voice was strong.
Passion stared back at him. If he thought the tension between them was high before this, right now the air crackled with it.
“This attraction hasn’t gone away,” she told him. “In ten years, even with ignoring each other, whatever this is between us has only gotten stronger. I know you’re scared, you don’t have to say it. You don’t think I’m terrified? Coming here like this, risking rejection has me so nervous I can hardly stand it. But I’m willing to take that chance because I want this. I want you.”
Rejection? The second he’d opened his door and pulled her in he knew he couldn’t turn her away. He’d pushed and pushed and there was no strength left in him.
She’d come to him. His sweet, unwavering Sophie had put aside her fears and landed on his doorstep. He knew she came here to put everything on his playing field. He knew she presented herself to him because she had feelings for him, and damn, if that didn’t humble him.
Sliding his hands over her face, his rough palms against her smooth cheeks, his fingers fisted into her hair as he tilted her head back.
“Be sure, Sophie.” He stared into her eyes, so set with determination and desire. “Be sure of what you’re asking for and know this is all I have.”
Could he actually do this? Could he selfishly take what she was offering and go into this so casually? He’d had casual sex before, but Sophie was different, special.
“It’s simple.” She reached up, held onto his wrists. “You either want me or you don’t. I’m not looking for a ring on my finger or a declaration of love.”
“What if you want more later?” he asked, needing to clear all the bases to avoid hurting her again.
A corner of her unpainted mouth kicked up. “What if you want more?”
Damn. Maybe that’s what he’d been afraid of this entire time. Because he did want more, but there was no way he’d take it.
Right now, this was all they could have. And he was going to relish every single moment.
Zach backed her up against the narrow wall between the door and the window. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
Capturing her mouth like a man starved for a taste of perfection, Zach aligned his body with hers. Sophie’s hands slid up his arms to grip his shoulders as she opened for him.
Nothing else existed in his world. Sophie in his arms, in his home, was all he needed. How could every single thing in life be absolutely perfect when she was with him? How did all the anxiety and worry just fade to nothing with this vibrant woman in his arms?
As much as his body ached for her, as much as he needed her, Zach knew this was a night he didn’t want to forget, and he sure as hell wasn’t going to rush. Sophie deserved more. They deserved more.
When he pulled his mouth away, she let out a moan in protest. Without a word, he lifted her into his arms, a move he’d never made before because there seriously wasn’t a romantic bone in his body. But holding Sophie like this seemed . . . right. That word seemed to keep popping up in his mind. He couldn’t think of that now. He refused to let anything else take up space in his mind other than Sophie and the fact that he was carrying her to his bedroom.
As he started up the steps, she laid her head on his shoulder. “You don’t have to carry me.”
Zach froze on the second step. Yes. He did. “I know you can walk, but I know you also hurt more at the end of the day. Let me do this.”
Lifting her hand to his jaw, she stroked her fingertips along his coarse beard. “Do whatever you want.”
Zach closed his eyes and willed his self-control not to snap. Did she have a clue what her soft tone, her trusting words did to him? Did she have any idea how sexy it was that she’d humbled herself and put her fears aside, coming to him with her eyes wide-open?
With his heart pounding a bruising rhythm in his chest, Zach continued up the steps toward his master bedroom. Had he even picked up the dirty clothes lying around? Not that anything could be done about it now, and he honestly didn’t care about his underwear on the floor, but . . .
Damn it. He was overthinking again. He had the woman of his dreams in his arms and his thoughts had drifted to laundry? He needed to get a grip before he totally screwed this up.
Sophie’s fingertips continued to stroke his beard. Just that slight tingling sensation shot waves of pleasure through him. He wanted those delicate hands on his body. He wanted them there now.
“You’re trembling,” she muttered.
He hadn’t even realized.
“It’s me, Zach.” Her gentle hand went to the side of his neck. “Don’t hold back, don’t treat me like I’ll break. I’m here for you, your needs. Because fulfilling those will fulfill mine.”
How did she have all the right words, all the comforting words, when he had a jumbled mess in his head? He couldn’t even form a coherent thought because he was so damn scared right now. This had to be perfect for her. How could he not treat her like she’d break? Hadn’t he nearly broken her before? He was a shattered man and she still wanted him.
Zach entered his room and winced at the disaster. “I, uh, wasn’t expecting company.”
