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He seemed pleasantly surprised, as though he’d expected her to push him away to get back to work. How many nights had she done that? How many evenings had she been too tired, too busy, too distracted to give him the love and attention he deserved?
“You know how much I love you, right?” Trent asked, serious as he brushed her blond waves away from her face.
She swallowed hard. Those crystal-blue eyes so full of affection, she could see his love. Feel it in every part of her being. His gorgeous face was the one she wanted to wake up to every morning for the rest of her life. Seven years together, they’d been building toward forever…“Is that the problem?” he asked when she didn’t answer. “I haven’t been making it clear how much I adore you?” In one quick motion, he’d reversed them. Supporting his weight on his insanely sexy biceps, he lowered his face to her neck, leaving a trail of hungry kisses along her collarbone.
Desire for him eased her guilt over letting him believe her distant coolness was a result of lack of attention. She wasn’t the clingy, demanding type. She was independent and strong. She didn’t need Trent—shewantedhim.
But it was unfair to him to let him marry her when she could never give him everythinghewanted.
He lifted the edge of the T-shirt, sliding his strong hands along her stomach, inching higher to cup her breasts.
She closed her eyes as her body awakened.
How could she walk away from him? His love and devotion rivaled his passion for her. He was everything she’d ever wanted.
If only she could be that for him.
She clutched his shoulders as he leaned closer and captured her mouth with his. Desperate, searching kisses had her gasping.
“I want you, Whitney,” he murmured against her ear, his warm breath against her neck making her shiver.
“You can have me.”
At least for now.
…
Then…
Spending the holidays with Trent’s family had only solidified Whitney’s feelings for him, and being accepted into the warm, caring family meant so much to her. Her own family consisted of her adoptive parents, who were a lot older. Their home was safe, secure, and loving, but it had never been the laughter- and fun-filled environment she’d experienced with the Connollys.
It had only made her fall harder and faster for him.
And that evening, sitting inside his apartment with a raging thunder-and-lightning storm outside that had cut the power, reducing them to battery-operated tea lights and board games for entertainment, Whitney knew it was time to take things to the next level.
“And I win again,” Trent said, raking in the pile of Hershey’s Kisses—their poker chips—in the middle of the coffee table as he won yet another hand.
“Where are you getting all the aces? And how are you so good at these games?” Monopoly, Clue, Scattergories, trivia…he’d won them all.
He laughed. “Family board game nights gave me lots of practice, I guess.” He unwrapped a Hershey’s Kiss, extended it toward her lips. She opened her mouth, but instead, he popped it into his own.
“Hey! Not nice.”
“If you want chocolate, you’re going to have to actually beat me at something,” he said with a grin.
Whitney got up off the floor. “I can kick your ass.” Maybe it was the whiskey talking or the false confidence she had in her two years of karate lessons. Either way, she was bouncing on the balls of her feet, fists clenched in front of her face and challenging the man who had 130 pounds on her to rumble.
Trent nearly choked on the chocolate as he laughed. He slowly set his own whiskey glass on the table and then got to his feet. “Remember, you asked for this.”
“Bring it,” she said, throwing a quick, light jab in his direction. It connected with his upper abs, and it didn’t escape her notice how solid they were.
Damn, dude was smokin’ hot.
How on earth had she managed to keep from having sex with him this long? Three months. Ninety days. That was her general rule. If a man could make it past the “probationary period” of their relationship, then she’d entertain the thought of physical intimacy. Very few guys made it. And she’d be lying if she said she hadn’t been tempted to break her own rule and waive the waiting period this time with Trent. Their make-out sessions had gotten hot and heavy lately, and there were a few nights…
But no more waiting.
Trent moved around her slowly, as though calculating, stalking, waiting for the perfect opportunity to make a move in.
