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Hannah felt a touch of heat in her cheeks. She didn’t want him to think thatshewas trying to get him out of his shirt. Even though she was looking forward to doing just that – for the photos.
Grady caught her gaze. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. Is this going to be weird?”
She stared at him. Had he figured out that she was lusting after him?
He shrugged. “You know. We’re both aware that … well, let’s just say that I’m more than happy to get my shirt off for you. But I don’t want you to feel like I’m coming on too strong.”
“Oh!”
He raised his eyebrows.
“I was scared that you might think I was.”
“I didn’t.” He met her gaze. “You couldn’t. I think I need to just lay it all out there. After the way we started out, I don’t want there to be any more misunderstandings between us, okay?”
She nodded, wondering what he was about to say.
“Is that for him?” He jerked his head toward the playpen that she’d set up for the puppies.
“Yes.”
He set Scooter down inside it, and her heart started to pound as he took a step toward her. He put his hands on her shoulders and looked down into her eyes. “I know I screwed things up when we first met. But this is me, trying to set things straight. Please don’t doubt my interest. I won’t ever think that you’re coming on too strong, I’m thrilled that you’re interested at all. I find myself attracted to you, Hannah. More than attracted, and not just physically. I’d like to get to know you. I’d like to spend time with you.”
All she could do was look back into his eyes, which were fixed on hers while he spoke. She shivered when his thumb brushed the side of her neck.
His gaze dropped to her lips, then came back up to meet hers. “What I’d like to do right now is kiss you.”
She nodded; she didn’t have any spare breath for words, he’d stolen it all. He lowered his head, bringing his lips closer to hers, but then he paused, a fraction of an inch away, waiting for her to close the final distance.
And she did.
His lips met hers, soft and warm, tentative at first. He ran his tongue over the seam of her lips, and she opened up to him. When she did, they both moaned when his tongue met hers. One hand slid into her hair, and the other ran down to the small of her back, drawing her against him. Her arms came up around his neck as she kissed him back. Wow! The man could kiss. His hand ran up and down her back as he explored her mouth. He deepened the kiss until it felt like he was making love to her mouth and the rest of her body was aching for the same. She sank her fingers in his hair, loving the way his hard body felt pressed against her. She rocked her hips against one particularly hard part of him, and his hand closed around her ass and held her there. Wow! It’d be all too easy to take him by the hand and lead him to her bedroom; there was only one place a kiss like that could lead, and she wanted it to.
She moaned when he lifted his head and looked down into her eyes. “Damn!”
“You could say that.”
He chuckled. “I’ve wanted to kiss you since the moment I saw you.”
“Just kiss? That’s all you wanted?” Her hand came up to cover her mouth. “Forget I just said that?”
A smile quivered on his lips. “I could. If you want me to. Or I could answer you honestly. If you prefer?”
She nodded breathlessly. After the way he’d laid out how he felt just now, she was eager to hear what he might have to say about just kissing – or not.
He tightened his arm around her waist and held her so close that she could feel his answer. “The moment I saw you, I wanted to kiss you. But to be honest, I wanted to kiss you because you looked like someone I wanted to fuck.”
A little wave of shock shot through her veins. She shouldn’t be surprised. She knew how things worked. But no man had ever spoken to her that bluntly – that honestly.
He gave her a rueful smile. “I plan to be honest with you about everything from here on out, Hannah. And the truth is, that’s what I thought when I first saw you. But then we started talking. And even just the little bit we got to know each other made me want more than that. And I thought I couldn’t have more, couldn’t ask you for more. So … well, you know how that worked out. But since we’re past that now, I need you to know that I don’t want to fuck you anymore.”
She stiffened, but his hand came up to cup her cheek.
“I mean, I don’t just see you as a beautiful woman who I’d like explore something quick and physical with. I see you as a beautiful woman who I’d like to explore and see if there could be something real and … lasting with.” He chuckled. “And I can’t think of a better way to put it right now, but just so we’re clear, I am hoping that we can do some of that exploring in bed.”
She had to laugh. “Thanks for spelling that part out. I thought for a minute that you didn’t.”
His hand slid down over her ass again, holding her against his impressive erection. “I want you, don’t ever doubt that. But I think it’s better if we save that for later.”
