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His hands settled on my shoulders, and my eyes nearly popped out of my head.
“You talk faster when you’re nervous. Why are you nervous?”
When I didn’t answer, he plucked the glass from my hand and turned me around. I stared at his chest until he nudged my chin. Whatever he saw in my eyes had him tugging at his ear briefly.
“Since coming to the surface and discovering females existed, I have spent all my moments learning. What do they like? How do they think? What makes a female happy? I still have much to learn, June. Help teach me.”
I released a long shaky breath and tried to form a logical explanation that wouldn’t embarrass the heck out of me.
“I spent the last while touching your arms and shoulders. And before Emily showed up, you wanted me to rub your chest as well. Then you gave me a look that seemed to say you were hungry for me and ate the biscuit from my hand.”
“Yes,” he said after a lengthy silence.
“I don’t know how to explain what’s going on in my head right now without sounding like an idiot.”
He wrapped me in a hug and soothingly stroked my back. The comforting hold was too good to pass up. Especially in my current state of awkwardness. I wrapped my arms around his waist and returned the gesture, leaning on his calm strength.
“You cannot sound like an idiot. You are the smartest woman I know.”
I almost laughed considering he didn’t know many.
“I asked you for time, and you’ve been giving it to me. But you’re also being incredibly sweet and nice. And you’re very open about your interest in me. I’m trying to be fair to us both by making sure I have enough time to get over Adam. To find myself again. But instead of finding myself, I’m thinking indecent thoughts about you, and the things I’m feeling for you are…confusing? Conflicting?” I sighed and continued to snuggle against him, enjoying the feel of his hand on my back.
“Tell me what you feel for me,” he said. “We can both try to understand then.”
I immediately shook my head.
“No. If I did that, then we’d both be confused. I don’t want to create any tension between us when things are comfortable the way they are.” I lifted my head to look up at him. “I know I said you should touch me less, but I like that you hug me whenever you can. You always seem to know when I need one the most. I don’t want that to go away.”
He gave me an extra little squeeze.
“I will always hug you. I like the way your body feels against mine.”
A laugh escaped me, and I started moving my hands over his bare back, giving in to the need to touch those strong, corded muscles.
“I like the way your body feels against mine, too, and I probably shouldn’t.”
“No, you should. I like the way it feels when you touch my skin. We should see if you like the same.” He tugged playfully at my shirt, and I quickly pivoted out of his hold. The teeth he flashed at me told me I’d read the situation correctly. He was playfully teasing but willing to touch if I allowed it.
“If you choose meat from the freezer, I will run it to Emily’s house tonight. You can tell my brothers tomorrow that they are invited to dinner.”
The extra tasks and planning helped the evening slip by. While Tor ran the food to Emily’s, I made a simple dinner for us. We ate together and watched a movie before I yawned and said I was headed for bed.
After a shower that should have relaxed me, I lay on the comfortable mattress, lost in thought. I wondered if being honest with Tor was the best route. He didn’t understand that what I was feeling now might change with time. What if—
The sound of Tor’s steps in the hall outside the door quieted the doubt in my mind. Relief flooded me instead, and I realized a part of me had been waiting for him to come to bed. Was his presence that comforting? Was I growing so used to him sleeping beside me that it was the only way I would find rest?
I closed my eyes, hiding from that potential truth.
The door brushed open, and I listened as Tor crossed the room. I could feel him when he finally stood beside me. The need to open my eyes and see what he was doing burned within me.
“Sleep sweet, my June,” he whispered before pressing a kiss to my forehead. I melted inside even as I started to panic. Did he know I was awake?
I knew he didn’t when he straightened and moved away.
Peeking through my lashes, I watched him enter the bathroom. The door didn’t quite close behind him, and I heard the rustle of his clothes followed by a long sigh. Then wet noises. My eyes went wide when he groaned softly.
He was masturbating. Just like he said.
