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“Maybe, but I need to see Shayla first.” He wondered if she’d even want to see him, considering how he’d reacted to her declaration.
Sammy hit him on the back, nearly breaking a rib. “I’ve got faith in you, b
ro.”
After his brother left, Vance stood in the kitchen and thought back over the last few days. His stomach clenched as he imagined how different things would’ve been if Shayla hadn’t walked back into his calm little world and turned it upside down. He would’ve lived the rest of his life thinking she’d dumped him all those years ago because she’d gotten bored. The truth was a much harder pill to swallow because it forced him to face up to the fact he’d been wrong about her. She’d tried to keep him safe from her father’s wrath.
Sammy was right, Shayla was a strong, confident woman now, and Vance could easily imagine spending the next fifty years with her. Did he dare risk it? Yeah, she’d confessed her love for him, but what if she woke up tomorrow or next week or next month thinking she’d made a mistake? He couldn’t lose her again. Once had been hard enough.
By the time Vance arrived at Shayla’s apartment, his hands were shaking. They’d talked on the phone, and she’d said the “L” word again. Once more, Vance had managed to evade her. Her ensuing silence had scared him more than he cared admit.
As she opened the door and their gazes connected, Vance saw her stiffen. “You’re here,” she said. Okay, that didn’t sound too damn inviting.
He frowned at her. “We decided on five o’clock, right?”
“Of course,” she said, not letting him in. “It’s just…I have more work to do tonight. I really should—”
Vance planted his hand on the doorframe and leaned closer to her. “Are you blowing me off, Shay?”
“No,” she quickly replied. She looked down at the floor. “Maybe. Gees, I-I don’t mean—”
Vance leaned close and swallowed her ramblings with a kiss. He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled her against him, aching to feel her curves and valleys up close. Vance had a need to taste her. To flood his system with her floral scent and tangy flavor. To forget all the past hurts and start anew. He licked her lips, and they parted for him. Vance thrust his tongue in and teased the inner recesses. She moaned and wrapped her arms around his neck. Vance nudged her backward, into the apartment, then kicked the door shut behind him. He reached back and flipped the lock.
When her soft body molded to his, he went a little wild. In that moment, Vance knew he would do anything, say anything to keep her close. The idea that she had so much control over him bothered him to no end.
Vance lifted his head and stared down at her. Her eyes were closed, and her face was flushed. He stared at the soft, black sweater covering her heaving breasts and the snug-fitting jeans that emphasized her gorgeous curves and knew he would never be able to walk away from her. She fucking owned him. When she shook her head and opened her eyes, Vance could see the worry in the pretty green depths.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, all but holding his breath.
“You know the answer to that. I want more from you, Vance. I want some indication that you feel something other than chemistry here.”
“I do,” he bit out.
She rolled her eyes. “I’ve told you I love you twice now. You never said a word either time.”
She was pushing for a commitment, but Vance’s heart rebelled. She’d burned him once. Even if it wasn’t her idea and she’d had no say in the matter, it still had him erring on the side of caution now. “We’re good together, honey,” he offered. “Can’t that be enough for now?”
Vance didn’t give Shayla time to respond as he bent his knees and lifted her into his arms. He took her to her bedroom and flipped on the light. Her eyes shot wide, and he saw realization dawn.
“Vance, please,” she pleaded, “we need to talk.”
“We will,” he promised as he bent his head and covered her mouth with his. It lasted only a few seconds before Shayla pulled back and moaned, “I can’t do this.”
“Yes,” he growled, “you can, dammit.” He let her pull away, but only because he had other plans. Vance enjoyed kissing Shayla, but there were other, more exciting things he wanted to do with her—like drive her wild with pleasure. Anything but think about love and commitment, two things he’d managed to successfully avoid for the last twelve years.
Vance placed her on the bed, then moved on top of her. When she turned her head away, he took her face in his hands and forced her to look at him. “Do I stay or go, Shay?” he asked her in a gentle voice. “I won’t touch you unless it’s what you want. I swear it.”
She brought her hand to his face and caressed his jaw. “I always want you, Vance.”
He touched a freckle next to her lip and asked, “Even when I make you angry?”
A smile played at her mouth, and Vance let out a long breath. “I might want to strangle you, but that doesn’t seem to dampen my desire one iota.”
Vance moved between her legs and unbuttoned her jeans. “I think about you twenty-four hours a day. When I’m brushing my teeth, I imagine your pretty smile. When I’m going over a bid, your soft voice in my head breaks my concentration.” Vance saw fire spark in Shayla’s green eyes. “It’s been over twelve hours since I last tasted you, honey. I’m going crazy.”
Her cheeks bloomed pink at his erotic words. So sweet and yet so full of passion, that was his Shay. Vance took his time removing her clothes. Her jeans went first, then her sweater and bra. Her distended, mauve nipples beckoned him to suck. The soft red curls covering her mound were still hidden from his view by a pair of black silk panties. “That won’t do,” he said as he took hold of them in both hands and yanked, effortlessly tearing the flimsy material. He tossed them aside, pleased now that her glistening curls were visible.
“Those weren’t cheap, Vance Jennings,” she muttered.
