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“Is that what you want?”
“Don’t answer my question with a question.”
“I don’t really know what to say. The obvious answer is yes, I want us to be friends. But— “
“No fucking buts. You’ve met my friends. Have I given you the impression I want to throw back beers and scan the crowd for women with you in a bar? Or hit the gym when I’m bored?”
“No, you haven’t.” I cringe at the thought of going to the bar with him to pick up other women.
He lifts my chin gently, forcing me to look at him. “Do you kiss your friends like you do me?”
I can’t form words, so I shake my head. My skin prickles where his thumb rubs back and forth.
His eyes soften a little, and he bends down to my level. “Have any of your ‘friends’ brought you chocolate and told you they’ve been dreaming of the taste of it on your lips again?”
I shake my head again.
“Good, because it would really suck if the first woman I’ve had an interest in had a slew of male friends that knew exactly what I’m going after.”
“Going after?” I whisper, heat shooting through my veins.
His lips touch mine delicately, but he doesn’t move in to kiss me. He speaks softly against them. “Yeah, going after. I tried to stay away and was a fucking dick about it. You’re too pure for a man with demons like me. I have my own shit buried deep, just like you. But maybe one day we can share those with each other. I don’t want to be your friend, Ember. I want to be more.”
His breath flows into my slightly parted mouth with an intimacy I’ve never experienced, the affection clear in his tone. For once, I don’t shy away and second-guess his intentions. His tone says it all.
Did I hear him right? Is this really happening? I can’t stop myself from asking, “You do?”
“Yeah, the question is, do you?”
“Yes,” I answer breathlessly, wrapping my arms around him. I’m scared to blink, thinking he may disappear and this is a cruel dream.
“Good answer, because I wasn’t really giving you a choice.” He runs his hands down my torso, pulling me against his hard chest.
“Why did you try to stay away?” I ask quietly, eager to know.
“I’m a dumbass. My reasons are stupid. The minute I walked through the door of Clyde’s and my eyes landed on you, I was fucked. You were so beautiful— too beautiful for someone like me. I told myself over and over you’re too sweet and wholesome.”
My heart stammers in my chest when he calls me beautiful. His stare is so intense; I swear he can see into my soul. “Sweet and wholesome are bad things?” I question.
“No, they’re scary things. It’s a combination I’ve never thought was for me, but I was wrong. From where I stand now, it’s perfect.”
“Robbie, I want you to know, I’m not trying to hide things or be difficult. This is all new to me. There’s a chance I’ll screw things up.”
My own self-doubt takes over, waiting for him to realize he’s making a mistake. There’s nothing I want more than to have a relationship with him, but how? What happens when he finds out about my past? Fear starts to erupt until he speaks.
His body grows tight. “With just a few kisses, you have me wanting more. I like you for who you are. Don’t try to change anything for me. I’ll be patient, but one thing I can’t handle is that look on your face earlier. I get there’s stuff you don’t want to talk about, but tell me. Don’t shut down, Ember.”
“I’ve never been in a relationship. As mortifying as it is, I’m not sure how to do this.”
A huge grin breaks out across his face, and he kisses me gently. “I haven’t either. Maybe we can figure it out together.”
I smile back at him and watch his expression soften. “So does this invitation to dinner have an expiration, or can we watch a movie afterwards?”
“I’d really like that, especially since I’ve been dying to see the latest Nicholas Sparks film.”
His faced scrunches and I push against him, laughing. “Just kidding! How about we pick something a bit more manly?”
He grins and his eyes shine. “Manly sounds good.”
