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“Maybe I don’t want to.”
He links our fingers together and kisses the back of my hand. “Well, maybe I do.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I need to put the brakes on.”
“For me or for you?”
“For both of us. I want too much, and you’re not ready.”
“I’m twenty-one, Jason. I’m an adult.”
“Yes, but you’ve never dated before. In fact, you’ve probably never kissed anyone before today.”
“Everyone has to start somewhere.”
He laughs. “I’m just now processing the fact that your parents gave me their blessing. I’m not sure I’m ready to tempt fate.” He cups my face in his hands. “You are the most beautiful, most courageous woman I’ve ever met, and frankly I’m in awe of you.” His dark eyes search mine. “But Rome wasn’t built in a day. We need to take this slowly. There’s too much at stake here for me to risk screwing it up. So, baby steps, okay?”
“All right.” On impulse, I reach out to touch his cheek, but my hand freezes halfway.
“It’s okay, you can touch me. Trust me, you can do anything you want.”
After I brush my fingers over his beard, my fingertips travel up the edge of his cheek, up to his temple. And then I trace the dark slash of his eyebrow, and the bridge of his nose. Jason closes his eyes and lets out a heavy breath.
Taking his reaction as a positive sign, I run my fingers through his hair.
His entire body shivers, and I’m amazed that I have that kind of impact on him. Feeling emboldened, I lean close and pressmylips to his.
His eyes flash open in surprise, and there’s no mistaking the fire I see in their depths.
“Sweetheart, you are playing with fire,” he warns, his voice suddenly rough.
”It’s all right. You won’t burn me.”
“You’re so sure of me?”
“Absolutely.”
Grinning, he brushes my hair back from my face. “You are going to be the death of me. I only have so much restraint.”
I feel heady with a mixture of power and relief. The way he’s talking to me—the way he’s opening up to me. This is a first. I’ve never had such an intimate conversation with a man before.
I lean forward and kiss him. His lips part immediately, and he nudges mine to open as well. My nerves are tingling from my scalp to my toes.
His hand in my hair feels exquisite.
You whore!
I flinch, then pull away.
“What’s wrong?” he asks.
You’re a whore. A slut.
Jason pulls me back into his arms. “It’s okay,” he murmurs as he rubs my back. “Tell me what she said.”
“She called me a whore.”
