It would hurt like hell when she walked away from him, but he was starting to think it might hurt more if he never tried at all. “Do you want me?”
She bit her bottom lip, and her answer came out on a breathy sigh. “You know I do.”
“Why did you stay away?”
She hesitated before answering. “Because we can’t work. But I also couldn’t really stay away. I know I’ve been harder on you than anyone else.”
It was time to give her some honesty. “Do you know why you always find me in the middle of fights? Because I knew what shifts you worked, and I would get into the middle of the trouble just so I could see you. I knew it was the only way to get close to you. I had the money to pay those tickets. Hell, I knew I would get the tickets. I actually do know how and where to park. But if I didn’t get in trouble, I wouldn’t ever get to see you.”
It was a stupid thing to admit, but it was true.
She put her hands on his shoulders, and her palms smoothed over his skin. She let her hands trace his shoulders and neck. “You have to stop that. You work for the sheriff’s department now. You can see me a lot. I’ll have to see you a lot. I won’t have to arrest you for stupid stuff anymore.”
His hands found her hips, and he tilted his head up to look into her eyes. “Oh, I think you could still arrest me from time to time. I like watching you work. Come here. Let me help you out of those clothes.”
He cupped her hips and snagged the hem of her tank top, dragging it up and unveiling her lovely breasts. He wanted to see her in the early morning light, wanted to enjoy every single moment of time he had with her. Her arms came up, making it easy to pull the shirt over her head. He tossed it to the side and stared at her for a moment. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”
She snorted lightly. “You must not have had your eyes open most of the time, then, Guidry.”
His hands found her hips again and he held her tight, looking up into her eyes. “Don’t. Don’t joke right now. I’m serious.”
Her face fell. “I’m not beautiful. I’m not awful, but I’m not gorgeous or anything.”
“You are to me, and I’m not saying that to get you in bed. I can get you in bed without another word. You want an orgasm and I can give it to you. But you have to take my words, too. Remember what I said about Archie and his wife? How she doesn’t see the same thing you do?”
“Yes.”
He loosened his hold and ran his hands up her body, cupping her breasts. “You are the sexiest woman I’ve ever met. I don’t know why. I think sometimes people simply click, like they’re meant to be together. I know you don’t believe that. It doesn’t have to be forever. It can be that we came into each other’s lives for some reason, and fighting it hasn’t made either one of us happy. So listen and believe me when I tell you that I saw you and I knew I had to know you. You and Armie walked into Guidry’s and I couldn’t take my eyes off you.”
Her shoulders had relaxed, and she leaned toward his hand, giving him full access to her breasts. “All I knew was you were the one everyone warned me about, and I still couldn’t stay away. I love it when you touch me.”
He was going to do so much more than touch her, but he could start there. He moved his hands down and eased his fingers under the waistband of her pajama bottoms. She wasn’t wearing underwear. All he felt was warm, smooth skin. He cupped her backside and brought her close. He leaned over to kiss her breasts. He lavished each one with affection, pulling her nipples into his mouth and teasing them with his teeth and tongue. He held her close, offering her no release from the sweet torture.
“You’ll sleep with me while I’m here?” He needed to make sure they were on the same page this time.
“Yes. I want that.” Her hands had come up, rubbing along his back. “I haven’t wanted anyone like I want you. Not any other boyfriend. Not my ex-husband.”
He pulled back and looked up at her. He loved the almost desperate look in her eyes. He wondered if this was what she’d meant before. “No one’s ever made love to you like me? How do you mean? Because I can’t imagine a man who doesn’t want to spend his every waking breath looking at you, loving you.”