She thinks for a moment, then she shakes her head. “No.” She turns her body to face me. “It was just… overwhelming.”

“In a good or bad way?”

The corner of her mouth lifts. “Good.”

My lips curve into a pleased smile.

I take a step closer to her, and it makes her instantly tense. “Don’t worry,” I murmur. “We won’t have sex tonight.”

There’s still a lot I want to do with her before we get to that stage.

“Okay,” she breathes.

My gaze is locked on her as I slowly move forward until there’s almost no space left between us.

Hana tilts her head back to look up at me. Her breaths starting to come faster.

The corner of my mouth lifts. “Are you okay with second base… for now?”

Christ, I haven’t used those words since highschool.

Hana takes a moment to think again before she tentatively nods.

Lifting my hand, I brush my fingers from her jaw down to the dip of her neck. “Will you stay the night? I’ll have you back at the dorm early tomorrow morning.” I see the hesitation in her eyes and add, “I won’t do anything you’re not ready for. You’re safe with me, Hana.”

She takes a deep breath, then whispers, “Okay.”

Now that I’m able to relax, knowing I have her for the night, I pull back and ask, “Can I get you anything to drink?”

Hana shakes her head as she steps around me. “No, thank you.” I watch her walk to the sweeping bay windows, which give me a view of the city below. “Wow,” she murmurs. “You can see everything from up here.”

I drop my keycard and key in the bowl next to the elevator, and when Hana turns back to me, I gesture to the stairs. “Let me show you around.”

I wait for her to walk to me, and taking her hand, I lead her up to the second floor. We stop at the first room. “My study.”

Hana walks inside and trails a finger along the surface of the oak desk. “Do you work here a lot?”

“Not as much as I’d like to,” I admit.

I show her the guestrooms and restroom before I walk into my bedroom.

Hana hesitates in the doorway, her eyes scanning over the black bedspread. “You like dark colors.”

“Yes.”

Slowly she steps inside, and I can see she wants to ask something.

“Go ahead and ask,” I encourage her.

She peeks into the ensuite bathroom, then turns her gaze to me. “Have you brought other women here?”

“No.” That’s what hotels were for.

Hana takes a deep breath, then she asks, “When were you last with… someone.”

“The week before the Christmas event,” I answer honestly.

I’m pretty sure my hand doesn’t count. The number of times I’ve jerked off to the image of Hana must be well in the hundreds.

Her eyes sharpen on me. “Not since?”

I shake my head. “Not since I saw you.”

“Why?”

Slowly, I move closer to her. Lifting my hand, I wrap my fingers around the side of her neck. She tilts her head back, her lips parting slightly.

“You’re the only one I want.” I lower my head to hers and press a tender kiss to her mouth. Pulling back an inch, I give her an out. “Do you want to watch some TV?”

“No.” Taking hold of my left wrist, she checks the time on my watch. “I usually go to bed at ten.”

“Bed it is then,” I murmur. I walk to my closet and take out a clean shirt for Hana and sweatpants for myself. Joining her in the room, I ask, “Do you need to shower?”

Hana shakes her head. “I already did.”

“You can change in here while I shower.”

I leave her standing in the middle of my room, and once I shut the bathroom door behind me, I hurry through my routine faster than I ever have before.

Chapter 9

HANA

My stomach churns with nerves as I quickly step out of my jeans. I pull the t-shirt off and rush to put on the shirt Tristan gave me. I notice my fingers are trembling as I do the buttons.

Glancing down, I’m relieved to see the shirt covers me to mid-thigh.

I’m only anxious because I’ve never spent the night alone with a man.

My thoughts return to when Tristan touched my breast, and it makes my breathing speed up. It felt so good.

His firm fingers squeezing my softness.

I don’t think I would’ve stopped him if he went further.

Am I ready?

I stare at the closed door that separates Tristan from me.

He’s been so patient, waiting eight months for me.

Is he the one you want your first time to be with?

Faced with the question, I can’t think of it being anyone else.

The past two weeks, Tristan has swept my feet from under me. I’ve passed having a crush and fallen head over heels for him.

My heart begins to beat faster when I hear the water stop.


Tags: Michelle Heard The Heirs Romance