“Yes, baby. Unless you don’t want to.”
Oh, God, yes, she did. More than anything at that moment. The strength of her need scared her a bit. “I do. I’ll be right back.”
Aleena walked into her bedroom and closed the door. Then she pulled off the ruined pants and his shirt before taking off her bra and panties. At Kaleb’s place, she had put her underwear on inside out but still felt a little yucky so quickly washed herself before putting on another pair.
She dressed in a pair of jeans and a soft pink shirt. Then she sprayed her hair with conditioner and combed through it before she pulled on socks and her white tennis shoes before going to find him.
He was standing in front of the pictures again. He picked up the one of the dog and turned to her.
“Who’s this picture of, baby?”
Oh, Lord. She couldn’t help but be embarrassed. She bit her lip and wrapped her arms around her waist as a blush warmed her face. “It’s a picture of a dog I want to get eventually.” She had done that for years. She’d cut out a picture of something she eventually wanted. She still had most of the photos in a file in her nightstand.
“Is it from a magazine?”
She nodded.
“The house also?”
“I know it’s silly.”
He shook his head as he placed it back on the fireplace mantle. He walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. “It’s not silly at all.”
She peeked up at him, and something inside of her melted at the approval, affection, and passion on his face.
He bent and pressed his lips to hers. She wrapped her arms around his waist and cuddled, lifting to her toes before trying to deepen the kiss.
He pulled away and held her at arm’s length. “We have to stop, baby. I don’t think you're ready for where this is headed.
Aleena stared up at him with equal parts disappointment, frustration, and desire. She knew why he stopped, and although her body was demanding satisfaction, she knew he’d made the right decision. She nodded and stepped back.
Kaleb picked up her travel bag and then grabbed her hand. “Let’s go eat.”
“Okay. I’m hungry.”
“Good, you’ll like the place I’m taking you.”
He took her to a diner he liked to eat at often. The place was nothing fancy, but the food was excellent.
She’d never tasted a better Denver omelet.
He grinned at her. “It’s good, right?”
“Yes. We definitely have to come back here a lot.”
He leaned back in the booth. “Tell me about yourself, baby.”
She set her fork down and took a drink of water. “I get to learn about you, too, right?”
“Absolutely.”
“Well, um, I’m twenty-six. I grew up in a small town in Kansas. My grandmother raised me, and we lived in an old house.”
“You loved the house or living with your grandmother?”
She nodded. “Both. How did you know that?”
“Your expressions. You don’t like where you live now, right?”