“I thought I made that clear. You…any way I can have you.”
“You said something that didn’t’ sit well with me. You said you were a monster. I didn’t mean to make you feel like that. It’s not a problem. I’m fucking terrified of the way you make me feel, and nothing about that feeling is—monstrous.”
He ducked down to meet her gaze. “You’re not afraid of me?”
“Not in the way you’re thinking. I haven’t known a lot of kindness from men. What you offer and make me feel. It’s new and I don’t—I can’t trust it.”
“I don’t hear you denying it.”
“No, I’m not the type of woman who believes in living in denial. It never changes the truth.”
“I don’t want you to fear me, babe. We can take it slow. I told you that.”
She glanced up at him. “I don’t know how to be what you want. I—I don’t even know who I am anymore.”
“Then we can find out together.”
She laughed. “This is crazy.”
“What’s crazy?”
“You, this.” She gestured with her hands.
“Why?”
“Because it’s not anything I would’ve expected. How can you be so, so...?”
He arched an eyebrow.
“Unpredictable.”
“Sure, let’s go for that. I mean, it’s not exactly the persona you portray.”
“Babe, this is only because of you. For you. I see something I want for the first time in years and I’m dead set on getting it.”
“I’m not an it.”
“No, babe, you’re everything.”
“You don’t even know the can of worms you’re opening with me,” she whispered. “I’m two steps away from insane.”
“I like crazy.” Sensing her imminent surrender, he pushed away from the door and stepped in her space to cup the back of her head. “You’re not going to dissuade me, Symone. You and I are going to happen, babe. It’s just a matter of time. You want that, don’t you?”
She tilted her head back and peered up at him. “I want it.”
“Then, that’s what you’ll get.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I need to take a shower babe.”
“No.” She gripped his cut. “Not yet.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her body to his. He inhaled her sweet tropical scent. She was curvy and soft in all the right places. The contrast felt right. This was a miniscule move toward where he wanted to be with her, but he knew damn well every journey started with a single step.
Symone cleared her throat as her body began to stiffen.
He loosened his hold, allowing his arms to fall to his sides.
“God, I don’t know why I did that.”
“Don’t…” He shook his head.