He nodded. “Yes, but only the first time, and I’ll do everything I can to lessen the pain.”
“What can you do?”
He chuckled. “I’d rather show you. Why don’t you jump into the shower while I go lock up and check my messages. I’ll shower after you.”
She nodded and walked into the bathroom.
****
Eli exhaled and rubbed his forehead. Fuck, he’d never taken a virgin before, and the idea of hurting Kinley made him sick. He knew he’d use every trick in the book to make it easier on her. Right now, he’d give her a bit of time to settle into bed.
He walked through the condo and then checked his phone. The only messages were from Kendra. For God’s sake, when would she give up?
He knew he’d have to get a new number, but he had so many friends and acquaintances that he’d have to notify each one with the new number. It would be a pain in the ass. He had hoped she’d just give up.
After about twenty minutes, he turned off the lights and made his way into the bedroom. He stopped short when he saw her on top of the bed in a short nightgown, putting lotion on her legs.
He leaned against the doorjamb. Damn, he could watch her do this for the rest of his life. It made him feel so many different emotions. Lust, because he wanted her so much, calm, from just watching her and happy to have her in his life, and appreciation, for finding her.
He must have made a sound because she looked up and smiled. “I’m done.”
“I see that. I’ll be right back.”
Eli was in and out of the shower in minutes. He brushed his teeth and pulled on a pair of boxers.
When he opened the door, he could see her lying there under the covers, facing him.
“Do you need a light for sleeping, honey?”
“I usually do, but with you here, I don’t think I’ll need one anymore.”
Hell, when she said things like that, his emotions ballooned. “We’ll try it without and see how you do.”
“Okay.”
He slipped into bed and turned on his side to face her.
He traced her cheek with one finger. “How are you doing?”
“I’m okay. I trust you.”
“We don’t have to make love. I’d be happy just holding you.”
“But I want us to make love. I want to feel the way most women do when they have sex with the man they lo … care about.”
He wanted to call her on her slip so bad, but there were enough emotions already.
He smoothed her hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”
She gripped his wrist. “I know.”
“Come here and kiss me.”
He decided if he gave her some of the control at that moment, she wouldn’t feel powerless, and it might take away some of the fear.
He cupped the back of her head but didn’t put any pressure on it, letting her kiss him at her leisure. Only when she became bolder did he allow himself to run his hand over her body. The caresses started slow and just up and down her side. When she made an impatient sound, he moved to cup her breast. Instead of flinching away, she pushed more of herself into his hand.
Eli leaned back enough to see her face. A groan stuck in his throat at the rapture on her face.
“You are so beautiful.”
Her eyes opened slowly. She lifted her hand to cup his face. “I never thought I was, but I want to be for you. I want to be your everything.”
“Baby, you already are.”
She rolled onto her back. “Make love to me. I don’t want to wait.”
He smiled. “Okay. At any time you want to stop or slow down, tell me.”
She nodded.