“I’d like that very much.”
“Good.” He took her hand and pulled her down the hallway to the master bedroom. “How about you use the toilet and brush your teeth?”
“All right.” She closed the door behind her and leaned against it. Wow, she was going to actually be in a bed with the most handsome man she’d ever known. Although she was nervous, her pleasure surpassed it.
After using the room, she opened the door and stepped out. She froze when she saw him standing in front of her with no shirt, shoes, or socks on, and his pants were undone.
His skin looked tan, but she could see some scars. She would eventually ask what happened to cause them. A patch and line of dark hair on his chest ran down his stomach and disappeared into his underpants.
There were so many muscles. Each of them defined, and they looked really hard.
He had a few tattoos, and although she never liked them on herself, it just made him look more masculine. His hands were as large as dinner plates and had calluses and scars all over them, but he had always been gentle with her.
A fiery blush heated her face when her gaze traveled up to find him standing there, letting her look.
“Um.”
He walked to her and grasped her shoulders. “Don’t you dare apologize. I loved having your eyes on me.”
“You’re so beautiful,” she said.
He snorted. “I’ll take it, but please don’t say that in front of the guys.”
She giggled. “I won’t.”
He cupped her chin in hand and raised her face. “I think you’re the beautiful one, honey.”
She tried to shake her head, but he wouldn’t let her.
“No, you listen to me. I see you differently than you see yourself, so don’t discount what I see because I love everything about you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, baby, really. Why don’t you hop into bed? I’m going to take a shower, and I’ll be right out.”
She nodded and watched him go. After the door closed, she climbed in bed, lay down, and faced the bathroom. It felt like she lost her breath when he walked out with just a white towel wrapped around his slim hips.
Her first look at his legs made her think of tree trunks. His thighs were very thick and muscular like the rest of him. He came out dressed in long silky pants, turned off the lights, and closed the door before he climbed into bed behind her.
“Let’s get you situated, baby. I want to hold you all night.”
“I’d like that, too.”
He maneuvered them until he was curled around her back and his arm draped over her waist.
“How’s the shoulder?” he asked. “Do you want some Tylenol?”
She shook her head. “It’s a little sore but not bad at all. The gel stuff you put on must have had some pain reliever in it?”
“Yes, it did.”
It was quiet for a long time, and she thought he’d gone to sleep.
“I can see myself holding you like this every night for the rest of my life,” he said.
She glanced over her shoulder in surprise. “Really?”
“Yes, baby.”
“I’d like that, too. I’ve never felt safer than when I’m with you.”
He pressed a kiss to her temple. “I’m glad. I’ll do everything I can to keep you safe and happy.”
“I just hope I can make you happy.”
“You already do, baby.” He sighed. “Good night.”
“Good night.” She thought it would take her a while to fall asleep in a strange bed with a stranger, but it felt so natural that her eyelids were drooping within a minute. She fell asleep with a smile on her face.