The thought of that terrified me.
But as I fell into that beautiful face, I wanted this girl. And I wanted to be her first.
Although I had no right to lay claim on her, my body was calling the shots. But it was more than my dick dominating: there was something about Theadora that made me want to protect her.
“Have you ever dated? Or kissed a boy?”
Am I really asking a twenty-four-year-old that?
“I went out with a few boys, but…” Her mouth drew a tight line. “Men scare me.” She looked away as though ashamed of something.
“That’s understandable. You’ve had a rough time. This stepfather of yours sounds like the fucking devil. You really should consider pressing charges.”
She shook her head. “I don’t want to dredge up the past.”
I took her soft little hand and caressed her palm. “I can’t stop thinking about you.”
“You’ve seen more of me than most men,” she said drily.
I studied her face and noticed a smile grow, which put me at ease.
“Both times by sheer accident.”
Her brow lowered. “Both times?”
“In my T-shirt.” How could I admit that her bending over in front of me had turned me into a walking hard-on?
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Her brow creased. “How horrible.”
I shook my head. “It was anything but horrible. You’re a very desirable woman. You’re not a woman a man easily forgets.”
She held my gaze and then looked away as though I’d challenged her again. Unlike most women I’d met, Theadora didn’t milk sexy compliments. If anything, they confused her.
We stepped up onto the pier. “I love the smell of the sea,” she said.
“Me too. I don’t think I could live anywhere else.”
“Not even London?”
“I go there often for business or to meet up with friends, but I’m more a seaside village type of man.”
“You haven’t travelled?”
“Other than my army tours, I’ve travelled through Europe and the US.”
“Have you ever been married?”
“No.” I stopped walking and took her hand, while searching for the right words again. “Would you consider us spending some time together?”
This was really difficult. Normally sex just happened. No negotiating or spelling out terms. However with Theadora, the last thing I wanted to do was frighten her by tearing away at that pretty dress.
How I would love to do that.
“By that you mean, sleep with you?”
“Yes.” I turned to stare at her in the face.
We kept walking in silence.