His fingertips brushed along the wiry hairs covering my jawline. “I don’t think so. Don’t sell yourself short.”
“I’m not. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
“Then don’t.”
An easy answer to a complex issue. “I wish it was that simple.”
“It can be. If it becomes difficult, it’s because you made it that way, Chase. You have the power. I’ve handed it to you for a reason.”
“I appreciate that more than you know, but you didn’t have to do that.”
“Yes, I did. And look where we are right now because of it.”
“And where are we?”
His brow wrinkled when his eyebrows lifted. “Well, it sounds like you’re about to get laid.”
I rose to my feet, making him take a step back. “Actually, it sounds like you’re about to get laid.”
“Tomatoes, tomahtoes. As long as we’re making sauce…”
“We’ll be making a white sauce, not red.”
He blinked, rolled his lips inward, then he threw his head back and burst out in laughter. It was full and rich and came from deep inside him, echoing around the clearing surrounding my cabin.
When that glorious sound hit my ears, it made me smile in both pleasure and relief. I had been afraid that by being around me, I had dampened his joy in life. That me being a miserable prick had made him that way, too. Despite it being his choice to spend time with me.
Again, I didn’t understand why he’d stuck it out, but I was damn glad he did.
If it wasn’t for him…
No doubt… If it wasn’t for him I’d be a wretched, lonely recluse. I had already been headed in that direction. The whole reason I bought this property. My plan was to hide from everyone. Hell, hide from life.
I owed him a lot for being stubborn and not giving up on me. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to pay him back in full. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t try.
“Why aren’t you kissing me yet? Are you afraid of catching something?” he teased.
Yes, feelings.
I swallowed that truth back down. I feared it might be too late. Those two nights he hadn’t stayed with me in the first few weeks, I had actually missed him.
Really missed him. Imagine that.
It surprised me just as much.
The man had quickly become a habit. One I wasn’t sure I wanted to break any time soon, or ever. I enjoyed our conversations. I enjoyed sharing my evening with him. I enjoyed seeing him sitting across from me at breakfast, sipping on coffee and chatting about his plans for the day while he also glared at me when I slipped Timber a bite of bacon or sausage.
When it came down to it… I just enjoyed being with him.
I couldn’t forget that the night we had sex was enjoyable, too. It would’ve been a lot better if I had allowed myself to enjoy it instead of only going through the motions.
Tonight my head would be more in the game than it had been that night. Amazingly enough, my time with Rett had me feeling halfway human again.
If I wanted to admit the truth, it was more than halfway.
He and Timber barging their way into my life had done more for me than any therapist every could. The man seemed to have some sort of magical power.
However, there was no freaking way I was telling him any of this. I’d never hear the end of it.
Of course, right now, he had better things to do with his mouth. I’m sure he would agree.
CHAPTER 21
Chase
Keeping my lips attached to Rett’s in a very thorough, very deep and very arousing kiss, I walked him backwards toward my bedroom, using his hips to steer him as he gripped my face tightly with both hands.
If he tripped, we were both going down. Hopefully neither dog got in our way.
As soon as we went through the door from the porch into my cabin, I had pulled off his T-shirt, not paying attention to where it landed—apparently on Timber’s head—until Rett made a noise at the back of his throat. Still refusing to break the kiss, I peered out of the corner of my eye and witnessed Onyx snag it, whipping it back and forth while trotting around proudly like she scored a prize.
I had no doubt Rett would need a new T-shirt after today. I didn’t know much about puppies but I did know they could be destructive. A good explanation for why Rett had brought a crate along and not only a dog bed.
If we were finally going to have sex, I didn’t want to be worried about the puppy destroying my home and distracting me.
Tonight I wanted to give Rett every ounce of my attention. Tonight I would show him how much I appreciated him and everything he’d done. Tonight I wanted to get lost in the man I was falling for, despite my resistance.