“And for you?” she prompted him.
“Oh!” He did laugh then. “Yes. I’ve never, ever experienced a kiss so … blinding.” He stole a British phrase, which made her smile.
“So you’ve kissed women?” The doubt in her voice was almost comical.
“Yes. They’ve kissed me, mostly.”
“Oh.” She tapped his cheek with her palm and then rested her hand on his chest again. “There’s our not-humble military machine coming out. All the ladies kiss me.”
He laughed. He was humble around her. More than he’d ever been in his life. He’d had to act humble around his parents and around military leaders, but he’d never felt true humility until he’d met her.
“Have you ever had a girlfriend?” There was a teasing lilt to her voice.
“I dated Rachel for two years before we got engaged, so I guess you could call that a girlfriend.”
“What?” Mia jerked upright so quick his hand got thrown off her leg. She straightened in the seat and turned to him with the fiercest glower. “You didn’t think that was pertinent information I should know?”
He was at a loss here and then suddenly it hit him. She was feeling exactly how he’d felt when he’d thought about her being with anyone else. “Mia. Rachel was a nice lady. She doesn’t compare to you. Not for me.”
“I’m being ruddy bratty.” She shook her head. “I guess I just assumed where you didn’t like to touch anybody, you wouldn’t have … How in theworldwere you engaged? She was okay with you never touching her?”
“I … touched her.”
“Did you like it?” She seemed to hope he didn’t.
Zeke hid a smile and said, “I tolerated it.”
“You tolerated it? Zeke! You should absolutely love to touch and be touched by your fiancée. You should be on fire from head to toe. Do you want me to show you what touch should feel like?”
“You’re going to teach me?”
“Yes.” She stood up and gestured to him. “It’s past time I taught you about the beauty of human touch.”
“Past time?” He looked up at her. She was so cute, irresistible, beautiful, he could list descriptors in his mind all day.
“Yeah.” She planted her hands on her hips. “We’ve known each other all of twenty-four hours now.”
He chuckled. The question pinging at the back of his mind wanted to surface—was this going to last? They should hardly know each other. Yet he felt happy, alive, accepted, honestly in love with her. He had no clue how a relationship would work for him with his past, his issues, his career, or for her with her career and how out of his league she was.
He could at least claim he was learning to accept human touch and overcoming that issue. With her, he was already over it. He had no idea how he’d react to other people, but Mia’s touch was magical for him.
He slowly stood and liked the way her eyes swept appreciatively over him. He was glad she’d turned the fire off. He couldn’t imagine how hot he’d get with her touching him.
“All right, Lady Mia Burton.” He held out his arms, palms up. “Do your worst.”
“This will only hurt a little bit.” She smiled and eased toward him. Zeke’s heart took off at a gallop. Mia could never hurt him. He knew any touch from her would be sheer pleasure. It was amazing to him, but true.
The only way Mia could hurt him was if she left him. And he knew that would happen sooner or later. His only hope was it would be later.
ChapterFourteen
Mia’s heart was thumping high in her throat. As Zeke unfolded his tall, tough body from the settee, her mouth went even drier.
“All right, Lady Mia Burton.” He held out his arms, palms up. “Do your worst.”
“This will only hurt a little bit,” she teased. It wouldn’t hurt her, and she prayed it wouldn’t hurt him. As she thought of prayer, she paused and did close her eyes.
Help me to keep this pure, she prayed. She wanted to inspire and lift Zeke closer to heaven. She knew Zeke wasn’t a believer, but he was a good man. A great man. She wouldn’t let things get out of control with him, but oh, she was going to enjoy this touching session.