it to any sheets yet,” she reminded.
His laugh was low and easy. “Tell you what. Let’s change that tonight.”
Lettie tilted her head, wondering if he’d changed his mind about moving beyond sex.
“Not what you think,” he clarified. “Let me sleep with you, hold you while you dream.”
“Nothing more?” she asked, not completely certain that was what she wanted, but intrigued by the thought of spending an entire night merely sleeping in his arms.
“Unless you change your mind. Then, of course, I’m happy to oblige.”
Bill watched the first golden rays of morning spill into Lettie’s bedroom. The light moved along the sheets, emphasizing a long leg she’d uncovered during the night and playing with the highlights in her hair. He leaned up on an elbow and watched her sleep. She was beautiful, and she was his.
Finally.
She snuggled against him, creating a perfect fit. A perfect bond.
“I guess I’m wanting more than sex.”
More than three words this time, but they’d packed a wallop. Hell, he’d nearly blown it. By trying to prove he could be more than a friend, he’d led her to conclude that he only wanted her body. And she had decided she needed more.
Thank God.
Tonight, he’d make every effort humanly possible to pay attention to her heart. Now that he knew that’s what she wanted as well, he believed he could pull it off. And then, when she saw he was smitten by the whole package—the friend he’d known for years and the lover he was still getting to know—they could move forward. To more heated nights and more commitment.
Lettie twisted in the sheet, scooted against him and mumbled something incoherent.
His dick, in typical sleeping-next-to-a-naked-woman mode, translated her murmur as an invitation and pushed against her leg.
Fluttering her eyes open, she gave him a slow, sleepy smile. “I thought you said we were just going to sleep.”
“I did, and I meant it.”
Her leg moved against his hard cock. “Then what’s this?”
He smiled, shrugged. “A wish?”
She laughed, snuggled closer and moved a hand between them to curl around his length. “Mighty big wish.”
“Lettie,” he said, warning. “I really want to prove it isn’t just sex.”
With a look of pure seduction, she pulled her hand to the end of his erection, swirled a finger around the tip. Then she brought it to her mouth and licked the moisture away. “I know, but . . .”
“But?” he asked, his voice tense under the strain of his need.
“But I really need to come.” She stretched in the bed and the sheet skittered below her pink-tipped breasts. “I mean, I can take care of it myself, in the shower, but—”
“Not while I’m here, you won’t.” He rolled over, spotted the single pink rose with its surplus of soft petals. “Perfect,” he said, withdrawing the flower from the vase. Then he leaned toward the floor and withdrew a handkerchief from his pants pocket.
“What are you doing?” she asked, her voice still sleep-sexy.
“I’m doing what any man worth his salt would do in this situation.”
“Which is?” she asked, raising up on her elbows and staring at the items in his hands.
“I’m going to make you come.”
“Just me? You’re not going to?” she asked, looking extremely skeptical.
“No, I’m not. Until you see I want more than my own gratification from this relationship,” he said, tying the handkerchief around her head, “I’m not going to indulge. But, you do realize, I don’t expect it to take long for you to see my intentions are good.”
She smiled and settled back on the pillow with the blindfold in place. “In other words, I shouldn’t wait too long to figure it out.”
“Hell, I hope not.”
Her laugh teased his senses, made him smile and almost—almost—made him forget his straining dick. No doubt, the drive back home to get dressed for work would be hell. And his own morning shower would be frigid.
“I—”
Bill waited. One word, but he’d known where it was heading. She was nearly there, nearly ready to say what he longed to hear. But she’d stopped.
“Yes?” he asked.
“I . . . can’t wait.”
“Neither can I,” he admitted, though what he waited for went well beyond the climax she was about to experience.
Well beyond.
Grabbing the top edge of the sheet, he slid it slowly down her body, making certain to touch every curve, every indention, every nuance making up the perfection of Lettie Campbell.
She shivered when it hit the floor and moved her hands to her stomach.
“Are you cold?” he asked.
“A little.”
“Then I’ll make sure to get you good and warm.”