they entered the kitchen, dated compared to the rest of the house she’d seen so far.
His smile was distant. “I thought about remodeling, but I like it this way. Great memories.” He fed his cat, then moved to the fridge. He pulled out a bottle of Prosecco and bowl of chocolate-covered strawberries and set them on a counter.
He’d planned a romantic evening, and he was trying so hard to be in the moment.
For me.
Stepping into his arms, she gazed up at him. “You’re doing all you can for her, and so are the doctors.” She rested her cheek against his chest as she massaged the bunched muscles in his back. His heart rate slowed to a sure, steady beat.
“Thanks for being here.” Matthew kissed the top of her head and exhaled, then dipped his head to cover her mouth.
Slow and searching, his kiss was more intoxicating than any cocktail she’d ever drunk. But this thing between them wasn’t just about her. He had to be thinking about Etta. Still hesitant, she pulled back. “Are you sure you want to do this? I mean, you have a lot on your mind. I’d understand. We can chill and talk about Etta, whatever you want.” I’ll have to take a freezing cold shower, but I’d understand.
“Even when I was standing next to her hospital bed, I was thinking about you.” He smoothed her hair. “Ever since I met you, you’re on my mind. Can’t quite explain it.” Then he kissed her with a bone-melting passion she’d only ever read about. “I want to be with you.”
Lexie thrilled at the connection between them. His kiss held far more than passion. It held kindness and affection, too. She wanted to share a special night with him. She knew what he was going through, the loss he’d have to bear. A sudden consideration made her pause and reshape her last assumption. Having Liam and Judith as parents, two people totally absorbed in themselves and without time or care for their only child, Matthew already knew what it meant to live with loss.
He’d given her so much. He’d helped her feel less alone in a big city. They’d gravitated toward each other. Perhaps it wasn’t all about sexual chemistry, but also about the bond they felt, finding another person who wanted to connect so badly with another human being, but afraid to reach out, only to be rejected again. Maybe she could make him feel joy in spite of his pain, and let him know that she cared and understood, without burdening him with expectations or fears of her own.
She picked up a pair of wineglasses off the counter. “Want to enjoy this upstairs?”
He scooped up the bowl and wine. “I like the way you think.”
Stealing glances at each other, they sped up the wide front staircase and down the hall into the room he said was his master suite. A bookcase among the pale greens and browns caught her eye, but then she turned and caught his heated gaze.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Matthew held out the glass he’d filled with wine for her. She was here, at last, in his bedroom—all softness and smiles and curves.
Tell her the truth. It’s not right.
He swallowed. “Remember how we were talking about the guy you call Steel—”
“Talk?” She stepped close. “No. No talking. More doing. Uh, fun stuff.” She reached past him and lifted one of the strawberries from the bowl.
Fascinated, he watched as she dipped the chocolate-covered fruit into her wineglass and tipped her head back. He couldn’t tear his eyes off her as she caught the pale liquid on her tongue. He couldn’t think.
And then she was licking it, her eyes half-closed as she moaned with pleasure.
Fire ripped through him, and he bit off a groan.
“Delicious.” She licked her wet, full lips. “Want it?”
Yes. So bad. She amazed him. This was another, wonderful side to her. “I want you.” He read the need in her eyes and grasped her wrist, guiding her hand back to her mouth. “Lick it.”
Her cheeks flushed at his soft command. Her tongue darted out, then she closed her lips around the tip of the fruit, sucking it clean before biting into it like she hadn’t eaten in weeks. “Yummy.” She smiled up at him. “But I’d rather have you.”
“I’m all yours.” He moved with her to the bed, all too happy to let her know with his tongue and lips how much he wanted her to be with him, how good it could be between