Page 21 of Her Only Hero

I put my nose to the window and saw only blackness. “I can’t wait to see your property in daylight. Oh, I think I just saw a pair of eyes.”

He chuckled. “You probably did. It could have been a racoon or a skunk. Though coyotes make appearances as well. Don’t worry. They won’t bother us. Come.”

It’d be easy for a person to hide out there, too. I pushed the idea from my mind.

He pointed. “Those stairs lead to the loft, and the en suite.” Along the main floor hallway, he opened a door. “This here is a bathroom. And the laundry/mud room is next to it.”

“I like the laundry on the main floor,” I said.

He listened intently and understood. “Yes, it is. Are you hungry? I can fix you something.”

“I’m fine, thank you. You have a beautiful home, Patrick. I really love it.”

He smiled. “I hoped you would.”

I put a hand to my mouth and stifled a yawn.

“I’ll show you upstairs, and we can call it a night.”

He grabbed my duffel bag from the hallway, and we climbed the stairs to the loft. On the night table, he turned on a lamp that better illuminated the simple layout. He had a large dresser, a king-size bed, and a television mounted on the wall. The skylight made the room appear more spacious and added a touch of calm with the boundless view.

He put down my luggage. “That door leads to the bathroom.”

I sat on the bed and sank into the cushiony-soft black-and-white striped comforter.

“Make yourself comfortable, June. Through the railing you’ll have a view of me on the couch below. Holler if you need anything. I’ll be listening.”

“What?” Had I heard right? “You’re going down there to sleep?”

“I know you need your rest, and I don’t want to be presumptuous.”

How could he think of leaving me now? Downstairs was too far away.

“Wait.” I jumped up and stood in front of him. He stood statuesque, powerful, and bronzed in the soft light. “Please stay here.” I rested my fingertips on his chest. The more time I spent with him, spoke with him, kissed him, the more I wanted him. I unbuttoned his shirt and slid it over his shoulders. I kissed where my fingers had been, and his chest expanded. He encircled me with his arms. I wanted to break the rule I hadcreated for myself, but I couldn’t. Not yet. I reached around and withdrew Patrick’s arms.

“June,” he breathed. “Tell me what you want. What you really want. Tell me, and I’ll do it for you.”

I couldn’t quantify my desire for this man. No unit of measure could rate this all-consuming feeling. But I had to retain some measure of control, or I would become totally lost in him. My fingers trembled as I undid Patrick’s belt and pulled it from the loops.

“Could you put your hands behind your back?” I said in a hushed tone, shyly requesting dominance.

He did as I asked.

I looped the belt around his wrists to secure them. I unbuttoned his pants and coaxed down the zipper. His slacks slid down. I slipped off my clothes and tossed them aside. I lunged forward and kissed his taut chest, neck, and mouth. Skin-to-skin, I pressed closer, but it still wasn’t close enough.

I slid Patrick’s boxers down, and with featherlight kisses, I brushed my lips over him. His thighs flexed. He shifted as if trying to free his hands from behind his back. I looked up and met his gaze. Stormy and passionate.

I reclaimed his mouth and lifted a leg to hook it around him. My kisses remained hungry, and I positioned myself, ready to get as close as physically possible. And then I stopped.

“June? What is it?” he whispered.

A realization flooded through me. No matter what I did, I knew why I felt like I couldn’t get close enough. By binding his hands, I had put up a blockade. To get closer, for true intimacy, there could be no restrictions, and no barriers.

The chemical reaction had to happen.

Patrick had shown me time and time again he was all in for me. He’d been patient. And tolerant with my “conditions.” I couldn’t ask for more. My heart swelled and busted down thewall. I was ready to let go of the past and move forward. To find love no matter the risk.

With my whole being, I trusted Patrick.

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