Page 94 of So Much More

Randall doesn’t miss the blush that starts on my chest and quickly moves upward to my face. He closely watches its progression with a satisfied grin.

“I’m thinking you need to learn how to take a compliment, Glinda.”

I swallow hard but don’t reply. He’s right. I have a hard time receiving compliments, especially from men. I never believe they’re sincere.

“First,” he says, “I love your curves.”

The temperature of my skin increases a few more degrees as his eyes take me in, and I squirm in my seat as he peruses me for so long I’m not sure he’s going to say anything else.

He finally continues, “I can tell you don’t love your body, but I think it’s perfect.” The heat in his gaze assures me he’s one hundred percent sincere.

“Thank you,” I murmur.

“Your hair is magnificent. Running my fingers through those fiery waves is one of my absolute favorite things in the world.”

I shiver. It’s one of my favorite things, too.

His chair legs hit the floor, and he reaches out to caress my cheek with the back of his hand, triggering goosebumps over my entire body. “Your skin is so soft and pure. I know you don’t love this creamy tone, since it seems to be every woman’s goal to be as tan as possible these days, but it suits you to a T. I don’t want it to be marred by the sun or a tanning bed. I love being able to tell when I’m making you blush, like you are now. And this sprinkling of freckles across your nose and cheeks has been driving me crazy for weeks.” His fingertips dance across my skin. “I want to kiss each and every one of them.”

I’m now breathing heavily and not at all ashamed of it.

“Would you like me to go on?” he asks with a soft smile as he moves his hand back to the table.

I nod while staring intently at his hand, as if that will make it reach out to touch me again.

“While I could rave about your physical beauty for days, the thing I find most stunning about you is your heart.”

My gaze jumps back to his eyes, which are pinning me with a look so tender I feel a pricking behind my eyes, and my belly fills with heat.

He continues, “You’re kind and thoughtful, and you find so much joy in helping people and showing them the strength and beauty and potential in themselves. I love watching it, but being on the receiving end of it is life altering.”

My eyes are now filled with tears. “Do you mean it?”

“I mean all of it. More than you know.”

I stand on trembling legs and hold my hand out to him. “Come with me.”

He rises to his feet and takes my hand in his, and I guide him to the couch, where he takes a seat and helps me climb onto his lap. I curl against him as I usually do, but instead of resting my head on his shoulder, I tilt my face to his. He brushes a tear off my cheek with his thumb and then keeps stroking my cheek as he stares into my eyes.

“Kiss me, Randall.” I grip the front of his shirt. “Kiss me like you’ve never kissed anyone before.”

forty-one

Ihave never felt like I do in this moment with Wendy—this moment before I kiss her because she desperately wants me to, not because she’s hoping she can move past my mistakes. In the past I’ve told women I loved them, and I truly believed I did, but now I realize I was sorely mistaken. What I felt for them was lust mixed with a dose of affection. What I’m feeling now is love, pure and simple.

“Please, Randall.” Wendy’s hand slides into my hair and her fingernails lightly scrape my scalp. “Don’t make me wait any longer.”

I close the distance between us and kiss her gently, slowly, trying to communicate my feelings without words. I know she can’t handle the words yet, so I’ll wait to say them, but I want her to feel them. She melts into me, savoring the kiss along with me.

Wendy asked me to kiss her like I’ve never kissed anyone before, but what’s happening between us is unlike anything I’ve ever imagined. I never knew kissing could be like this—so sweet yet intimate and soul-connecting. This kiss isn’t a gateway to more. Itismore.

When her lips make their way to my neck and along my collar, I suck in a breath and am reminded why I wouldn’t let her do this before. My hands slide into her hair, and I gently guide her mouth back to mine before we pass the point of no return. I can’t imagine she’s ready for anything beyond kissing, so I save her from the regrets that would surely come.

We take only brief breaks to catch our breaths and smile at each other before losing ourselves again. Eventually my legs go numb and I pull away from her mouth and shift her in my arms.

“You okay?” she asks.

“Better than I’ve ever been … except I can’t feel my legs.”

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