Page 59 of Keeping it Real

He stepped back and reached his fingers behind his neck to pull the sweatshirt over his head.The T-shirt he wore beneath it came along for the ride.One of his arms got tangled, making him curse before he tossed both garments to the floor.He stood before her, his chest still heaving and his hair mussed, looking like the sexiest man alive.

Sheridan sank her teeth into her bottom lip to keep the delighted giggle that threatened from escaping.He shot her a smug look, seeming to read her mind anyway.

“I’d ask if you like what you see, but I already know you do.Your body did all the talking for you the last time you were standing in that spot.”

“Mmm.”She aimed for a nonchalant shrug when it was all she could do to remain upright.Her legs felt like jelly.She pressed her palms to the door to anchor herself.“Except I really didn’t see all that much.”

Where those flirtatious words came from, she had no idea.It was as if some other, much more confident woman had taken control of her mind.

Alek cocked an eyebrow.“Well, by all means.Let’s give you the full, unobstructed view.”

He was already toeing off his sneakers and socks before the full impact of his words hit her.She braced her knees to keep them from buckling when he began shoving his joggers past his hips.A breathy sigh snuck past her lips as she watched the fabric slide down his thighs.The sound brought an even bigger self-satisfied smile to his face.Her skin went from tingling to burning when he stepped out of his boxers.

The man was magnificent.

And he knew it, too.His chuckle bordered on sadistic as he watched her taking him all in.

“If looking at me is what makes you happy, I’ll gladly stand here all day,” he told her.“Just let me turn the fire on first.”

He strutted over to the fireplace in front of the bed.

Holy moly.

Of course, Alek had a perfect set of dimples on his ass cheeks.

With the click of a button on the remote, the flames in the fireplace came to life.They were no match for the ones burning inside Sheridan.Her eyes followed him as he strolled over to the big bed and stretched out on top of the duvet.He lay on his side, propping his head up on his hand.With the other hand, he patted the space beside him.

“Come here, Sheridan.”

The slight tremor in his voice told her he wasn’t as in control as he wanted her to think he was.It was all the confidence boost she needed.She peeled her hands from the door and walked over to the bed, stopping beside the mattress.His nostrils flared as he watched her lift her shirt over her head before shrugging out of her bra.When she stepped out of her sheepskin slippers, her nipples pebbled painfully beneath the intensity of his stare.He groaned when she bent forward slightly to roll her leggings down her legs.

And then, standing naked before him, she froze.Memories of that night hiding outside the dorm room he’d once shared with Jamie came flooding back to her.How he’d figuratively swatted her away like a gnat.

No!

She slammed her eyes shut.That was then.Alek was here now.And he wanted her.All she had to do was look at him to know that.He’d told her with his words, too.Her teenage crush finally saw her for the woman she was.The woman who loved him.Had always loved him.Even when she shouldn’t have.

“Sheridan?”

Her name was uttered with such uncertainty it had her eyelids flicking open.He reached out and gently touched his fingers to hers.

“If this isn’t what you want, it’s ...”He sucked in a breath.“It’s okay.”

She was beside him on the bed in an instant, her lips merging with his in a heady kiss.He sighed into her mouth.Moments later, they were a tangle of limbs, their skin slick with sweat as they mapped out each other’s bodies.Her fingers traced the lean muscles on his back, his arms, his abdomen.He let out a hiss when she reached between them to stroke his hard length.

Alek rolled her beneath him, then tore his mouth away.His hips pinned hers to the mattress, denying her roaming hands further access.He stretched up onto his arms and gazed down at her.

“We have all afternoon in this bed, and I have a very detailed list of things I want to do with you.No need to be in such a hurry.”

She flexed her hips in protest because,dude, she’d been waiting half her life for this moment with this man.He chuckled but didn’t give an inch.Instead, his blue eyes seemed to smolder as he took his time studying her from above.

“You’re so beautiful,” he whispered after the moment stretched.“Inside and out.”

Hearing those words after longing for them for so many years was everything.Still, she wanted more from him.So much more.

Sheridan reached up and brushed his hair back from his brow.“You’re not so bad on the eyes yourself.”She traced her thumb over his bottom lip.“But I’d really like it if you’d put these to better use right now.”

He chuckled as he shook his head.“I don’t know where you’ve been hiding this version of Sheridan, but damn, she is turning me on.”

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