Page 7 of The Engagement
“I’m just thinking how glad I am thatwedon’t have a chaperone.”Because the gap between our ages is even bigger than the one between Haley and Philip.
“Don’t even say that.”
Chapter 3 – Mack
My erection is currently trying to bust a hole through the front of my jeans, but I don’t take sex, or Erin, for granted. I don’t want to assume she wants anything more at the moment. I need her to give me a green light before anything happens.
She’s still easily triggered. A strange man coming too close to her in public can set her off. Someone coming up behind her and touching or grabbing her without warning—even in a playful way—can send her into an absolute panic. The employees at the bookstore know not to touch her without permission. I make sure that’s drilled into their heads from the day they’re hired.
Right now she’s on our bed gazing up at me, totally relaxed, with a smile on her face that makes me weak in the knees.
She doesn’t blame me for what happened.
Even though it was my fault for not going with her to that damn New Year’s Eve party—for not keeping her safe—she doesn’t blame me.
I would give anything to go back in time and make a different choice that night. If I could do it all over again, I would be there with her, never once leaving her side, safeguarding her, protecting her. No one would ever lay his hands on her.
But I wasn’t there.
My chest tightens and my pulse picks up as I feel a familiar sense of dread and guilt.
“Mack?” Her voice is quiet, and she looks worried.
I’m showing too much of what I’m feeling. I make a concerted effort to wipe the self-recrimination from my face and smile at her. “Hey, sweetheart.”
Her frown morphs into a smile, and she lifts her arms in invitation. “You’re too far away.”
“Are you sure?” I always need to be sure it’s what she wants.
Erin nods. “And you’re overdressed.”
That’s all the confirmation I need. I pull off my shirt and toss it onto a chair. Then I kick off my shoes. My socks, jeans, and underwear follow quickly.
Naked, I crawl toward her on all fours. “Now, who’s overdressed?”
She grins as she tugs on the hem of her nightshirt. “What are you going to do about it?”
Before I have a chance to demonstrate exactly what I’m going to do about it, the cat leaps onto our bed and starts purring loudly as she rubs against my arm. “Crap. I forgot. Not right now, Miss Lizzie,” I say as I pick up the cat. I set her down on the floor outside our room and close the door. “You can come back in later.”
Erin’s still chuckling as I return to bed.
Without another word, I grasp the hem of her nightshirt—it’s actually one of my T-shirts—and pull it carefully up and over her head, leaving her practically naked.
“I’m cold,” she says.
“I’ll keep you warm.” I start working my way down her body, nuzzling each breast, drawing her nipples into my mouth to suckle gently.
She squirms beneath me as I lick and kiss my way lower, stopping to tease her belly button. Eventually, I encounter the waistband of her underwear. Pressing my nose against her, I breathe in deeply, scenting her delicious, heated arousal.
I slide her panties off and toss them aside. Her legs automatically open for me. For a moment, I just stare, taking in the sight of her gorgeous body, warm and soft and aroused.
“Mack,” she moans plaintively.
“What, honey?” I grin. I enjoy drawing this out. I know what she wants, but I want to hear her say it.
“Touch me,” she says breathlessly.
“Where?”
