Page 60 of Love, Always and Forever
“Why would I lie about it? He knows I’ll return the favor if he ever wants to spend time with the ladies.”
The silly exchange washed away the last bit of her nervousness. Mikhail had two glasses and the open bottle of wine sitting on the end table on his right. “Want some? It’s a nice red that Jack recommended.”
“Maybe just a small one.”
They sat in companionable silence as she sipped the wine. After a minute or two passed, Mikhail set his glass aside before angling himself to look directly at her. “Having second thoughts about me being here?”
She owed it to them both to give him an honest answer. “More just nervous. It would be a lot easier if you overwhelmed me with kisses so I totally lost control like they do in my favorite chick flicks. Making a conscious decision is so much harder.”
“Not to mention we’re doing some serious damage to that line we drew in the sand.” He tugged her in closer to his big body. “Like I said earlier, I don’t want you feeling pressured into doing anything you’re not ready for. If you want, we can limit ourselves to moving that dividing line a little rather than erasing it altogether. Say the word and Sarge and I will head back over to our house.”
And that was exactly the reason she wasn’t going to send him home. Time for that truth. “I want you to stay, but there is something else making me so nervous, Misha. I have a few pretty ugly scars left over from some surgeries I had.”
His jaw muscles tightened. “And you’re afraid that will bother me.”
“Maybe.” Then she shook her head. “No, not really. It’s more that they bother me.”
“Look at me, Amy.”
When she peeked up at him through her eyelashes, he continued. “Your scars won’t bother me except for knowing the pain they might have cost you. To tell you the truth, I’m relieved you’re not perfect, because I’m sure as hell not. My worst scars might not show on the surface, but I have them. You saw them the night you brought me that banana split.”
She managed a small smile. “Does that mean you’re going to get out the whipped cream and chocolate sauce now?”
His eyes darkened as if actually considering it. Then he lowered his head closer to hers, his breath tickling across her skin. “I’m thinking we should save that for another night. You know, when you’re ready for the advanced class.”
Oh, man, the images that created. She shivered. “Kiss me, Misha.”
He closed the small distance between them. “One kiss and then we move to the bed. No way I want to end up sleeping on this couch again. Okay?”
His lips settled over hers at the same instant his big palm cupped her breast. The double assault of his tongue sweeping in and out of her mouth while his hand kneaded her breast was pure heaven. He stopped briefly to tug her nipple until it beaded up. When he was satisfied with that one, he turned his attention to the other one.
She leaned in to his touch, needing so much more to ease the ache he created wherever he touched her. Her own hands had found their way under his T-shirt to stroke all that smooth skin. She wanted rub against him like a kitten.
His voice deepened to a rough growl. “I’m taking you to bed now while I’m still capable of intelligent thought and possess the ability to walk.”
He flowed up to his feet with that amazingly graceful way he had of moving. Once again, he offered her his hand. “Ready?”
She nodded and stood up, proud of the fact that her doubts had started to fade as soon as they kissed. Rather than let him lead the way, she took his hand in hers and pulled him down the hall to learn where the night would take them next.
