Page 164 of Forever Never
He winced and rubbed a hand through his beard. “I didn’t actually mean—”
She held up a hand. “It’s what you were feeling. You don’t talk much, and when you do, it’s what’s actually happening inside behind that big brick wall. I heard you. Now I’m showing you I can do better. That I want more from you than just your supernatural ability to make me orgasm.”
“Why do you want to date me?” he asked, looking adorably stunned.
A chunk of her romantic heart broke off, pieces splintering into dust. “Because I care about you, Brick. Not just your dick or how many ways you can make me come. You’ve been a big, important part of my life for so long. I’m sorry I let you forget how much you mean to me,” she said in a rush.
“So we’re dating?” He looked so damn serious.
She nodded. He didn’t get to decide to break up with her before she’d decided they were dating in the first place. If he was going to give her the size fourteen boot, he could do so after she showed him just how great a girlfriend she could be. She was going to woo his damn face off.
“We’re dating,” she affirmed. “You’re important to me, and I’m sorry I ever let you doubt that for a second. Andyou’resorry for ever believing that I’d use you.”
He nodded slowly, a smile tugging at his lips.
“I am sorry,” he agreed, reaching for her.
She held up her hands, stopping him before he touched her. “One more thing.”
He braced himself with a deep breath. “What?”
“We’re not having sex until I’ve proven to you that I’m serious. About us.”
His eyebrows rose. “We’re platonically dating?”
“Think of it as friends without the benefits. Sex was confusing things.” Hell, it had overtaken everything. “We’re starting over and giving this a real shot. So that means no orgasms until you know I’m interested in more than just certain body parts.”
“Why do I feel like I’m being punished?”
“You’re not,” she insisted, pressing a hand to his chest and reveling in the feel of his heart pounding beneath it. He was so calm on the surface, but underneath was a different story. “You said things…”
“Things like I love you?” Brick tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and she shivered at the contact.
“Things that made me stop and think,” she said. “Things that scared the hell out of me. And part of me is still waiting for you to change your mind and back away again. But regardless, I’m in this until the bitter end.”
“Then we use this time for you to convince me you want more than just sex and for me to convince you that I’m not going anywhere this time.”
Him saying the words had her heart tripping in her chest.
“Without sex,” she reminded him.
“Without sex,” he agreed with an arch of his eyebrow.
She gave him a little shove. “Why don’t you go find us a bottle of wine? I’ll get dinner ready.”
She waited until he left the kitchen before sagging against the counter.
She’d seduced and enjoyed. She’d fascinated and dazzled. She could freaking woo Brick. Couldn’t she? As long as she didn’t take the man’s pants off, she could stay focused on the goal: Making Brick Callan realize he was more than good enough for her.
How hard could it be to not have sex with a man she’d spent fourteen years not having sex with?
The sexy son of a bitch returned with a bottle of wine and a smirk. He flashed the label at her, and she recognized it as one of her favorites. Of course the man who stocked Kraft Mac and Cheese for her would also have her favorite wine.
The urge to climb him like a tree flared to life between her thighs.
But it was the look in those blue eyes that stopped her.Hope.He was hopeful.
Remi turned away and swallowed hard. He made her feel so raw it made her hands shake.
