Page 94 of Second Time Around

“Um-hmm.” While she was trying to have a serious discussion, his lower region had other ideas. Holding her like this, hearing her say these things, and smelling her provocative scent were getting to him, and he had an erection to prove it. He casually tried to ease back from her, but she didn’t seem willing to let go.

“Anyway, a lot of things hit home for me tonight.”

She massaged his scalp in a circular motion that felt so good that he closed his eyes for a few seconds.

“Beck? Are you falling asleep on me?”

He snapped his eyes open. “What? No. Of course not.”

“Good, because I’m not done talking yet.”

He smiled, although his misbehaving member groaned. “I’m listening.”

“Do you remember when Kelsey said how everybody at the restaurant loves you?”

Kelsey’s compliment had embarrassed him, but he nodded, wondering where she was going with this.

“Well, it’s true. So do my family, friends, and even my coworkers.”

“Only because I bribed them with food.”

She laughed, which made her breasts bob against his chest. As usual, she looked beautiful tonight. She was wearing a simple V-neck sweater and jeans, but there was nothing simple about her. Even when she tried to downplay her beauty, it still shone through.

He made the mistake of glancing down into the vee of her sweater and caught a glimpse of her lacy black bra. His misbehaving manhood twitched, reminding him of its presence—as if he could forget.

“It’s not just the food, although you are a terrific cook.”

“Why, thank you.”

She removed her hands from his hair and planted them on his shoulders. If he thought that would make it easier for him to concentrate, he was wrong.

“But it’s so much more than that.”

“I appreciate all the accolades, but you don’t—”

“Shh,” she scolded and placed a finger against his lips.

He thought about sucking it into his mouth, but she obviously wasn’t done talking yet, and she might not appreciate the gesture. Later, he told his erection.

“I know I don’t have to say all this, but I want to. I’ve been holding back for too long.”

“She’s right,” said his erection. Nobody asked you, Beck scolded.

“You’re scowling,” she said.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“I’ve been afraid to open my heart again to anyone, but especially to you.”

He didn’t want to think of her with “anyone” else, and he scowled for real this time.

She lifted her hand to his forehead and gently rubbed a finger over the creases as if to erase them. “But I don’t care about anyone else. Only you. It’s always been you.”

He sucked in a breath and tightened his hold on her, erection be damned! “It’s always been you for me too,” he said, his voice raw with emotion.

She smiled wide, went up on her tiptoes, and kissed him.

He wondered if this was the end of the conversation, and his manhood pulsed with hope. Not yet, he scolded again.

She broke the kiss and gazed up at him, her blue eyes sparkling like a million lights. “I love you, Beck. I’ve always loved you, and I just wanted you to know.”

He opened his mouth to speak, but she placed her finger over his lips again.

There’s more? his erection asked.

“Come to bed,” she said.

He and his erection breathed a sigh of relief as they happily followed her into the bedroom.