It’s torture keeping my hands to myself. Keeping myself from stripping her bare and having my way with her.
But there’s plenty of time for that.
Annika starts to unbutton her pajama shirt, but I take her hands and bring them to my mouth, then turn her away from me and press her back against my chest.
“Goodnight, sweetheart.”
“’Night.”
I’m just about to drop into sleep when I hear her sniffle. My eyes shoot open, and I frown as I pull Annika onto her back and cup her cheek gently.
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head and tries to pull away, but I hold her close, panic setting up residence in my belly.
“Honey, I need you to tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it.”
“I am too damaged,” she says, her bottom lip quivering.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said that I wasn’t, that everything I’d been through didn’t repulse you. But, damn it, it’s my second night here, and I just practically threw myself at you, and you turned me away.”
She’s crying in earnest now, and I feel like the biggest asshole to ever walk the face of the Earth.
“I didn’t mean to turn you away.” I wipe at her tears and am pretty sure I’d like to beat myself up for causing them. “I just…I’m trying to take things slow.”
“Why?”
“Because you matter, Annika. Because you’ve been through hell in the past year. And what kind of a prick would I be if I just jumped you? If I pushed you against the wall and had my way with you?”
“That sounds kind of fun.”
I laugh in spite of myself and kiss her forehead. “We can put that on the schedule for a later date. I hate that today had awkward moments. Especially after we spent so many years together, and it was anything but awkward back then. But things have happened since then. Things that are absolutely not your fault. Not mine, either. We’re getting to know each other again, in a way. I know who you are, and I can tell you that I’m as attracted to you today as I was the first time I saw you on campus.”
“Really?” She sniffles, but her eyes are full of hope now. “I was afraid I’d made a mistake by coming here. That I’m intruding or something.”
“No.” I kiss her lips now. “Absolutely, not. I don’t want the first time I take you to be when you’re exhausted from wrapping up your previous life just hours before. Call me a romantic, but I want it to be more special than that. Because you deserve that and more, Annika.”
“Wow, you are a romantic,” she whispers. “Okay, that makes me feel a little better. But the next time I move to take my shirt off, don’t humiliate me by patting me on the head and telling me to go to sleep.”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Felt like it.”
“Then I apologize for being a moron.”
She laughs a little now. “Apology accepted. I am tired.”
“Go to sleep.” I kiss her once more. “Before I say fuck it to being romantic and make you really tired.”
“Fine.” She sighs and burrows face-first into my chest. “Goodnight, Rafe.”
“Goodnight, Annika.”
“I really love this kitchen,” Annika says the next day as she starts to clean up from dinner. “That oven is just amazing. When did you have this place updated?”
“It was done about a year ago, I guess. Pop had the whole building updated. He went all out.”
“You’re not kidding.”
“I can help with dishes.”
“No.” She holds up a hand. “Absolutely, not. You’ve made breakfast two days in a row, cleaned up, and helped me prep dinner. I’ve got this.”
I’m relieved that she let me off of the hook for KP duty because I have a little surprise for her. So, I nod solemnly and promise to be back shortly.
I walk to the bedroom and set my plan in motion. I have rose petals to spread over the floor, the tub, the bed. I have roses in vases. I have candles to light.
In less than thirty minutes, the bedroom is transformed into a romantic suite, complete with champagne.
I’m going to romance my girl.
When I return to the kitchen, Annika is just putting away the last of the dishes, humming to herself.
“How do you feel?” I ask.
“Pretty good, actually. Not too full, not too tired.”
“Excellent. Come with me. I want to show you something.”
She grins and takes my hand. “Okay. What do you have to show me?”
“You’ll see.”
With her hand linked to mine, I lead her down the hallway and open the bedroom door.
“Your suite awaits.”
Her eyes grow wide as she steps inside, and then she turns to me. “How in the hell did you pull all of this off? We were together most of the day.”
“You took a nap,” I reply easily. “I ran an errand or two.”
“No kidding.” She sighs and brushes her fingertips over a rose, then buries her nose in the fragrant bloom. “This is so lovely.”
“Not nearly as lovely as you.”
I wrap my arms around her from behind and kiss the shell of her ear.
“Do you mind if I take a bath?” she asks, and I just smile and open the bathroom door, where I have more candles lit, a full, steaming tub with more rose petals floating on the water. “Holy cow.”
“I want you to relax. I want you to feel pampered and appreciated.”
“Mission accomplished.” She tests the water with her fingers. “I promise not to drown.”
“Good idea. Because I have plans for you when you get out of this tub.”
Her eyes shine with mischief and lust when they find mine. “Promise?”
“Hell, yes.”
“Then let me get in the water.” She shoos me out of the room, closes the door, and I take a long breath.
She likes it.
Hopefully, she likes everything else that’s about to come, as well. I’m going to take my time. I’m going to relearn and examine every inch of her perfect little body.
Similar to the night before, I go down the hall to the guest bathroom. I already stocked it with my shaving supplies, so I do that first. Then I take a shower and pull on only a simple pair of black boxer shorts.
If all goes according to plan, they won’t be on for long.
I’ve just walked back into the bedroom when the bathroom door opens, and standing as a silhouette against the light of the bathroom behind her, Annika pauses and bites her lip. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen in my life.
I mean, I already knew that, but with her standing there in a sexy black nighty that I didn’t even see her grab earlier, my heart simply stalls in my chest. My mouth goes dry. My dick comes to attention.
“I want to fuck you in that doorway.” My voice is pure gravel. The pulse in Annika’s throat jumps. “But I’m not going to. Not right now.”
“It’s on the schedule for later with the against-the-wall sex?” she asks, her voice breathless.
“Oh, yeah. It’s on the damn schedule. I want you with an ache that never really goes away, Annika.” I’m slowly stalking toward her as I talk. I’m afraid to reach out for her because I know I won’t stop once I touch her. “I tried for years to extinguish that desire. To tell myself that I’d never have you. That you couldn’t be mine.