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“I think I’m falling in love with you,” she blurted.
He froze and stared at her, nostrils pinched as he paled slightly.“Jesus…” he finally breathed.
Her heart leapt into her throat.“Is that a good Jesus or a very bad Jesus?”
He shook his head.“It’s an I-wasn’t-expecting-that Jesus.”
Her strangled laughter made him raise an eyebrow at her.“Seriously?You’re one of the most dynamic, sexiest men on the planet.You’ve been the equivalent of a force-ten gale since we met, Zach.I’ve lost several metaphorical nails hanging on for sheer survival.”
He frowned.“What are you talking about?”
She laughed.“Why does the fact that you don’t even recognize just how incredible you are surprise me?”
“If you’re talking about sex?—”
“I’m talking about sex, and I’m talking about the things you say to me, the way you look after me, what you did for me yesterday.Sure, there’s a huge amount I want to know, but what I know now makes it easy for me to fall for you.”
His eyelids swept down, shielding his expression.“Don’t fall too fast, Bethany.I may not live up to your expectations in the long run.”The hard, implacable note in his voice triggered naked fear down her spine.
“Why do you say that?”
He shook his head.“There are things about me you don’t know, things I can’t tell you…”
“You can tell me anything, Zach.”
The SUV bumped over a pothole, and he glanced away from her.She watched his profile turn remote as he stared out of the window.Jaw tight, he exhaled harshly and shook his head.“No, I can’t.I’d much rather you left me because of something I’m keeping from you than because of something that would make you despise me.”
Her breath fractured in her chest.“You think whatever you’re keeping from me will make me leave you?What did I say to you this morning in your study?”
His lips firmed.“That the only way I’d make you unhappy is to push you away.”
“Yes.And if you’re already anticipating that I’ll leave, then where does that leave us?”
He turned to her again and cradled her face in his hand as the SUV slowed to a stop.“This isn’t a small thing, Bethany.It’s fucking huge and I… I can’t risk it ending us.You mean too much for me to let that happen.And yes, it sounds incredibly selfish, but give us a little more time, baby.Please?”
Her heart pounded long and hard.“I can’t wait forever, Zach.”
He nodded.“I know, and I appreciate that.”Leaning forward, he kissed her with deep reverence.“Thank you.”
They went into the house and headed upstairs.In the shower, he washed her body with the same reverence with which he’d kissed her.
But their hunger for each other raged just as strongly as it had in the alleyway and soon the atmosphere of the simple shower changed to heat and passion.Before her senses flooded with everything that was Zachary Savage, she pulled away.
“Let’s make a deal.”
Suspicion clouded his eyes.“Not if you’re about to try that thing you did with the belt again.”
“How can I?You burned it to a crisp, remember?”
“I remember.But you’ve proven how resourceful you are.Bethany, I’m pretty damn sure I’ll fuck this up in some way before I get some things right.I only ask that you don’t punish me that way.”
The deep hurt in his eyes shocked her.
She touched his face, loved the feel of his rough five o’clock shadow against her palm.“It was less than five minutes, Zach.”
A deep shudder raked through his frame.“It felt like a fucking lifetime.”
“Oh, baby.”She started to lean down to kiss his lips.Kiss him better.His grip tightened.She raised her gaze to his and saw the determination in his eyes.