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“Sit,” he commanded without any pleasantries. Oddly enough, I did without argument. “First,” he started while he paced with one hand pulling on the back of his hair, “I’m not sure just how you think I would ever talk to another woman about a date right in front of you. Do you really think I’m such a . . . a . . . what do you women call it? A douchebag?” He stood there glowering at me.

“Second,” he continued, “I wouldn’t touch that woman if she was the last woman on earth, despite her blatant attempts to get me to.” He certainly had my attention now.

“And third,” he walked over and stood before me, leaning over, so he was right in my face. “I’m just going to lay it out here for you once and for all. I only want you, Jen. Only you! Got that? I’m not interested in any other woman!” I barely registered his words before he yanked me to him and slammed his lips down on mine. They possessed mine without mercy, not allowing for any doubt about wanting me. There was no playing around, his mouth slanted over mine with something like an intense hunger, probing for entry. On a breathless cry, I opened for him, and our tongues immediately found each other.

Together, we fell backward on the couch. He braced himself on one forearm beside me, his other hand wound to the back of my neck. His knee wedged between my legs while he continued his fierce assault, thrusting his tongue in and around mine, making me wish he’d use another part of his body in the same manner. On a groan, I slid my hands into his hair holding his head in place. In his own erotic language, he answered with a drawn out moan. He gentled his mouth, becoming more sensual. He bent his arm allowing his body to sink on to mine. Slowly, I trailed my hands down his back and pulled his shirt upward until I could run my hands over the naked skin of his back. His response was to press his hips into mine, eliciting a gasp from me as his hardness hit just the right spot between my legs.

I arched my back and neck, straining to get closer, releasing his mouth in the process. I sucked in my breath as he thrust again. “Tyler!” One of my feet dropped to the floor alongside the couch widening my thighs to support his; the other wound around Tyler’s hip and anchored him to me. He was making me crazy for him. His mouth slid from mine to move down my neck and across the neckline of my shirt, causing me to shiver each time his mouth moved. Wanting him to keep going, I tugged on one of his hands that was still supporting him and dragged it to the bottom of my shirt. His fingers skimmed the bottom hem, touching skin, but he held his hand still as he lifted his mouth. His eyes were half closed, hooded with desire, as he gazed into mine.

“I want you, Tyler,” I squirmed. “Please . . .” I tried to pull his head back down, but he released me and used both hands to lift himself off of my torso, but not off the couch. As he hovered over me, I sensed hesitancy on his part.

“I want you, too, kitten. So damn much.”

“But . . .” I knew he was suddenly holding back for a reason.

Just then, the timer for the chicken went off in the kitchen, making us both jump a bit. I giggled and he smiled at me. “Buuut,” he singsonged, “for one, I don’t want to ruin the delicious smelling dinner you made. But more important, the next time we make love, it will be on a day untainted by ugly memories. I want to make sure you are one hundred percent with me, and not just reacting to an emotionally trying day.” I looked up into those brown eyes and saw his desire, but also some vulnerability that I wasn’t used to seeing in him. I could tell by the hardness pressing against my thighs that he didn’t want to stop. He wanted something more than just the physical, though, and that melted more of my frozen heart. So far, I’d made everything in our relationship about me. I hadn’t considered any cost to Tyler; how much he was putting on the line for me. I drew my fingers along his face. “Idowant you, Tyler. I want you to know, I’ve opened up to you more than anyone, which means you already have a part of me no one else has had, outside of Kayla and family.”

He smiled and leaned in and kissed me again. I was ready to pick up where we left off, but he pulled back once again. I dropped my head back against the couch pillow, totally frustrated. Tyler chuckled at me. “Patience, sweet Jen.”

The timer rang again. “I guess I can at least feed you,” I grumbled.

Tyler pulled himself up from the couch and reached his hand out to me. Once I accepted it, he gave a firm tug and pulled me into his arms. “Trust me; I’d rather feast on you. But I told you once I don’t have sex on the first date.”

“But you haven’t asked me out on a date, yet,” I teased. “So there are still possibilities.”

His lips quirked in amusement. “Did I buy you a meal and invite you out for an activity?” he asked.

My face fell. “I suppose you did.” Then a thought struck me. I grinned gleefully. “Then I’m glad we got that over with,” I made my voice drop down to a husky note that would make Lauren Bacall proud, “because tomorrow you’re fair game.” I winked at him and turned toward the kitchen.

I think I might have heard Tyler growl as he followed me.