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R OWAN

Holy heavens. The kiss Miles gave me last night was sweet and made my toes tingle. This kiss? This kiss has my panties soaked. Miles cups my face in his gigantic hands and his fingers curl to the back of my head.

He holds my face as he sips at my lips, gently at first, then, as if asking permission, glides his tongue along the seam of my lips. I open my mouth in a clear invitation and savor the taste of him. Warm and minty from one of the candies he took from the host station. I’m thankful I took the one he offered me as well.

A soft moan escapes my throat and Miles steps into my space, pressing my back against the fridge. Heat radiates off his body and into mine, even though the only place we touch is from the neck up.

Needing to rectify that, I place the palms of my hands on his chest and his moan is even louder than mine. His heart races under my touch and I hesitate to move my hands lower, wanting to feel the ridges of his abs.

I’ve seen them before. Bandaged a wound on his ribs. Miles isn’t shy about flaunting his body, and he shouldn’t be, but part of me is envious of how many other women have been here before. On the receiving end of his kisses.

While I like Miles, we’re so different. I can count how many men I’ve been with on one hand. He needs to use his toes, limbs, teeth, and probably every strand of hair to count his lovers.

Miles breaks our kiss and touches his forehead to mine. “Where’d you go, Doc?”

“Hm?”

“Do you want me to stop?”

“Um, why do you think that?”

He leans back just enough to look down into my eyes. “You were into it and then stopped reacting. Did I go too far?”

Too far? Heck, the problem is I want him to go all the way. And then some. But I don’t know how to tell him that. My body wants him, but my mind and my heart are unsure. Miles Buckingham isn’t the kind of guy I fall for. He breaks hearts without meaning to.

I can see how so many women get caught up in him, and I feel for them now. Miles can’t help but make the woman he’s with feel special, but it doesn’t mean anything more than sexual fulfillment.

“Tell me what’s going on in that beautiful head of yours.” He keeps his hands around my face and strokes my jawline with his thumbs.

“I don’t know.” I lower my gaze to where my hands have settled on his chest.

“What is it you don’t know?”

“This, uh, this thing between us. I’m flattered and all, but I don’t think we want the same thing.”

“Flattered?” He drops his hands with a sigh and takes a step back, resting his backside against the counter across from me.

He’s only a few feet away, but suddenly I feel like there’s an ocean between us. Somehow, I’ve insulted him, and the last thing I want to do is hurt his feelings. I’m the peacemaker, not the pot stirrer or the problem maker.

“You’re a great guy, Miles, but I...I don’t think a one-night stand is in my genetic makeup.” Oh hell, why do I have to sound like such an idiot? “Not that I’m judging you for your lifestyle. It works for you and from what I’ve heard and seen, you’re very nice to the women you, uh, entertain. I just don’t think I can be one of them. I like being your friend.”

I bite my lip and take a nervous glance at him.

“One of them?” he growls.

Yeah, freaking growls. I’ve pissed him off and I don’t do that. Ever. I make people happy, just like Miles does. I guess we have that in common, although he doesn’t look too happy now.

Miles scowls at me and fills his chest with air. He lifts his face to the ceiling and blows out a slow breath. I twist my hands in front of me, unsure how to fix what I just broke.

“I’m not the kind of girl who—”

“Christ, Rowan.” He hunches his shoulders and runs his hand through his hair. “You’re so fucking right and so wrong.”

He shakes his head then pierces me with his caramel eyes. I’ve never seen them not filled with charm and mischief. Instead, there’s a swirl of other emotions in them. Annoyance, tenderness, confusion, and lust. It’s haunting and alluring at the same time.

“You’re right. You’re nothing like the women I’m normally...with. One-night stands are for people who want one thing and one thing only from each other.” He takes a step, which eats up the entire width of my measly kitchen, and is back in my space again. “I want more from you. With you. I enjoy spending time with you. Hiking, eating, talking, kissing. I don’t want a one-night stand with you, Rowan. I want more than that. I thought I was showing you that with our dates.”

“I didn’t realize hiking and our dinners were dates,” I whisper.

“Well, then I suck ass at dating women. I don’t have a lot of experience in it, so I may need your help from time to time.”

“You want to date me?” I’m floored, but I guess it makes sense now. “I thought you were just being you and I was looking into it too much.”

“Rowan.” He cups the back of my neck and draws me into his hard body. “I want to be with you tonight, tomorrow, next week, next month. Hell, as long as you’ll have me.”

“But—”

“No buts. Except this one.” He lowers his hands to my ass and cups my cheeks. I’m drawn even tighter into his body and his erection rubs against my stomach. “I won’t rush you, but know I’m here. Waiting. For you. Only you.”

When Miles drops his hands from my ass and starts to back away, I grip his shirt and tug him closer. “Wait. Don’t go.”

Our bodies mold into each other and he tips my chin with the back of his fingers. “I can’t stay, Rowan, or I’ll break my promise and end up rushing you into deciding if you want to give me, give us, a chance.”

“I think I do,” I blurt out. Because I do. I really, really do. I’m attracted to him and if he is willing to be monogamous, then I want to be with him. He makes me feel alive and carefree.

Miles lowers his head and gives me a sweet kiss; the same kiss he gave me last night. “Let me know when you’re done thinking . In the meantime, I’m going to keep taking you out and doing my best to make you fall for me the way I’ve fallen for you.”

He releases me again and goes to the door. “See you at the game?”

I’m frozen in place but manage to squeak out a nod.

“Night, Doc. Lock up behind me. Unless you want to stare at my ass as I walk down the hallway. I’m cool with that.” He winks before leaving.

Damn. I was staring at his ass. And I’m not mad about getting caught because Miles Buckingham has fallen for me.

I do a happy dance in my kitchen then do what he said and lock my door.