Page 49 of Jessica's Hero

“Because they’re your favorite.”

Her slim fingers thread between mine. Tilting her head back to look up at me, her evergreen gaze is soft with wonder and affection. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

“I can.” I gather her in my arms again. “You deserve it, sweetheart.”

Moisture shines in her eyes. “This is wonderful. And—” She gives me a slow inspection. “You look so handsome.” Touching my collar, she adds, “I really love this color on you. It brings out the blue in your eyes.”

Her fingers graze my neck, leaving a sizzling trail of heat in their wake. Desire flares.

I imagine myself scooping Jess into my arms andcarrying her into the bedroom, leaving dinner and wine and gifts until after I’ve lavished attention on every inch of her body. Showing her how much I truly appreciate her with more than just words and flowers.

My fantasy shifts to a naked Jess stretched out on the bed, her skin flushed with excitement. Her breasts heaving with uneven breaths. Her pupils dilated so there’s only a thin ring of golden green around them. Her legs open, exposing herself to me. Inviting me in. The seductive scent of her arousal and the clutch of her inner walls as I plunge into her. Her breathy moans feathering against me and the bite of her nails on my skin.

An ache builds deep inside me; an intense hunger verging on pain.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Huh?” I yank myself out of the fantasy. “What do you mean?”

Her gaze drops below my waist. A tiny smirk curves her lips. “Well. I’m assuming you’re not thinking about flowers. Or candles. Unless you have some interests I’m not aware of.”

I glance at the growing bulge straining my pants. “No, not candles. Or flowers.”

“Then?”

“You know.” Leaning closer, I feather little kisses along her jaw before capturing her mouth again. My voice goes rough. “I was thinking about you.”

Jess sucks in a quick breath. “What were you thinking?”

One of my hands comes to her waist. She shivers with pleasure and leans into me. “I was thinking?—”

Shit. This isn’t supposed to be about my fantasies. It’sabout making Jess feel special. Feeding her dinner and giving her gifts and ending the evening with a back rub to work out the stiffness in her shoulders. WhatIwant has nothing to do with it.

“Kane?”

“Dinner,” I announce. “I made Bolognese sauce. And that bruschetta you like. And I got your favorite Cabernet to go with it.”

Confusion clouds her expression. “You were thinking aboutdinner?”

“I was thinking about our date,” I explain. “Dinner and presents and I thought I could give you a back rub after. Since I know you’ve been feeling so tense.”

“Those all sound really nice,” she replies. “But.”

My gut twists.

Shit. She doesn’t like it.

“But what?”

“But.” Her hand comes to my waistband. Wide eyes raise to meet mine, uncertain but hopeful. “If you were thinking about something else. Maybe we could do that, too.”

My erection jumps, pressing painfully against the zipper of my pants. “Like what?”

Jess glances at my pants again. “Well. If you were interested in… other things. I’d be okay with that, too.”

My brain splits in two. One half declares sternly,Dinner. Movie. Presents. Stick with the plan. The purpose of tonight isn’t to get Jess into bed. It’s to help her relax.

Then the other half jumps in, reasoning,Sex is relaxing. The food can be reheated. And if this is what Jess wants, why the fuck would I say no?