Waiting For Him (6 page)

Keisha shook her head. “Maybe because I knew a normal life wasn’t in the works for me, I couldn’t see getting that intimate.”

How intimate had she gotten? No, maybe he didn’t want to know. “You loved him?”

“Yes.”

His nearness quickened her breath. Nice.

“Without any reward at all?”

“You think your company isn’t reward enough?”

“Ha!” She playfully punched him. “Like that would be enough for any guy.

“For any guy in love? Yeah, I don’t know.” Being in love would only make abstinence more difficult. Hell, Stone wasn’t in love with her and it ate him up to have to wait.

“Understand, Stone, I didn’t think of my mother as a burden. I loved her so I wanted to be there with her. Yes, it would have been nice to share that responsibility and worry with someone.”

A new thought chewed on his peace of mind. “Do you love him still?”

“No.”

The denial came too quickly to satisfy. Stone tipped her chin. “You sure?”

Without hesitation, she nodded. “Looking back, I’m not certain exactly what I felt for David even then. I know it hurt a lot when he asked for his ring back. He’d said he loved me, that he wanted to be with me, but he couldn’t deal with everything as it was.” Her mouth twisted. “After he broke things off, he told me that if things ever changed, he wanted to know.”

“Meaning what?” Stone couldn’t imagine that sentiment. “He wanted you to get in touch if you walked out on your mom?” Like she would ever do such a thing. Hadn’t the guy known her at all?

Keisha looked away. “Something like that, I guess.”

Something like when her mother had died? Damn it, he couldn’t help it. He tugged her in closer, tucked her face under his chin and wrapped his arms around her and rocked her gently from side to side. “I’m sorry.”

She surprised him by clinging to him. “The funniest part is that not long after he said that, he moved in with another woman.”

Bastard.

She hid her face against his shoulder. “A few months later my mother took a turn for the worse and she passed away.”

He hugged her tighter still, wishing he could take some of the pain that remained with her.

“Obviously,” Keisha choked out, “I did not call him.”

“Course not.” He kissed the top her head. “I’m so damn sorry, honey.”

She drew a slow breath. “I didn’t know what to do with myself after she died. So much of my life was wrapped up into caring for her. My schedule was set up around her needs. I had a few female friends, but no one super close, so I decided it’d be best to get a fresh perspective on things. I moved here, found a job and got my credits transferred to the new college.”

Stone tangled a hand in her thick curls. “And you decided to lose your virginity.” He realized now that it had been a deliberate choice on her part.

He’d
been a deliberate choice and it humbled him.

“Yes.” She didn’t look at him. “I didn’t expect you to know my entire history, though.”

“Does it matter?”

“Of course it does. Over and over, David told me he wanted to be the first. I think he probably stayed with me as long as he did just hoping to see the big payoff, you know?”

“You keep underestimating yourself, like you think lack of experience is the only appeal.”

A dry, humorless laugh escaped her. “Get real. For him, at least, it was. That’s why even after he broke things off, he still felt like he’d earned the right.”

“Tough luck for him, then, huh?” Stone wanted no misunderstandings. “Because I’m here now.”

Full of resentment, she said, “For the same reason as David.”

“Don’t compare me to some selfish dick, okay?” He tipped her back so he could see her face. “That’s not me.”

“Right.” Derisive, a little militant, she tried to push away from him. “You’re saying it doesn’t matter to you?”

“Course it does. Most men are possessive by nature, and virgins factor into fantasies even more then porno stars.” He grinned at her. “But aren’t you curious why I said you scare me? Because I don’t scare easily.”

Her eyes narrowed. “Okay, not that I’m buying it, buy why would I scare you?”

Before he laid it all on her, a bit of forewarning seemed in order. “It’s probably going to piss you off a little.”

Her expression went taut. “Tell me anyway.”

“Promise you’ll hear me out?”

“Depends on what you say, now, doesn’t it?”

The prickly temper only made her all the more adorable to him. Yeah, he was a Neanderthal, but at least he knew it. “All right.” Anticipating her reaction, Stone admitted, “Around you, I have a major loss of control.”

Fascination took some of heat from her annoyance. “What does that mean exactly?”

“Like I said, you look at me, talk to me, or heaven forbid you smile, and I react like that testosterone ridden sixteen-year-old kid again seeing my first naked female. That’s not something I’m used to.”

She studied him. “Later, I’d like to hear more about your first experience. But for now.”

“For now, you need to understand that I also worried about you getting hung up on me.”

“What?”

“If you get too involved, I might break your heart. You’re so damn sweet, Keisha. I really don’t want to put you through that.”

It was almost comical, the sweeping emotions passing over her features—emotions that ended in righteous indignation. Intent on freeing herself from his embrace, she gave him a shove, but Stone held to her, and when he started laughing, he thought she’d slug him.

“Settle down, okay? I already know I’m an ass.” He caught her hands held them behind her back. “Surely you see my dilemma, sweet Keisha.”

“No!”

He laughed again. “I’m always up front with women. I don’t want anyone getting ideas. I like my life the way it is. Sex is just that—sex. Not a commitment.”

“Don’t drive it into the ground, Stone. I get it already.”

He gave her laughing smooch on her pinched mouth. “The idea of your virginity has been both a lure and a concern.”

“Oh, my goodness. You are so conceited!”

“I know.” He nuzzled her in closer, kissing her ear, that special place where her throat met her shoulder. “But I swear, when it comes sex, I have good reason.”

She went still, then soft in his arms. “Lacking in modesty, too.”

Yet she sounded intrigued. He hid his smile against her cheek. “So here’s what I propose.”

She groaned.

“No, not marriage proposal, so stop all the melodrama.” Stone couldn’t remember ever being mired in such a powerful combo of lust and humor. It was unique.

She was unique.

He carried her hands back up to his neck and slid his hands down to the small of her back. “For now, why don’t I make a strategic retreat? You can have the night to think about things, to decide if you still want me and if so, I promise you won’t regret. But go into with your eyes wide open.”

“Meaning sex and only sex?”

“Sex and conversation and a few laughs. Some good times.” He wanted all that because he didn’t want her to have regrets. “I’ll make it good for you. Better than good. You have my word.” Then he rethought that and added, “Well, maybe not the first time. I have a feeling that once I get your panties off, it’s going to be very close thing.”

Her mouth fell open, then snapped shut as her face went up in flames.

He remained serious. He wanted her believe him. “After that, every time after that, count on loving it. And that’s not an idle brag, okay? I do know what I’m doing.”

The heat extended into her gaze. Her lips parted. She nodded. “Okay.”

Pretty sure he’d already won her over, Stone added, “But understand that I’m not that type to settle down anytime soon.”

“Good.”

“Good?”

She nodded. “My life has recently taken a dramatic change. I want to live for a while without serious restrictions and you already said you’re possessive, so you would certainly be a restriction.”

“Yeah, probably.” He knew himself well enough to know that once he fell in love, he’d probably be nearly unbearable. Luckily, he had no intentions of falling in love, and she didn’t want that anyway. Did she? “You’re okay with that?”

She nodded. “Once I no longer have that stupid badge of innocence, I won’t have to worry what motivates other guys.”

Other guys. His good mood slipped. “You’re planning ahead, are you?”

“Absolutely.”

Damn. He felt insulted. Hearing her talk about a new life that didn’t involve him sort of burned his ass. He hadn’t had her yet, so he damn straight didn’t want to think about some future bozo getting down and dirty with her.

“So.” She smoothed a small hand over his chest. “What do we do now?”

“I’ll come by tomorrow with Steve and we’ll switch out the doors.” Steve’s help wasn’t necessary, but hey, he had a pleasant surprise for his friend and couldn’t wait to share it with him. “Sunday I can put in the pet opening. After that, you and I can get busy.”

“You’re talking two days from now?”

She sounded as forlorn as he felt over the wait. He had to be fair to her even if it killed him. Waiting until Sunday meant she’d then have the whole day free, which meant he’d have all day to really enjoy himself.

“Two days of kissing, maybe a little touching…” He’d never survive this. “Getting more familiar and after that, after you’ve had plenty of time to think things over, you can decide what you want.”

With any luck, and a little persuasion on his part, she’d want him, only him, for good long stretch of sexual indulgence.

The way he felt right now, he couldn’t accept any other outcome.

Chapter Six

Keisha had no real choice but to abide by Stone’s bizarre terms, for now.

Why would he encourage her to think it over before making a move if he really wanted her as badly as he claimed? Her only conclusion was that he didn’t. She doubted he’d find sex with her to be a hardship, but all that nonsense about her testing his control? Just that, nonsense.

Seemed to her he had too much control. For sure, far more than she had.

Swallowing back her complaints, she walked him to the front door. Like the Pied Piper, she had both dogs and the cat following along.

It was pretty nice how Stone accepted them all. He stepped over and around pet toys and gave attention to each animal before focusing that awesome gaze on her.

She gulped in rising need. “It’s not going to be easy.”

“Waiting?” With a warm expression and big gentle hand, he cupped her face. “You’re preaching to the choir on that one, honey.”

Keisha stared up at him. He was so tall, so broad shouldered, muscular and sexy. She swayed toward him. “Maybe…”

He kissed her.

Wow, what a kiss. Firm lips moved over hers until they parted, then his damp tongue stroked in. He was an incredible kisser, teasing and encouraging until she clung to him.

She wasn’t inexperienced enough to miss his erection or the way his hands trembled, how his breath hitched.

After freeing her mouth, he hugged her close for a few rib knocking heartbeats, then stepped back. “I gotta go before I change my mind.” He opened the door and stepped out. “Think about me tonight, okay? It’s going to be sure I’m going to be thinking about you.”

Holding the doorknob for support, Keisha watched him go in a long legged, slightly stiff stride. His profile showed the tight way he held his jaw, and after he got into his truck, he sat there a moment, head back, eyes closed.

Okay, so maybe she really did test his control. That made his insistence on giving her time noble. Considerate.

And so incredibly sweet.

Seeing her struggle for composure made her want him all the more.

Not fall in love with him? Shoot, she was already halfway there and she knew it. The trick would be making sure Stone never found out. She’d manage because otherwise he might really walk away.

And now that she’d had a small taste, she wanted the whole man.

She wanted. Edward ‘Stone’ Ryan.

*****

The next day, Keisha hung back as Steve and Stone discussed her apparently awesome vintage door. If having one big hunk in her small living space was odd, having two there was enough to leave her mute. They took up so much room, had so much presence, and she could almost swear an air of testosterone swirled around them.

They were male with a capital M.

It took all her concentration not to drag Stone off somewhere.

When he’d arrived, he’d kissed her hello with warm familiarity, but with his friend standing there, it had been frustratingly brief. For the fifteen minutes since then, he’d stayed busy introducing her pets, giving them some attention and showing Steve the door to be replaced.

The night before, the things he’d said and the things he’d done had all conspired to leave her muddled. After he’d left, she’d spent a sleepless night thinking of him, just as he’d told her to.