Part 9 (1/2)

Sarah rested her head against his chest. Her hair was soft against his skin. Her cheek was smooth. He ran his fingers again and again through her curls and waited silently for her to speak. He'd had enough of these conversations before to know the timing was critical. He had made his decision about her, but that was worthless if she didn't feel the same. What she said next meant everything. Or nothing.

”I'm afraid.”

Alex smiled. ”Everyone's afraid.”

She shook her head against him. ”I dated a man two years ago. His name was William. He was very handsome, very charming. He was also incredibly arrogant, selfish, and cruel.”

He knew where she was going with this, but kept silent. His looks had always been something he used or didn't use to get what he wanted. Now, for the first time, he wished he had not been blessed with his father's eyes and his mother's hair. Alex wished to be average.

Sarah sighed. ”You're not like that.”

At her words, relief shot through him, making him realize just how certain he'd been she was going to tell him she didn't want to see him again. She met his gaze. ”After he left me, he married a blonde with b.r.e.a.s.t.s the size of basketb.a.l.l.s and a stomach you could probably bounce a quarter off of. He told me he didn't want to see me any more because he was done doing me a favor.”

”Oh, Sarah.” He could see the pain in her eyes and wanted to smash the other guy's teeth in.

She blinked rapidly, clearing away a sheen of tears. Despite her obvious distress, her voice was strong. ”He was a jerk, Alex. You're not.”

”Sarah, you're intelligent, funny and beautiful. Any guy who couldn't see that is more than a jerk. He's a moron.”

She bit her lip and ducked her head before looking up at him again. ”Thank you. I'm not beautiful, but thank you.”

He'd been with plenty of skinny women who complained of being fat, gorgeous women who obsessed over tiny imperfections noticeable only to themselves, and women who downplayed their intelligence so they didn't intimidate the men they dated. He didn't get the impression Sarah was fis.h.i.+ng for compliments, or talking about bad qualities to emphasize the good.

He kissed her. ”You're beautiful.”

She blushed. ”Stop.”

”Do you really think that's what matters to me?”

She stared at him for a moment before replying. ”I think you are used to being with a certain type of woman, Alex. And I'm not ... I'm not that type of woman.”

She sure wasn't. ”But that's what I like about you.”

Sarah ran a hand along his arm, up to his shoulder, then tousled his hair. ”That I'm not a s.e.xpot?”

He kissed her hand. ”I didn't say that.”

Sarah sighed and wriggled closer to him to put her head on his shoulder. Her voice was soft when she answered him. ”One step at a time, Alex, okay?”

Another of his own lines come back to haunt him. ”Okay.”

Her breath heated his chest while her hand stole up to caress his bare skin. ”You are the one who's beautiful, not me.”

”Men can't be beautiful.”

”Gorgeous then.”

She traced the outline of his nipple with one fingertip. It stood erect at her

touch. Alex put his hand over hers to stop her from moving more. He waited until she looked at him quizzically before speaking.

”Is that all I am to you, Sarah?”

She licked her lips, then chewed lightly on the soft flesh. ”At first.”

”What about now?”

”I have a good time with you, Alex. A really good time.”

He didn't want to push her further, not when she looked like she was about to run away at any moment. One step at a time, she'd said. He nodded.

”I have a good time with you, too.”

She smiled and moved her hand again over his nipple. She bent to lick it, and the sensation of her hot, wet tongue on his flesh made his p.e.n.i.s stir. She pushed him back on the bed and took him in her mouth, all the way to the

base of his p.e.n.i.s, so far down she could kiss his b.a.l.l.s. When she did, he lifted his hips, and she backed off.

”Want me to stop?” she asked teasingly.

”h.e.l.l, no.”

”Good.”

She bent back to lick and suck him, and in just moments, he was like a

teenage kid, ready to explode. He put a hand on her head. ”Hold off. I don't want to come yet.”

Sarah sat up, her smile glistening. ”That's something you don't usually hear.”

”I want to make love to you first.”