“Care. I don’t know how to care.”

Her eyes widened as she slightly pulled back. “You’ve never cared about any of the women you—”

“Nope.” I shook my head.

“Not even—”

“This is seriously where you want to go with this?”

“Point taken.”

“Listen”—I sighed—“I don’t want to hurt you. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did. And the thought of rushing through this—I can’t. I need to live and breathe every moment, in case—”

“In case what?”

“In case you change your mind,” I admitted.

Her hands wrapped around my neck, and my eyes briefly fluttered closed from the contact. I could feel the tips of her fingers as they snaked around my jawline and sank into my hair.

“I know who you are, Roman Cavenaugh. I know where I am and what I’m getting into. So, please, do your worst.”

Her words terrified me. She did know me, probably more than anyone else in my life. And that was why I needed her, why I’d do anything to keep her—just to prove I was worthy of her.

I’d always told myself that I’d tell her one day—of my involvement with Tyler’s infidelity. But seeing her trust and adoration beaming back at me, I knew I’d never utter those words.

Because she was finally mine.

And I was never letting go.

Her legs wrapped around me as I walked down the hallway, desperately trying not to slam into the walls. Once my mouth had found its way back to hers while we were on the couch, it hadn’t left.

But I wasn’t about to take her on the sofa.

At least not this time.

Right now, I needed her in my bed. I needed her to sanctify this space, so when I awoke each morning, I’d remember exactly what it was like to feel her skin against mine and her body beneath me as I made her mine, over and over again.

Thankfully, we made it without incident to the master, and as I reached the foot of the bed, I slowly let her body slide down mine until she gently fell to the bed. Still touching her while her brown eyes were gazing up at mine, I took this moment to breathe her in.

To memorize her every feature.

The sloping curves of her shoulders, the subtle freckles on her cheeks, and the way her dark hair fell around her, like tiny strands of silk.

“You’re staring,” she said softly.

“Admiring,” I corrected her with a slight smirk. Lifting one arm over my head, I did away with my T-shirt in one swift movement.

A grin spread across my face as I watched her eyes widen in approval, like she couldn’t wait to lick every damn inch of me.

“Now, who’s staring?”