Her mouth opened to his tongue, and Sarah pressed against him shamelessly as the need took over and every thought fled her mind except for one—she wanted him. Their kisses had become more heated over the last few days, and the desire had grown to the point where it couldn’t be denied any longer. In bed the night before, they’d kissed until her lips were numb and swollen, but he hadn’t pushed her for anything more.

Sarah didn’t know if she could handle another night that began and ended with kissing, but she lacked the ability to come right out and tell him what she wanted. She knew he was being careful with her because of her past, and she loved him for that, but she wanted much more of the edgy, needy way he made her feel.

“Charlie,” she gasped as she broke the kiss.

“What, honey?”

“We shouldn’t do this in front of the baby.”

Laughing, he nuzzled her neck, firing her senses with kisses and nibbles to the sensitive skin there. “He’s asleep, and I doubt he’d remember even if he was awake.”

“Still…”

Sighing, Charlie withdrew from her, holding up his hands in surrender.

Sarah rested her head on the back of the sofa and took a good long look at the man she loved. His cheekbones were slashed with color, and his eyes were heavy with arousal and desire. The lips she loved to kiss were slightly swollen and still damp. Sarah zeroed in on his mouth and licked her lips.

“Sarah,” he said with a groan. “Don’t look at me that way if you’re going to tell me I can’t kiss you in front of the baby.”

“What way am I looking at you?”

“Like you want to have your wicked way with me.”

Though she was embarrassed to realize she was so transparent, she summoned the courage to tell him the truth. “I do want that.”

He seemed to stop breathing for a second. “What? What do you want?”

“You, Charlie. I want you. I want more than just kissing. I want everything.”

Releasing a deep breath, he studied her in that thoughtful, intense way of his.

“Say something, will you? Don’t leave me hanging out here all by myself.”

“You are certainly not out there all by yourself, but you need to be sure you’re ready, honey. You’ve been through a lot, and I’d hate to do anything to set you back or upset you.”

“You wouldn’t. You couldn’t. Everything about this, about us, is different. I’m not afraid of you, Charlie, and you don’t need to worry about me. I’m okay. I really am. Except for the fact that all I can think about is you and kissing you and touching you…”