“OK then. What Blaine did to you is in the past. It isn’t a reflection on you, but I will keep it in the back of my head. I can’t help that.” He brushed a piece of hair off her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

“What does that mean?”

“It means I care about you.” He kissed her, sliding off his stool to stand in front of her. “You need to send your brain on vacation. You’re overanalyzing everything. Just relax and let it happen.”

“Let what happen?” She shifted, leaning back. Her robe gaped. Cool air washed over hot skin.

His gaze dropped to the opening. “I don’t know. I can’t predict the future.” He splayed his hand on the center of her chest. Her heart thumped against his palm. “I feel things for you I’ve never felt before.”

“I’ve never let anyone get this close. I’ve always kept relationships casual. Nothing about our lovemaking yesterday was casual.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Does it make you uncomfortable?”

“Yes. Sometimes it’s downright scary,” he admitted. “But I’m brave. If we need to make love over and over until we get used to it, I’m willing to suffer through it.”

“You’ll take one for the team?”

He grinned. “Dozens if necessary.”

She smacked him lightly on the shoulder. “This is serious.”

“It doesn’t have to be.” His hand moved, brushing aside the fabric of her robe to reveal her breast. “Sex can be fun and intense at the same time.”

His thumb teased her nipple. A yearning flared deep in her belly.

“Tell me. What set your hormones off in a sprint last night?” He moved closer, nudging her legs apart with his knee. Her robe fell fully open, her nudity exposed to him. His lips brushed her collarbone. “What turns you on?”

She tilted her head back to give him more room. “It was the guitar.”

“It worked well for me in high school.” He laughed. “But I never thought it would attract a genius and a scholar.”

“Yes, the guitar is hot.” Her brain synapses weren’t firing well enough for long sentences.

“Does that make you my groupie?” He kissed her ear and sang softly. “I want you to want me.”

His breath caressed her neck. Her hands burrowed into his thick hair. Her head fell back, wanting his mouth on the rest of her skin. “No matter what you sing, I’m not throwing my panties at you in public.”

He chuckled. “Clearly, you’ve been talking to my siblings.”

“Um. Yes.” Louisa tilted her head.

“How about in private?” He nuzzled her neck, finding the sweet spot at the base of her throat. Where were his hands, and why weren’t they on her skin?