Unbreakable (Cloverleigh Farms, #4)(39)

She smiled. “That was definitely part of it.”

“Good. Confess the rest if you must, but whatever it is, I promise I’m okay with it.”

“Even if it was selfish?”

“You’re going to tell me you came for the orgasms? No pun intended.”

She laughed. “Kind of. I had a really terrible day, and I wanted to feel better. Originally, I went to the winery only to talk to you, but you weren’t there, and I was really sad. Because I feel like I can tell you anything and you understand. You always know what to say to make me feel better. So I decided to come find you.”

“God, I’m glad I never gave you my phone number.”

She smiled, shaking her head. “I wouldn’t have used it. Because the more I thought about it, the more I wanted something beyond conversation. I’ve been so sad for so long, Henry. I’ve felt so unwanted and undesirable. Words are nice, but they can still be lies. I wanted to feel with my body—and with yours—the kind of desire that can’t be faked. I needed proof that you find me beautiful and sexy. I wanted to be so tempting you couldn’t resist. I wanted to have that kind of power over you and give you that kind of power over me. Does that make sense?”

“I think so.” I paused, running a hand over my jaw. “Is it terrible that I just really wanted to fuck you?”

Her head fell back as she burst out laughing. “No,” she said. “That is actually perfect.”

“Is it terrible that I’m already thinking about doing it again?”

Her laughter died down, but a smile stayed on her lips. “No.”

“Good.” I swept her off her feet and started walking toward my bedroom. “Because I wasn’t about to let you leave.”





Eleven





Sylvia





He carried me to his bedroom. Carried me. Like I was a bride, or he was a caveman, or maybe like he was a fireman rescuing me from a burning building and taking me to safety—and I did feel safe in his arms.

But I felt other things too. Deliciously naughty. Unabashedly sexy. Fearlessly free to say and do and have everything I wanted.

And I wanted him in every possible way.

He was better than any fantasy I’d ever had, not that my fantasies had even gotten close to what I’d experienced in the hallway. The way he talked made my body turn molten. The way he kissed made me weak. The way he put my pleasure first—twice!—before he thought about his own was a revelation. I couldn’t believe it.

And then once he’d given himself permission to let go . . . good God, I thought he’d tear me in two. I’d never been with anyone so strong or big or rough.

But he was gentle now, setting me on top of his sheets. The room was dark and smelled like him. I inhaled the scent, dizzy with lust and happiness and anticipation.

He switched on a bedside lamp. “I hope you don’t mind the light.”

I smiled, rolling onto one side, my head resting on my arm. “I don’t mind. I like seeing you. It gives me butterflies.”

“I was hoping it would make you want to get naked.” He pulled off one of my heels.

Giggling, I sat up and watched him remove the other. “That too. Want to unzip my dress?”

“That would be a hell yes.” He took my hand and pulled me to my feet. “Turn around.”

I turned, lifting my hair off my neck. Slowly, he pulled the zipper down my back, and the red dress fell to my feet. Stepping out of it, I suddenly felt self-conscious. I hadn’t been fully naked in front of a man without the cover of darkness in a long time. I hadn’t been fully naked in front of anyone but my ex since I was twenty—and I didn’t have that body anymore. I’d had two children. Even though I knew it was stupid, that nagging little prickle of insecurity still stung . . . I’d been left for a younger woman. He’d told her I didn’t excite him anymore. Was my body to blame? Before I could stop myself, I covered my chest with my arms, wrapping one fist inside the other and tucking them beneath my chin.

“Hey.” Henry turned me by the shoulder so I was facing him again. “Don’t do that.”

“What?” I had trouble looking him in the eye.

He tipped my chin up. “Don’t hide yourself from me.”

“I’m not hiding,” I said, but of course I was.

Taking me by the wrists, he forced my arms down to my sides, and looked at me.

I started to panic a little.

I was totally bare before him—stretch marks, C-section scar, less-than-perky breasts and all. Unlike many of my friends, I’d never had surgery to restore my post-baby body to its former tight, bouncy, unmarked state. Now I was kind of wishing I had.

I’d never felt so naked or vulnerable in my life.

“Sylvia, I’m going to say this once,” Henry said seriously. “And then, since you’ve learned not to trust words entirely, I’m going to spend the rest of the night showing you that it’s true—I think you are the most exquisite woman on the face of the earth, in every way. There is no part of your body, no inch of your skin, that isn’t perfect, because it’s yours.” He took my head in his hands and kissed me, hard but sweet. “And all I want to do is make you mine, even if it’s just for tonight.”