Overcoming Fear (Growing Pains #2)(54)

They listened for a second before Sean said, “Okay, let’s head to bed. That is—do…uh, would you like to stay?”

“Is this the part where we get all insecure about what the other wants?” Krista asked with a lazy smile, feeling up his muscled arm.

He answered with his lopsided, boyish grin that lit up his features and made Krista’s heart thump. “Might be.”

“Well, let me clear the air. I would like to spend the night here sans clothes, if that can be arranged?”

He leaned into her again, running his lips along her jaw line as he scooped his hand under her dress and up the back of her leg, cupping her butt. All he said was, “Hmmm.”

Krista waited while Sean checked on Cassie and that clown Keith, and then she followed him to his bedroom. He lit a couple of candles, opened the curtains and closed the door.

“Mood lighting, huh?” she asked a she crossed to the big picture window overlooking the limitless ocean.

In the flickering glow Sean came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. “Don’t bother trying to find Japan, it’s too dark.”

“Spoil sport.”

“I’m glad we could find this peace together, Krista. It is what I always wanted with you.”

“Me, too, you hippy. Very glad. I really missed you the last couple of weeks.”

“I missed you, too. More than I wanted to admit. There came a point, though, where I couldn’t do anything but admit it. It killed me when I thought you had found someone else. Especially because there was nothing I could do about it. Hard to play the hero when you’re afraid you’ll just end up jerking around the princess.”

“There is always that risk. Even with two normal people--or two married people--there is always that risk. Life is anything but certain. But sometimes the pleasure outweighs the risk.”

He gave another “hmmm” as they looked out at the black ocean before them.

“Did you put the painting in the bedroom because of the story behind it, or just because you really liked the look of it?” It had to be asked. Krista wasn’t as confident as she portrayed.

Sean was quiet for a moment. Then, “I loved it the first second I laid eyes on it. The very second. I didn’t know why, I just knew I had to have it. Then, after Ben explained it, it made sense. I had a real connection to it. To…” Sean switched gears suddenly. “Ben is… he’s out of this world, that Ben. He’s…”

“You have a bromance going, I get that.” Krista laughed easily, knowing Sean was going to say something else, but unsure what. She didn’t want to push. Not yet.

“I only befriended him to get close to you! I…”

Krista broke away from Sean, fuzzy thoughts fracturing. She faced him, genuinely angry on Ben’s behalf, because Ben really liked Sean. He trusted him. You didn’t jerk Ben around—he was too sweet of a guy for that.

With heat, Krista said, “You what?”

Sean froze, realized what he’d just said, and immediately backpedaled with hands raised in defense. “Before I even met him, Krista. I decided to befriend him before I even met him. I gave him a chance where normally I wouldn’t bother, that’s all. Turned out he was… He’s…”

“Smarter than you.” Krista turned back around and leaned against Sean again, instantly placated. She never was one to hold a grudge.

“Yeah—yes he is. I’ll admit it.” Sean laughed. “That isn’t it, though. I don’t know. There’s something about him. I really like him.”

“He’s sweet. He seems untouched by the worst parts of human nature. He can be friends with his roommate—me—without ever thinking sexually, even when I accidentally walk out of my room naked. He’s…”

“Sorry?” Sean said, trying to turn her to look at her face.

Krista started laughing. “Yup, that happens. I usually sleep in just undies, or nude, so sometimes I get distracted in the morning and hit the bathroom in my birthday suit. I’ve always been comfortable in my skin.”

“Huh,” Sean said with a smile. He held her a little tighter.

“Anyway,” Krista went on,. “Ben is a true find. He is the rare piece of art he creates. He’s great.”

After a pause, Sean started talking in a gush. “So after he explained the painting, I saw what he said. I saw our first moments together. I saw that copy room in it. I saw our many struggles in the break room. It’s an abstract piece, so it lets the imagination run wild, but I saw it! Still see it. I just… I wanted it close. I wanted to see it every day. As I said, there are a great many days I don’t go into the living room. There is never a day I don’t wake up in my bedroom.”

“Never?” Krista said disbelievingly.

Sean sighed. “Well… Not since I got the painting, anyway.”

“No?”

“No, Krista. Not since then. Not since I tricked you into a date.”

Krista relaxed in his arms and leaned her head against his neck. He kissed the exposed skin, deciding it was finally time. He led her to the bed. She laid down slowly, Sean laying the length of his body against hers.

Chapter Fifteen

“No sex,” Sean said softly again, hating his own rule, but wanting to avoid the worst pitfalls of himself for as long as possible. Wanting to keep her forever, but not sure it was in the cards, so staving off the inevitable for as long as fate would let him. “Last time I’ll say it, I swear.”