Heath (Wild Boys After Dark, #2)(43)
“I want you in my life, Ally, and I don’t have a history of making bad decisions. That being said, don’t drive yourself crazy picking apart what might happen in our relationship. We’re not fortune-tellers, and there are no guarantees, but I can promise you this. The same way I don’t give up on helping my patients, I’d never give up on us. If we hit a rough spot that you don’t want to ride over, we’ll find a way around it. If we hit a snag that seems like it has the power to derail us completely, we’ll take a deep breath and think it through. We’re both smart, caring people. I’ll never take a detour that involves another woman. I’ve never cheated on a woman in my life.”
“I’ve never cheated on a boyfriend, either.”
“Then tell me what really scares you, because falling asleep with you in my arms and waking up with you is something I want to get used to.”
“Heath…” She didn’t have an answer about what scared her. He’d tamped down her worry with reason and those warm, sensitive eyes of his. “You weren’t looking for a relationship, remember?”
“Neither were you,” he reminded her. “Do you not want this?”
“Oh, no! I want this in the worst way,” she assured him. “I just don’t want to be taken by surprise by a wayward cell. There are things about me that you don’t know. You may not like my bad habits.”
“Lay ’em on me, sweetheart. What’re your bad habits?” He ran his finger from her ribs to her hip, sending goose bumps over her skin.
“I cry at commercials,” she admitted.
“I have tissues.” He brought her hand to his mouth and kissed her palm.
“I like to do the Sunday crossword, and sometimes I talk to myself and get angry when I’m doing it.”
“I’ll get mad with you,” he offered with a sweet smile.
“You didn’t notice, but I have three cat boxes for Fifi, and sometimes I let her sleep on my pillow.”
He moved over her and nudged her legs open with his knees. “I’ll change the cat boxes for her and buy another pillow so we always have room for her.”
She laughed softly. “Sometimes I talk to Amanda on the phone for an hour or more.”
He kissed her neck. “Sometimes I spend hours with my brothers.” He filled his palms with her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples, making it hard for her to concentrate.
“I eat ice cream from the container.”
“I’ll fight you for it.” He laved his tongue over her nipple, sending ripples of pleasure through her. “Spend the day with me and let me discover everything I don’t know about you.”
“I have to go home and feed Fifi.”
He kissed his way down her belly. “I’ll go with you, and we can go out from there.” Heath nipped at her inner thighs with his teeth.
She rocked her hips, wanting his mouth on her, wanting him in her.
“I said I’ll catch you when you fall.” His voice was filled with desire as he splayed his hands over her thighs and used his thumbs to tease her wet, swollen flesh. “All you have to do is let yourself go.”
Little did he know she already had one leg over the cliff, and every minute they spent together made her want to propel herself over the edge.
Chapter Eighteen
“I CAN’T BELIEVE I’m here.” Ally spun around with her arms wide open, like an enthusiastic little girl.
They’d arrived at Coney Island twenty minutes ago, and Ally had already said the same thing about ten times. Heath would never tire of seeing the spark in her eyes.
“I’ve lived so close all my life, and never once have I been here.” She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. “Thank you!”
He laughed as he lifted her off her feet and hugged her, and when he set her back down on the ground, she pointed toward the rides. “Let’s start there. I’ve always wanted to go on those swings.”
Even though it was early September, the amusement park was crowded and the air was alive with excitement from wide-eyed children and adults holding hands. As they walked around the park, Ally marveled at everything—the rides, the people, the food—and seeing her so happy made Heath want to do more for her. He wanted to take her everywhere and show her the world. He wanted to experience life with her.
“Have you been on that roller coaster?” she asked, pointing to the Cyclone, a roller coaster in the distance.
“Sure, with my brothers.” They held hands as they reached the line for the swings.
Ally shaded her eyes from the sun and watched the swings rise toward the sky, then whirl overhead. “That’s so much higher and faster than I anticipated.”
“Do you want to skip it?” he asked.
“No way.” Her smile lit up her beautiful face.
Heath loved the way her eyes took on a challenging gaze. She bent to fix the cuff of her distressed jeans, looking sexier than hell in a pair of cute sandals with a coral-colored, loose-fitting sleeveless top. She turned to look at a laughing child, and her silver earrings sparkled against her dark hair. She tucked her hair behind her ear, and the silver bangles she wore clinked, setting her movements to music. Heath would be happy spending the afternoon just watching Ally take in the sights, sounds, and scents of the park.