Page 19 of Hidden Desire

“You know this is the first time I’ve seen your hair down.”

“My father doesn’t like it like this, so I had to braid it every day,” she said.

“I do like it this way, so you’ll leave it loose.”

She glanced at him over her shoulder again. “Okay.”

After he’d placed a large Band-Aid over her cut, his hand slid around to her stomach and pressed.

The breath caught in her throat. They stood there for a long moment.

“Sweetheart, I think you need to get to bed because I’m getting close to turning you around and kissing you.”

“Oh.” She had no idea what to say. She wanted to yell yes, but she thought that might make her sound loose.

“Yeah,oh. I will eventually kiss you when I think you’reready unless you don’t like the idea.”

“No. I … I’d like that.”

“Good. Do you like having my hands on you?” he asked.

“Yes. I dream about it.”

He groaned. “I dream of having you under me and pinned as I take you hard.”

She shivered. “I don’t know if I’d like that.”

He stilled. “Sweetheart, are you a virgin?”

She could feel her face heat with embarrassment.

“I need to know,” he said.

She nodded.

“Fuck. The thought of you being just mine and that I’m the only man who touches you makes my desire rise.”

“I can’t imagine anyone but you touching me. You’re the only one with whom I’ve felt this achy feeling.”

“We have to stop,” he murmured. “I want you to go to bed. Eventually, I’ll want you in my bedroom. Would you be okay with that?”

“Oh, um … I think so.”

“Good. I’ll check out your cut tomorrow to see how it’s doing.” He pressed a kiss to the back of her head. “Now, go before I change my mind.”

She slipped to the side, turned, and hurried into the hallway, which took her to the bedroom she was using.

Grace took off her robe and tossed it on the chair before sliding back into bed. With her body buzzing with desire, she thought she’d have a problem falling asleep, but within a minute, she was out.

Chapter Nine

Grace stood in the doorway of Robert’s office. He’d told her to come to him when she was finished putting his daughter to bed. “Hannah’s asleep. You told me to come here when she was.”

Robert looked up. “Yes. I want to start swimming lessons tonight.”

Grace felt her stomach tighten. “Oh, well…”

“No excuses. I don’t like you around the water if you don’t know how to swim.”