He smiled a little grimly. "I've been asking myself the same question. You're sweet and unaffected. Perhaps that's what I've been waiting for my entire life." He shook his head when she shrank back. "I'm just going to hold you. Just hold you, darling. That's all."
When he pulled her in, she closed her eyes and snuggled against his chest.
Chapter 4
He was disappointed but not disheartened when she did not say yes to his proposal that night. It only made him more determined to break down her resistance. He had decided to use any means necessary, and he knew just what he had to do.
He was starting to know her. The more time he was around her, he was figuring her out. She was velvet with hints of steel. She had integrity and a conscience. She also had an acute weakness for people who were suffering. He was going to use that to get her to agree to his proposal. Combined with his assault on her senses, he would soon have a wedding day and please Christ! A wedding night.
She no longer argued about him popping up almost every night. He would give her a night or two to miss him and then turn up. He brought not only little gifts and flowers, but a hand-stitched quilt he saw in an antique store. A pair of matching crystal vases from the variety store, and something for Galahad as well.
He was getting to her and they both knew it. Tonight, he had surprised her by bringing Chinese food. He had seen the brochure of a popular takeout place a few blocks from her house and stopped to pick something up. The wizened Chinese man knew her by name and beamed a smile at him.
"You must be the boyfriend. Ms. Catherine deserves a good man. Make sure you treat her with respect, or you answer to me."
The veiled threat amused him considering the fact that he was head and shoulders above the man and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. But he had nodded in solemn promise, which earned him a free egg roll. He was also regaled with the stories of how "Ms. Catherine" had been there for him and his wife when their son passed away from leukemia.
"She's a good woman. Not only beautiful but has a good heart."
He already knew that.
Now they were seated in her living room, the boxes set aside. Galahad was sprawled on the rug at his feet, his new chew toy tucked next to him, fast asleep.
"Why don't we open our fortune cookies?" he suggested.
She nodded and cracked hers open, rolling out the thin paper. "'Life is worth living if we have patience,'" she quoted. "Okay. Not very original."
"Mine says:" Tucking his tongue against his cheek, he fabricated: "'By the end of June, you'll be a married man.'" He grinned at the irritated look she threw him.
"Very funny."
"Not really." Putting away the paper, he rose lithely, stepping over the dog carefully as he made his way towards her. He noticed the way she stiffened as he came closer. He had been increasing the pressure each time he had been with her. Kissing her to the point where they were both so heated, it was painful to stop. He knew what he was doing to her, because it was killing him as well. But he had to continue. His plan was to have her so weak with desire, she would finally say yes.
He would go back to his place at night and suffer the agony of unfulfilled desire, but so be it.
It somehow helped to know they were both suffering.
"I think I'll go and make some tea."
His hand clamped on her arm as she rose.
"Nice try." He chuckled at the annoyed look on her lovely face. It was a Wednesday night, and she usually had some youth group meeting at her church. Since it only lasted for an hour, he would time her to get home and unwind before making his appearance. He was also getting to know her schedules.
"Don't tell me you're scared."
"I'm not." She tried to wrestle away, but he held her. "I just want some tea and it's getting late. I have school-"
"It's barely nine." He glanced at his watch to confirm. "And I want to hold you."
"You don't just want to hold me." Panic was surfacing. She was losing the stand she had taken and she realized it. Each time he kissed her, she had to fight the urge to go all the way.
"True." He drew her onto his lap, his hands clamping around her narrow waist. She had changed into baggy shorts and a plain white t-shirt. He could see the outline of her nipples through the lace of her white bra.
"I want to do this." One hand cupped her cheek and turned her face upwards. "You don't have a stitch of makeup on and you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. And I've seen plenty."
"I bet you have," she said with flashing eyes.
He grinned, pleased at her reaction.