“Um…” She cleared her throat. “Yeah. I’d be happy to. Sure.”
Crap. She stumbled over her words like an idiot, but she could hardly believe the conversation she was having.
Good Lord, she just promised her…her…what exactly was Leo? Her friend? Boyfriend? The guy she was sleeping with? Whatever he was, she’d just promised his grandmother she’d keep him in her bed until morning, so his grandmother could keep Kaydee’s grandfather in bed until then, too.
Oh my God, what a night, she thought as she walked back to the table with Ava, her gaze meeting Leo’s as she approached. Given his lopsided grin and the heat and amusement in his eyes, he apparently just had a similar crazy conversation with her grandfather. And he was totally on board with it, too.
Her pulse leaped. It’d been a long time since she let a man stay all night.
Perhaps that was because she hadn’t been with the right man. Leo was different, and the way she felt about him was different, too. Stronger. Better. He made her happy. Made her feel like she mattered. Until that moment, Kaydee hadn’t realized how much she’d needed that.
She just hoped letting him stay didn’t jinx things between them.
…
Tonight they were actually going to sleep together—as in, fall asleep together—and not just have sex. Leo knew this, and yet when he walked into Kaydee’s house later that night, and she locked the door behind him, his heart raced. Not with trepidation, but anticipation. Excitement.
Need.
He liked Kaydee. A lot. A hell of a lot. But still, this was a huge step, not just for him, but for her, too. He knew keeping things a secret from their grandparents hadn’t been the only reason she’d never asked him to stay the night. Hard to keep someone at arm’s length after you’ve fallen asleep with them. It was perhaps even more intimate than sex. A step further than casual. He was starting to suspect she had some type of commitment issue. Either from constantly being ripped from friendships at a young age and being too afraid to form an attachment, or from embracing the wanderlust lifestyle and growing restless staying in one place too long. Either way, it was a commitment issue. Hell, how could she not have one? Being an army brat was tough.
It was the reason he and the guys had made a pact, during their active-duty years, to never get seriously involved with a woman. With the exception of Drew. He’d already been married when he started Ranger training, and his death had gutted Haley. Thank God Cord had been able to help her pick up the pieces. Marriage to an active-duty soldier was a hard life, not only for the wife, but for any resulting children.
That was the last thing Leo would’ve needed. A child. He wasn’t exactly the best father role model. Might never be. His past made sure of that.
“I had a great time tonight,” Kaydee said, bringing his attention back to the present.
“Me, too,” he replied, lifting a finger to lightly trace her cheek. “A really great time.” Then, because he needed to taste her, suddenly needed their connection more than air, he brought his mouth down on hers, and slowly, thoroughly kissed her.
Sighing, she opened up for him and responded with a hunger that matched the one building inside him. By the time he lifted his head, they were both panting, and she was gripping his shirt, as if to keep from falling.
He liked that. A lot.
But what he didn’t like was the thought of pressuring her, so he moved his hands to her shoulders—her deliciously bare shoulders—and held her gaze. “Listen, don’t worry about what my grandmother asked you. I don’t have to stay all night. I can go to a hotel. Just say the word.”
Chapter Twelve
Kaydee’s gaze softened and warmed, and the most amazing smile spread across her face. Leo felt it in his chest. What the hell? How was that even possible? It was as if his heart cracked open, and warmth—the same warmth shining in her eyes—funneled into him.
“I’d like you to stay.” Honesty sweetened her tone. “That is…if you want to.” She glanced down at the floor, and when her gaze returned to his, uncertainty clouded her beautiful brown eyes.
If he wanted to…
He was no longer active duty. Had a job he loved. A goal he believed in. And a woman he enjoyed spending time with. Taking this next step, investing a little bit more of himself in this—whatever this was that they shared—seemed right.
It didn’t mean he had to tell her his deepest, darkest secrets. They were still his own. He could invest in their connection, their friendship, without bringing his mistakes into the mix. There were other parts of himself he could share.
Parts he knew she liked.
“Oh, I want to stay.” He drew her close to drag his mouth down her throat. Hell yeah. He wanted to stay for purely positive reasons. And not just for himself.
He wanted to show her it was okay to let her guard down a little. Loosen up. Enjoy each other’s company. All without interruption.
She smiled. “I’m glad.”
Leo studied Kaydee’s face under the ambient light in the hall. She needed a better light. He mentally added it to his list. But tonight wasn’t about repairs—at least, not home repairs. And he refused to think beyond that, or he’d have to deal with emotional bullshit. “So am I.”
He shoved his hands in her hair and kissed her, slow at first, wanting to savor her warm sighs and the way she melted against him. But when she pressed her tongue to his, he shifted gears, tasting and taking and needing…everything.
