She stepped closer, her hand finding his. “I appreciate that, Cas. Really. But I followed you in here because I wanted to, and I’m not afraid of whatever this is between us.”
Not exactly true. She was afraid of losing another guy she’d given her heart to, so she just needed to not do that. The small crack in the wall she’d built around her heart could easily be repaired when she was back in her apartment. She wasn’t worried about it.
Cas squeezed her hand, his gaze softening. “Don’t mistake my retreat for fear. I’m not afraid of this connection either, Harper. I just want to do this right…for both of us.”
She nodded, understanding the care behind his hesitation. “Okay. We’ll take it slow. But just so you know,” she added with a playful smile, “I’m all in.”
He laughed, pulling her into a hug that felt like a promise. “I’m all in too.”
I wish you were.
He stiffened, and that’s when Harper realized she’d spoken the words out loud.
Chapter Eleven
Caspian’s jaw dropped as he sucked in a breath. “That isn’t helping my control.”
“Sorry,” Harper muttered, stepping back, her cheeks flaming. “Didn’t mean to say that out loud, but you’ve got my mind all jumbled.”
He raised an eyebrow, a slow, teasing grin spreading across his face. “I do?” he asked, his voice light but with a hint of satisfaction.
“Yes.” Harper nodded, deciding to lay it all out. “It’s crazy. And you know what, Cas?”
“What?” he asked softly.
She lifted her chin and held his gaze. “I like it. A lot. I like that my brain shuts off and my body turns on when you touch me. You make my legs weak, my pulse race, and my heart pound hard in my chest. They all remind me—youremind me—that I’m alive. Something I haven’t felt in over a decade.”
“I’m glad I do,” he said, stepping closer. “Because you make me feel things I’veneverfelt. Good things, but more importantly, you make me feel like it’s okay to feel them. That I deserve some good in my life.”
She frowned. “Because you do. We both do.”
“I agree.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Your directness, and your openness are refreshing, Harper. They’re a couple of the reasons I’m so attracted to you.”
Harper bit her lip, trying to suppress the smile that threatened to break through. Cas’ words, so simple yet filled with sincerity, sent a warm flutter through her chest. “Really?” she asked, her voice quiet, almost testing the waters.
Cas nodded, his expression softening. “Yeah, really. I’ve been trying to play it cool, but you make it pretty damn hard.”
She laughed, the mood easing into something light and sweet. He reached out, gently tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering just a moment longer than necessary.
“So, what do we do about it?” she asked, meeting his gaze, embracing a flash of boldness.
He smiled, the kind of smile that made her heart skip. “We take it one step at a time. No rush, no pressure. Just us, figuring it out together.”
She lifted a hand to touch his jaw. “And if I want to take two or three steps…” Her voice trailed off. She really couldn’t get any more words out with the way her heart was slamming against her ribs.
“Then we run with it,” he replied, reaching up to cup the hand she still held against his face.
The slight scruff from his five o’clock shadow scraped her palm while his rough calluses scraped the back of her hand. How could something so innocent feel so erotic? A tremor started at that hand and raced straight down to her toes, bringing a heated tingle in all her good parts.
A heartbeat later, they were stepping into each other and kissing. His mouth was warm and seeking, and she welcomed it wholeheartedly.
Shifting closer, Harper practically climbed up him, which he helped by lifting her right off the floor without ever breaking the kiss. This sent another round of heat zinging through her body.
He had an arm around her back, cupping the back of her head while the other cupped her butt, holding her in place. And damn, what a place. A great place. Her new favorite place. He was hot and hard, and she felt every incredible inch of him pressing against her.
By the time they broke for air, and he let her gently slidedown his body until her feet hit the floor, she was trembling and panting, and grateful his arms remained around her because she didn’t trust her shaky legs.
She dropped her forehead to his chin and drew in a few more ragged breaths. “Okay, that…I want more of that.”
