The Acceptance
Page 31

He was true to his word and back in the car only a few minutes later.
“What is that smell? Is that a bouquet of flowers?” Her voice lifted as she heard the rustling of cellophane.
“Can’t very well take a girl home and not give her flowers. And here.” He handed her the flowers and another box. “I got you candy too. Seriously, I’m trying to pack in as much as I can in one week.”
She couldn’t help it. She burst into laughter. “Are you always this wonderful at putting people at ease?”
“No. Don’t go thinking this is my calling.”
She felt the car move backward. “Oh, I don’t know. You were very calm on the plane. You helped me through the funeral. Came to my rescue when I needed you to go through my brother’s things. And now you bought me flowers and candy to ease me through my invitation of taking you home.”
“Good, you think I’m some hero. I’m just a nervous guy trying not to act that way.”
The laughter came harder now and her heart was squeezing a little tighter when she thought about him. Perhaps this night was going to be perfect after all.
Tyler pulled up in front of Courtney’s house and turned off the engine.
“I know you’ve invited me, and believe me I want to take you up on this invitation. But, I’d never hold it against you if you changed your mind.”
Courtney took a moment to assess her thoughts. The cellophane wrap around the flowers and the candy brushed against the bag her laptop was stowed in. She could back out if she wanted to. He was giving her a moment and she knew in her heart that he’d come back if she said to.
She turned her face toward him. “Tyler, come inside. I want to be with you. And I don’t just mean emotionally anymore. I want to be with you physically.”
Her voice shook, but she heard his door open and close. A moment later, so did hers.
His hands came right to her face and his mouth quickly moved against hers. Tyler’s tongue sought hers out and a moan escaped him—and then her.
Tyler took the roses from her hand and then the box of candy. She knew he’d placed them on the dashboard.
“We’ll come back for those.” He unbuckled her seatbelt and his arm came up under her legs and the other around her shoulders.
“What are you doing?”
“Carrying you up those steps. I’m a hero and all, remember.”
“My laptop,” she said, gripping it.
“Hold on to it tight.” Tyler’s mouth was on hers again and her mind swirled vividly in color.
He lifted her out of the car and shoved the door closed with his hip.
Courtney wrapped one arm around his neck and held tight to her laptop with the other, all the while making work of her lips against the pulse in his neck.
“Door,” he muttered. “Door. Where are your keys?”
That brought on a laugh. “My purse. I think it’s in the car.”
“Damn. So much for sexy entrance, huh?” He set her on her wobbly legs. “I’ll be right back.”
She heard him run down the steps, pull open the door to the car, and run back up.
“Here’s your purse.” He set it in her hands and she quickly went about looking for them in their assigned space.
Courtney felt for the lock, slid in the key, and turned. When the door pushed open, her legs were scooped out from under her again.
Tyler closed the door with his body as they entered the house with his mouth moving against hers.
“My laptop,” she mumbled against his lips and he set her on the floor.
She handed it to him and felt him take it, but he never moved from her, which meant he’d only set it on the steps or on the couch. What did it matter? His hands were back on her, arms wrapped around her, lips pressed against hers.
She swallowed the taste of him, the warmth, and the feel. This wasn’t something she’d done lots of times before, but she’d been with a few men and all of them had been in the same boat she’d was in—they felt their way through it.
Tyler had a unique advantage at this point—or perhaps she did. He could see everything and she couldn’t. The thought was there. She’d never know if he had a certain scar or mole that made him less attractive. In her mind he was a god.
He, however, would see all her imperfections—even the ones she knew nothing about. This would be a truthful moment—she sucked in a breath of courage. There would be no loss, she told herself, if he walked away. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Tyler pulled back. “Are you okay? You’re tensing up.”
“I can’t see you.”
He let out a chuckle. “I know that.”
“I mean, what if I take my clothes off and you don’t like what you see?”
Tyler’s hands came to her shoulders and rested there for a moment before moving down her arms. He captured her hands in his.
“I hope you don’t think I’m petty like that.”
She shook her head. “If you were you wouldn’t be here.” She knew that to be truth enough.
“Courtney, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known, inside and out. I don’t have to keep touching you or take you to bed to know how I feel about you.” She heard him let out what could be construed as a moan. “Of course I’m also a man, and I want to.”
She stepped in closer to him. “I’ve never been with a man who could see.”
“I could tie something over my eyes.”
That had her laughing now and she eased against him. “Maybe someday and only if I’m driving your car.”
Tyler pulled back now. “You want to drive?”
“I never have.”
“Hmm. Interesting thought.” He moved back against her. “We can plan that later. Are we together on me carrying you up those stairs?”
Courtney took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’ve never wanted anything more,” she said.
Quickly, his mouth was back on hers and he scooped her up again.
“Good. After all, I am a man and I’m dying here.”
~*~
Tyler lay next to Courtney, his arm tucked up under her, her hair sprawled out over his chest and the pillow.
His chest heaved from the breath he tried to capture in his lungs.
Sweat glimmered on Courtney’s skin. Her heart raced against his chest and her breath warmed his skin. Not only had he seen every inch of her more-than-perfect body, he’d touched it, and tasted it. She’d quivered under his touch. Moaned under his tasting. And stifled the scream he’d brought out in her by biting down on his shoulder as he’d spilled over from what she’d done to him.