He leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. Then reached up and slid his hand over her soft hair as relief unfurled in his heart. He’d never been with a woman who understood him without ever having to explain himself.
She sighed heavily, and her shoulders lowered as if her stress were draining in front of his eyes. Lifting their joined hands, she turned them to press his against her cheek. “Someone once told me there are three ways to get to know a person.” She took a breath and lifted her head so their gazes met. “Sex, stress, and time.”
Something burned uncomfortably beneath his ribs. “Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She moved close and kissed him softly. The touch of her lips felt electric. And the soft little turn of her mouth eased his heart for the first time since he’d spoken to Rio that morning. “I really like what I know of you from the first two. And I’d like to see what the third one brings.”
He lowered to his knees and took her face between his hands, disbelief dropping his mouth open. “Really?”
“Really.” Her tired grin deepened. “If…you want that too.”
He nodded and kissed her. “Yeah,” he said softly, kissing her again. “I definitely want that too.”
She slid forward on the chair and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Really?”
His arms closed around her and he pulled her into him until their chests were flush. “Really.”
“Can we start the timer on that clock now?” she asked.
He pushed her hair back, and ran his thumbs over her damp cheeks, kissing her gently. “Baby,” he whispered, “as far as I’m concerned, the sooner the better.”