California Man (Salt Spring Island Friends Trilogy) by EC Sheedy

Author:EC Sheedy [Sheedy, EC]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2013-12-10T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

When Emily tensed at even this friendly touch, she was again angry at herself. Damn old habits. They died hard.

She wanted to be with Quinn more than anything else in the world, but she couldn't control these intermittent stabs of fear, the anxieties that kept poking and pricking at her resolve. Gloriously happy one minute, then terrified, convinced she was a crazed fool, that she'd never please him—fail him in some gargantuan way. God, the man had been with Gina Manzoni! How could she compete with that? But she'd set herself up to make love with him, and she'd do it—if it killed her. Which it very well might. Like if he laughed at her. She couldn't bear that. If only she was experienced. If you were experienced, you idiot, you wouldn't be throwing yourself at him. God, she thought then, is that what I'm doing? Maybe I should...

"I'd say a penny for those thoughts, but I get the feeling they're worth a lot more."

"I was thinking about—"

"Let me guess. You and me. Right?"

She nodded.

Quinn studied her face, so tense and serious. He'd never been with anyone as frightened—as vulnerable—as Emily. And all because of sex. Something he hadn't attached any real importance to—other than taking the necessary precautions—for years now. Somewhere along the line the word just had attached itself to the word and never left. Just sex. Except with Emily. With Emily there'd be no qualifier used to water it down. No just.

"Nothing's going to happen, you know. Not tonight anyway. So you can relax. Maybe not tomorrow either or the day after that or the day after that."

Her eyes shot to his. "But you said you were going to—"

He stopped her by placing his index finger against her lips. "Emily, where did you get the idea everything is up to me? I'm not the only one involved here. You have something to do with it as well."

"Me?" She looked totally at a loss.

"I want a partner, not a passive receptor. Do you understand that? I want that for me, but I want it even more for you. I want you to reach for me, need me—the way I need you. And I want you unafraid and... aggressive." He wasn't sure that was the right word, but it would do. It seemed he wanted more than just sex, too.

"Aggressive? Me?" Her eyes widened.

When he saw the miserable expression on her face, Quinn took her face between his hands and brushed his lips over hers. "It's not that I won't help the, uh, process along, love, but I want you easy with me. Comfortable. At ease with your body and with mine. That takes time, especially for someone who has trouble being seen in a nightgown with the man she wants to make love to."

She blushed wildly. "That's only because I'm a retro idiot."

He laughed, then stood and looked down at her. "The big thing is that I want you to have every chance to change your mind. You have total control over what happens between us in the coming weeks.

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