Chapter 18

Ipoured Mary Ellen a glass of wine, feeling weirdly excited about having her in my home. She was the first woman I had brought here. My body was screaming at me to make a move, to close the gaping distance between us, but I remained in control. A glass of wine for myself, too, would help.

"Thank you," she said softly after I handed the drink to her. As she took a sip, her eyes subtly roamed around the room, taking in the details of the place. I found myself wanting to unravel the layers that made her who she was.

"Would you like a tour?" I asked.

She nodded mid-sip. "Please."

We took our glasses and left the kitchen. It felt intimate to have her in my space, to share a part of myself that I rarely showed to anyone. My own family hadn't even been in this place. They had never been invited.

"I have just about every amenity a guy could ask for," I said with a laugh. "But it's a bit of a bachelor pad. I don't know anything about decorating or making a house feel like a home. Sometimes it feels like I'm afraid to settle in too much."

"Well, despite the mostly bare walls, it's a very nice bachelor pad," she replied. "I've seen how guys live, and this is not like anything I've ever seen."

Jealousy flared in me, hot and red. "Visit a lot of single guys' apartments?"

I had no right to feel any kind of way about men she used to date, but my emotions had a mind of their own. The sweet little librarian with the quiet smile was mine, and I would end up in prison again if someone tried to take her from me.

It was a crazy thought. We barely knew each other, and we hadn't even slept together. Why did I give a shit who she dated before she met me? A firm voice answered inside my head. Because she's yours.

Mary Ellen's tinkling laughter was like cool water washing away the wild thoughts. "Believe it or not, I don't get out too much. If I'm not at home, I'm at the library, and there's not a lot of cute guys there." She glanced at me. "Usually."

I laughed despite myself. "I hope you're referring to me."

"I thought you were giving me the tour?" she asked with a smile.

I nodded and grinned. I can draw this out all night.

"This is my personal gym," I said and pushed open the next door. "I have an indoor sauna and steam room as well. I know it's a little extravagant, but I like to stay in shape and unwind after a long day."

Mary Ellen stepped inside, looking around in awe. "This is incredible," she breathed. "I can't imagine having all of this right at my fingertips."

I watched her with a smile, appreciating her genuine wonder and imagining having all of her right at my fingertips.

I led her down the hall to the media room, where a giant screen covered one wall and plush recliners beckoned. "The surround sound system in here shakes the whole room," I said. "I love to watch a good movie in here."

"It's like your own theater," she said.

I nodded. "It is except I don't have to worry about a giant head blocking the screen or a kid crying. No one is going to ruin my experience because they're texting."

"Sounds a little anti-social," she teased.

I nodded. "I appreciate my privacy."

I didn't want to tell her after living with six men in a very tiny space for eighteen months, privacy was the most valuable thing in my life.

I didn't take her upstairs but showed her the den, which was supposed to be my office. I just didn't do any real business quite yet. I didn't need an office. So I led her to the backyard, a place I happened to love. The swimming pool shimmered invitingly in the fading sunset with the blue lights surrounding the inside edges. Even looking at it now, I wanted to dive in. The hot tub, with more underwater lighting was bubbling, telling me Cole had enjoyed an evening soak.

"I would never want to leave if I lived in a place like this." Mary Ellen laughed softly. "You have everything right here. I'm surprised you don't have a library."

I chuckled and took a sip of my wine. "You're right. Maybe I'll change the den into a library. Then I wouldn't have to leave."

"If there was a library, I would absolutely never leave," she said.

I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her close as we strolled around the pool. "If you lived here and you never wanted to leave, I'd have conditions," I teased.

"Conditions?" she echoed, playing along. "What would those be?"

A smirk tugged at my lips. "You'd have to be naked ninety-nine percent of the time. Naturally."

She giggled and covered her mouth like she was embarrassed. Her laughter was like music to my ears. "Oh wow, okay. What other rules might my master have?"

I liked being referred to as her master. Turning to face her, I took her empty wine glass from her hand and set both glasses on a nearby table by a lounge chair. "You'd have to let me cook for you, read naked, swim naked…" I trailed off, running my hands down her hips.

"You're really focused on this whole naked thing," she whispered, her cheeks red as the sinking sun.

"I've thought about your body every day since I laid eyes on you," I confessed, unable to resist the pull of desire any longer. "I walked into that library and saw you in that bulky sweater and just knew I wanted to see you naked one day."

She laughed softly. "My friends tell me I dress like an old lady."

I shrugged. "Well, however you describe it, it did something to me. Speaking of, how old are you? You look very young and very innocent."

"I'm twenty-four," she replied. "And I suppose I am young and innocent. How old are you?"

"Twenty-eight," I replied. "Unlike you, I know I look much older. I've probably lived a lot more than my twenty-eight years."

Mary Ellen's gaze softened as she looked up at me, studying my face as if searching for answers in my eyes. "You seem like you've seen a lot," she said softly, her voice laced with empathy.

I nodded, feeling a weight settle on my shoulders. "I've been through some things, yeah. But I'm trying to move forward and make the most out of life now. It's not like I'm hurting."

She smiled. "I can see that."

She looked up at me and I felt a strange shift. I leaned in to kiss her.

Her lips were soft and warm against mine. A thrill shot through me as our mouths moved together in an intimate dance. The taste of her lingered on my tongue, sweet and intoxicating. I deepened the kiss, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her closer to me.

Mary Ellen melted against me. Her hands came up to tangle in my hair as she kissed me back with a hunger that matched my own. The world around us faded away, leaving only the two of us standing by the pool, lost in each other. We were both trying to get closer together, as if our lives depended on it.

Then I found myself backing up, pulling her with me. I would never let her go. We fell onto a plush lounge chair, me on my back. Mary Ellen straddled me with surprising strength and confidence. Her mouth moved over mine with her hands running through my hair once again.

I pulled her closer, feeling the heat of her body. Our kiss deepened, becoming more urgent with each passing moment. I could feel the hunger and desire between us, a magnetic pull that was impossible to resist. Her hands roamed over my chest, sending shivers down my spine as she explored every inch of me.

I took advantage of the close proximity and slid my hands over her ripe tits. I had been right. Her clothes hid her amazing body from the world. That was fine by me. That meant it was all mine.

I ran my hands down her hips and slid her body higher so she could feel my arousal. I wanted her to know how gorgeous she was and how much she turned me on. I got the impression she didn't feel sexy. It explained why she blushed so often. She didn't have the confidence of a woman who knew she could turn a man on with a simple look.

She brushed over my dick, heat radiating from her. I sucked in a breath, driven wild by the feeling. She stiffened. Immediately, I sensed her hesitation, her need to slow things down.

Easy, big fella. Let's not scare her off.

To Mary Ellen, I whispered, "It's okay."

She looked down at me. "I need to catch my breath."

I nodded. "I get it. This is a lot."

"I want to, but I can't."

"Mary Ellen, there's no pressure from me." I smiled, running my hand over her hair. "You set the pace. A woman like you is worth being patient for." I put my lips to her ear. "Even if you drive me crazy."

She sighed, her eyes searching mine for understanding. "I don't want to lead you on."

"You're not leading me on."

"No," she said again. "You don't understand. I'm sure you expect certain things and that's normal. But I'm not."

"You're not normal?" I asked, running my hand up her back. "I know you're an angel, but you don't have actual wings, do you?"

She laughed softly, but she was still wound up. "No, I'm not normal in the sense I'm not like other women my age."

I pulled her hand to my lips and kissed it. "Lots of women your age wear cardigans, beautiful. It's not that weird."

She laughed a little more this time, then shook her head. "You know that's not what I mean."

"I know," I said, nodding. "You're not as experienced, but so what? That's nothing to be ashamed of. And I'm not pushing you. Just tell me if I get carried away."

She smiled. "I'm the one straddling you right now."

"True," I agreed with a small laugh. "I can straddle you, if you prefer?"

She suddenly got serious again and spoke quickly. "I'm not just inexperienced. I'm still a virgin."

My heart skipped a beat at her confession. "I respect that," I said sincerely. "We'll take things at your pace."

"I don't want you to think I'm leading you on. I like you, I do. But I need time." Mary Ellen's eyes searched mine for any sign of disappointment.

I reached for her hand and brought it to my lips, placing a gentle kiss on her knuckles. "Mary Ellen, I'm here for you, no matter what. We can take all the time you need."

A mix of relief and gratitude washed over her features and she squeezed my hand. "Thank you for understanding."

I smiled, feeling a newfound sense of connection with her. "Of course. Let's just enjoy each other's company and see where things go naturally."

Mary Ellen leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. We stayed like that for a moment, lost in our own little bubble of intimacy by the pool. The weight of her confession hung between us, but instead of creating distance, it seemed to draw us closer together.

I had never been with a virgin but it didn't freak me out. I liked that I might be her first, and I liked that she waited. It just confirmed my belief she was a special woman.

All good things took time. After spending eighteen months in prison, I knew the value of patience. I was willing to wait as long as Mary Ellen needed. And if she was never ready, I wasn't going to take it personally. She was waiting for the right man. If I wasn't it, then that was just the way it went.

She slid over to snuggle beside me. We both lay quietly watching the rippling water, and I stroked her back gently.

"You're welcome to stay here, just like this all night," I said.

Mary Ellen smiled up at me. "Thank you for being so understanding," she murmured softly, her hand resting on my chest. "I've never felt this comfortable opening up to anyone before."

I brushed a strand of hair away from her face, my heart swelling with tenderness. The lust was still there, but with sex off the table, a different side of me was stepping forward. Feeling protective and possessive, I wanted her to feel secure in my arms. "You don't have to thank me, Mary Ellen. You're safe with me."

She nestled closer against me, the warmth of her body seeping into mine. We stayed that way for a long while before she finally decided it was time for her to go.

It had been one of the best nights of my life.