Page 123 of Captivated

“And what’s that, Joe?”

“Would you let me in—would you let me love you, Liliana? When all this is over, and life is back to normal, can I come back again, say hello, and start this over? Would you let me love you?”

She didn’t wait a second.

Not even a breath.

“I would.”

That’s all that he cared about.

The rest was inconsequential.

“Okay,” Joe said.

Liliana cocked a brow, and smiled a tiny bit. “Just okay?”

“Yeah, just okay, love. Go get dressed. I ordered you that red velvet cake you liked from the restaurant. It should be here soon. Don’t need to give anybody a show, huh?”

Her laughter coated his dark soul, and Joe swore he still heard it long after she had disappeared back into the bathroom. More than anything, he had wanted to get up, and go to her. Get her back on the bed, lose himself between the heaven of her thighs, and show her just how much that okay really meant to him, but he couldn’t do that …

Not yet.

She had to come to him this time.

He had to let it be on her terms.

Not his.

It was only later in the evening, when all the lights were off, and Joe was hovering in the space between wakefulness and sleep that Liliana finally reached for him again. It started with an innocent whisper from across the bed that had his eyes flying wide open.

“Joe?”

“Hmm, cara?”

“Do you really think that’s what I am—darling?”

Joe tipped his head to the side on the pillow, and grinned at her through the darkness. He could just make out the outline of her features which meant she had to be able to see him, too. “You’ve always been darling, Liliana.”

“Mmm.”

She went silent again.

So did Joe.

And then she reached for him. One hand snaking under the blankets, and coming to rest on his midsection. Her fingers traced the railroad pathway of his abdominal muscles, making each and every one of them jump at the touch.

She came closer under the sheets.

He didn’t move an inch.

“Joe?”

“Hmm?”

“You know it’s okay if you kiss me—touch me. Right?”

Joe only replied, “Only if you want me to, love.”