Page 50 of Deserving Lara
“Damn straight,” Owl murmured.
“Thank you,” Lara said, her words heavy with emotion. “You make me feel like the woman I’ve always wanted to be. Pretty, carefree, popular.”
“You’re all those things and more, sweetheart,” Owl said.
“I’m not, but you make me feel that way.”
If it was the last thing Owl did in his life, he’d make this woman see her worth.
“Take me home?” she asked.
Home. Hell yeah. He loved that she felt that way about their cabin. Without a word, he reached for her hand and they walked toward the door. This time no one stopped them and Owl held the door open.
The night was quiet now, and very dark. But he could make his way to his cabin blindfolded and confidently led her down the path. With any other woman, he might take the opportunity to make out in the darkness. To maybe ramp up the anticipation of what might happen when they arrived back at the cabin. But this was Lara. And even though Owl was ninety-five percent sure they were alone, he wasn’t going to risk that five percent chance that they weren’t. His Lara wasn’t fond of the dark, and he couldn’t really blame her. He preferred to see his surroundings himself.
He led them to his cabin and quickly unlocked the door and got them inside. He took Lara’s coat and hung it next to his own in the front closet. Then he turned to her. “You want something to drink?”
“No. I wantyou.”
Owl blinked. He was still getting used to her taking the lead when it came to intimacy. “You’ve got me,” he replied without hesitation.
She gave him a small smile as they stood in the front foyer and stared at each other for a long moment. Then Owl took her hand in his once more and quietly headed for his bedroom.
He led her to the side of his bed, dropped her hand, and took a step back, putting a bit of space between them. “If we’re going to do this, you’re in charge,” he said.
Lara blinked.
“I would rather boil myself alive than hurt you. And while I’m as proud of you as I can be regarding your mental progress, I willnotbe the reason you have a relapse. If at any time you want to stop, we’ll stop. Whatever happens between us will be because we both want it, not because you’re trying to prove something to yourself. Okay?”
Owl saw her shoulders relax a fraction and was relieved that he’d said the right thing.
“Okay,” she said with a nod. “I’d like to go get changed.”
He nodded. His dick felt as if it would have permanent marks from where it was pressed against his zipper, but he’d give her all the time in the world if that’s what she needed. “I’ll meet you back here. Or do you want me to come to your room?”
“Here,” she said without hesitation.
Owl stepped toward her once again and pulled her close. He hugged her hard, enjoying the feel of her against him.
She hugged him just as fiercely, her hands pressing against his back as they embraced.
Then she pulled away and he immediately let her go. “I’ll be back. Don’t fall asleep on me,” she warned.
Owl snort-laughed. “Not a chance.”
She backed away, not taking her eyes from him as she went. At the last moment, she turned and disappeared through the door, and only then did Owl let out the breath he’d been holding.
He was nervous as hell about this. He worried that it was too soon. That no matter what she said, Lara was trying to prove to herself that Grant hadn’t fucked her up for sex for life. He wanted to be the man to show her that she was still utterly desirable. But he also wanted to protect her from herself…and him, if necessary.
Owl headed for his bathroom to brush his teeth. He wanted to be in bed when she returned, if for no other reason than to look as nonthreatening as possible. He hadn’t lied. She would be in charge of every single thing they may or may not do tonight.
It was a weird feeling to be both aroused beyond what he thought possible and scared shitless.
CHAPTERELEVEN
Lara swallowed hard. She wanted this. Wanted Owl. But she had to admit that she was nervous. She wasn’t really trying to prove anything to anyone, but now that he’d brought it up, she wondered if that was at least a little part of this.
The thought of being naked in front of Owl made her belly clench in distress. She couldn’t help but remember Carter’s leering gaze as he touched her, as he bruised her bare flesh.
