Chapter Sixteen

Matt inhales sharply, and I’m feeling totally self-conscious. I’ve never been completely naked in front of a man before—and the light’s pretty bright. Yoga or no, it’s not like I have a fashionably lean and slim body like Sammi or Michelle.

Now that I think about it, I probably should’ve only removed the wrap and let Matt deal with the nightshirt, preferably after dimming the lights. His gaze skims over me, top to bottom then back to my face. For that I’m grateful. I don’t know what I would’ve done if he’d kept his eyes on my breasts or crotch.

“Jesus. Good thing I didn’t know you had nothing on underneath,” he rasps.

“Oh…” I say, mostly because I’m nervous and need something to do even if it’s uttering something as meaningless as “oh.”

“I wouldn’t have been able to do anything except make animal noises.”

And just like that, I giggle, and my nervousness dissipates. God. I don’t know how this man always seems to sense exactly what I need. More than ever, I know I’ve chosen correctly. “Why don’t you take off your shirt, Tarzan?”

I want to see him in the light. Our hotel room in New York was kept dim. We also never got to be fully naked since I knew deep inside we wouldn’t be going all the way anyway.

But now, I’m going the distance. And I want everything.

He shrugs off his shirt easily. His torso is a thing of beauty—strong, thick muscles, every one delineated in beautiful lines. The wide shoulders and chest taper into tight abs with ridges so defined they could hold pennies. A dark dusting of hair vanishes below the waistband of his shorts.

Licking my lower lip, I raise my eyes to meet his. His blue gaze is so dark, it’s almost black. “Are you naked underneath?”

He gives me a wicked grin. “Want to see?”

I nod eagerly.

Holding my gaze, he tugs his shorts down. Watching him take off every piece of clothing for me is incredibly erotic. I don’t know why—it’s not like he’s doing anything to put on a show. But with Matt, everything’s sexy. Everything feels meaningful.

His shorts hit the floor, and he kicks them toward his shirt. My mouth waters as I take in the sculpted perfection of his body. His legs are as powerfully built as his torso, his thighs and calves solid with muscles that invite me to run my hands all over. And then there’s his cock. I’ve held it and sucked it, but looking at it with the lights on is different—exciting. It’s already hard, the shaft thick and veins pulsing. The plum-shaped head is flawless, and I lick my lips, remembering how hot it was in my mouth, the taste salty and all Matt.

“I love your body,” I say before I can stop myself.

The wide grin he gives me makes me flush. “Good. The first time is always a little nerve-racking.”

I giggle at his mock sincerity. “Why would any guy with a body like yours get nervous?”

“Because I’m finally with a woman with high standards and a sharp mind of her own.”

My cheeks grow hot. It’s nice of him to say so, but that’s not why it took us this long to get to this point. I couldn’t decide, kept dithering and driving both of us insane. It seems like a miracle he likes me after all that.

Matt tilts his head, his gaze probing. “You’re thinking.”

Am I that obvious? “Uh. A little.”

“What are you worried about?”

“Nothing,” I say since I don’t want to spoil the moment with my inane thoughts. We’re both naked, and I already told him we aren’t stopping. So it should all be good. Right?

“Come on.” He places a finger under my chin and lifts it up. “Tell me.”

I bite my lower lip. “It’s really dumb.”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge?”

He’s going to find me insane, but I can’t not tell him either because he’s probably patient enough to wait me out. “I was thinking that I couldn’t possibly have a sharp mind like you said because I can’t even make a simple decision.” Suddenly I realize I’m wringing my hands and stop. “I mean, even you knew…which is why you stopped each time.”

His gaze softens. He runs his thumbs across my cheeks. “I used to watch Olivia tune her cello when we were growing up.”

Wait. He wants to talk about his sister now? Does this mean we aren’t going to have sex after all, even though we’re both buck naked and he’s hard enough to split diamonds? Am I still radiating the NIMP vibe?

“She had to turn each peg, and as she did so, the string would go too high-pitched or too low-pitched until she finally put just enough tension on it. You’re like that. A cello that had to be tuned just right before it was ready. There’s nothing wrong with being careful or changing your mind.”

“Like if I use a safe word.”

A corner of his lips quirks upward. “Yeah. Like that.”

I sigh softly. This man is so perfect. It’s more than his gorgeous face or amazingly proportioned body. It’s that his mind seems to be on the same wavelength as mine, always knowing when I need space, and when I need a bit of assurance. “Except there’s no need for that tonight. Kiss me, Matt.”