Faithful to a Fault by K. J. Reed Page B

look she’d given him. Just the feel of her arms around him after the end of a long day. He’d been undone. He didn’t want to give it up. Give up the comfort, the intimacy they were working toward.
    Pete let his hand stroke Sarah’s hair absently. She stirred then settled, her breath fanning his neck. Never did he think sharing a bed with someone, having them invade his space, would be such a luxury. One he was loath to lose.
    Maybe he wouldn’t have to. Things might get fucked up at first, but Trav was his best friend. He knew that whatever happened in the past, whatever mistake Trav made with his sister, it was unintentional. He wasn’t the kind of guy to ditch and run.
    But Sarah… Sarah was still an unknown. Something he’d like to change. Because whatever happened, the possibility of more wasn’t something he was ready to forfeit.
    Sarah shifted again and rolled over, her eyes sleepy. “Hey. You’re thinking so loud you woke me up,” she teased. “What’s going on?”
    Here was his chance to explain. Set the record straight.
    But he couldn’t. He wasn’t a good enough man for that. There was a pliant, willing woman in his arms. A woman he wanted for more than just one night. And likely after the shit hit the fan, he wouldn’t have another night with her for a while. It couldn’t be all that bad to indulge for one more night, steal away a few more memories before he had to step back and figure out the solution.
    Decision made, Pete decided that tonight was for making love, and tomorrow was for having a chat. He fiddled with the neckline of Sarah’s sweater. “I’m just wondering what you have going on under this sweater.”
    She smiled and gave him a coy look. “Long johns,” she joked.
    “That would be a crime against man,” he sighed. With lightning speed, he flipped her so she was under him, giggling. “I hope you were ready for a long night. Because that little display you put on was only an appetizer, as far as I’m concerned.”
    Sarah bit her lip and looked to the side before stage whispering, “Can I tell you a secret?”
    He nodded, wondering where it was going.
    She scooted until she was away from his grip and opened the nightstand drawer. Then she tossed a bottle onto the bed between them.
    Pete picked up the cool tube and turned it. Yup, it’s exactly what he thought it was. Lube.
    “Sarah.” He looked up, saw her cheeks on fire. But her eyes were steady. “Are you asking for—”
    “Yes.”

Chapter Six
     
    Why was asking for something so hard?
    Of course the “something” wasn’t a cookie or anything so simple. Maybe it was supposed to be hard. Because if you managed to ask without burning up in a fire of embarrassment, you really wanted it. And she wanted Pete. Oh God, she wanted him in every way possible. She trusted him to take care of her. And she wanted him to leave with something special in his mind. A memory that wouldn’t easily be forgotten.
    She wouldn’t easily forget him.
    Pete sucked in a breath and then with the speed and agility of a cheetah, rolled her over to lay under him.
    Sarah waited for the clothing to be torn off. The hands to roam. The frantic need to claw at them. But instead he stood, his eyes never leaving her face.
    “What?” She wiped a hand across her face self-consciously.
    “You’re just beautiful.”
    The words were stark, simple. But there was a complex honesty behind them that made her want to cry. Honesty was one of the things she admired most in him.
    Instead, she joked, “You’re not too bad yourself, Marine. Now come down here and give me some attention.”
    He shed his shoes and shirt, leaving his jeans on. She took the opportunity as he crawled over her body to admire his golden skin. She learned what she originally thought was a tan turned out to be a gift from a mixture of Greek and Italian heritage. She traced a pattern of thin scars that led from his shoulder down to cover one pectoral.
    “What are these