Temptation - Brenda Jackson [48]
He couldn’t help chuckling at the shock he heard in her voice. “Yes. That’s him.”
“Do you blame him for not being a part of your life while growing up?”
“I did, but once I heard the whole story, and knowing my mother like I did, what he told me didn’t surprise me. He felt badly about it and has tried making it up to me in various ways, although I’ve told him countless times that he doesn’t owe me anything.
“So you see, Sheila, you aren’t the only one with issues. I have them and I admit it. But I want to work on them with you. I want to take a chance and I want you to take a chance, too. What I feel with you feels right, and it has nothing to do with Sunnie.”
He shook his head. “Hell, Sunnie’s a whole other issue that I intend to solve. But I need to know that you’re willing to step out on faith and give us a chance.”
Sheila could feel a stirring deep in her heart. He was asking for them to have a relationship, something more than a tumble between the sheets. It was something she thought she’d had with Crawford, only to get hurt. Could she take a chance again?
“My last boyfriend was a medical-supply salesman. He traveled a lot, left me alone most of the time. I thought I’d be satisfied with his calls and always looked forward to his return. Then one day he came back just to let me know I’d gotten replaced.”
“You don’t need to worry about that happening,” Zeke said quietly.
She glanced over at him. “And why wouldn’t I?”
He leaned closer to her and said in a low husky tone, “Because I am so into you that I can’t think straight. I go to sleep dreaming of you and I wake up wanting you. When I make love to you, I feel like I’m grabbing a piece of heaven.”
“Oh, Zeke.” She drew in a deep breath, thinking that if this was a game he was playing with her then he was playing it well. Stringing her as high and as tight as it could go. She wanted to believe it wasn’t a game and that he was sincere. She so much wanted to believe.
“I will always be there for you, Sheila. Whenever you need me. I won’t let you down. You’re going to have to trust me. Believe in me.”
She fought back the tears. “Please don’t tell me those things if you don’t mean them,” she said softly. “Please don’t.”
“I mean them and I will prove it,” he said, reaching out and gently pulling her toward him.
“Just trust me,” he whispered close to her lips. And then he leaned in closer and captured her mouth with his.
Sheila thought being in Zeke’s arms felt right, so very right. And she wanted to believe everything he’d said, because as much as she had tried fighting it, she knew at that moment that she loved him. And his words had pretty much sealed her fate. Although he hadn’t said he loved her, he wanted to be a part of her life and for them to take things one day at a time. That was more than anyone before had given her.
And she didn’t have to worry about him being gone for long periods of time and not being there for her if she needed him.
But she didn’t want to think about anything right now but the way he was kissing her. With a hunger she felt all the way to her bones.
And she was returning the kiss as heat was building inside her. Heat mixed with the love she felt for him. It was thrumming through her, stirring up emotions and feelings she’d tried to hold at bay for so long. But Zeke was pulling them out effortlessly, garnering her trust, making her believe and beckoning her to fall in love with him even more.
She felt herself being lifted into his arms and carried up the stairs. They didn’t break mouth contact until he had lowered her onto the bed. “Mmm,” she murmured in protest, missing the feel of his lips on hers, regretting the loss of tongue play in her mouth.
“I’m not going far, baby. We just need to remove our clothes,” he whispered hotly against her moist lips.
Through desire-laden eyes she watched as he quickly removed his clothes and put on protection before returning to her. He reached out and took her hand and drew her closer to him. “Do you know how much I missed waking up beside you? Making love to