Copping Attitude Read Online Free

sex.”
    “Then your partners didn’t work hard enough to make sure you did like it.  And they passed the buck to you.  That’s all.”
    She looked dubious.  “You can’t know that.” 
    He decided to take a chance.  He straightened then walked toward her.  He slowly laid his hands on her shoulders, watching her carefully for any sign of fear.  Although she took a quick breath, she didn’t pull away from him.  Gently, he turned her until they faced the mirror on the dressing bureau.  “Of course, I can.  Hell, just look at you.”
    She trembled slightly beneath him and he rubbed her shoulders with light circles.  The softness of her sweater felt good, but he knew her skin would feel even better.  He took a shallow breath, telling himself to take it easy.  Not to frighten her.
    Her pretty mouth twisted.  “Looks are deceiving.  I might have posed in Playboy magazine when I was younger, but it doesn’t mean I’m a sexual person.  I’m not.”
    “Yeah, you are,” he insisted.  “Looks can be deceiving, but I’m not relying on just your looks to form an opinion.”
    “Really?  Then what are you relying on?”
    With one hand, he gently tucked a loose strand of her silky hair behind her ear, letting the tips of his fingers linger just long enough on her delicate skin to see her eyes flicker with desire.  She was so incredible.  Even now, trying to negotiate a coldly calculated sexual encounter, she couldn’t help her natural passion from surfacing.  “I’ve seen you with Kate.  When your defenses are down.  You’re a toucher, just like she is.  You savor your food.  A good margarita makes you flush and chatter.  You laugh deep down in your gut.  And the look on your face when you smile…let me tell you, it defines sensuality.”
    She made a skeptical sound.  “Those things don’t mean I’m sexual.”
    “Trust me, honey.  I think I have more expertise in this arena than you do.”
    “Well, that’s what I’m hoping,” she blurted out.  “But we don’t have to…”
    Like hell they didn’t have to.  Now that he knew what was behind her sudden interest, there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to turn down what she was offering.  Especially since he sensed how serious she was about getting over her fears.  If it wasn’t him, it would be someone. 
    It was going to be him.
    “You’re sure this is what you want?” he asked quietly.  “That I’m who you want?”  Once again, he held his breath, anxious for her answer. 
    “I’m sure.  Whether anything happens is up to you.”
    “If it was up to me, we would have been naked five minutes ago.  But given the circumstances, I think we need to approach this night a little differently.  You game?”
    “Depends on what the game is.”
    He stepped away from her and she turned to face him. 
    “Tonight’s game is a crash course in getting to know each other.  That way, by the time I touch you”—by the time I get inside you, he thought—“you’ll be more than ready for it.” 
    “But by getting to know each other, you mean physically, right?  Because that’s what I want.”
    Her implicit “That’s all I want” hung in the air, but he ignored it for now. 
    “We’ll get there, sweetness.  And you’ll be glad you put your trust in me, I promise.  But first, answer one more question for me.  Why are you doing this?”
    “You already know why.  So I can be with a man again without freaking out.”
    “But why now?  What happened to you was horrible, but you’re a strong woman.  You’ll heal, given patience and time.  What’s driving you to speed up the process this way?”  What’s driving you to consider doing this with me? he thought.
    “There’s someone I want.”
    Her words weren’t completely unexpected but they still hurt.  Which was ridiculous.  He barely knew her.  But even the past few moments of conversation, the bravery she was showing, the trust she was putting in him,