Three:

Three:

 

Sarah was quiet as she drove him to the hotel.  Too quiet in fact, and he didn’t like it.  “Stop up there,” he said, pointing to a 24 hour Wal-mart Super Center.  She did as he asked, not commenting at all.  She stopped the car and stared down at the steering wheel, fingers nervously picking at the leather cover.  She jumped a bit when his fingers -- those long, elegant, artist’s fingers -- gently stroked her cheek.  He cupped her chin and turned her head gently, making her look at him.  “What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing.  I’m fine.”  She was very proud of the steadiness in her voice.

 

“Liar,” he said softly.  “Sarah, I think I understand why you’re upset, but you really shouldn’t be.  I’m not trying to get away from you,” he whispered, his thumb gently tracing her lips.  The look on her face said very plainly that she didn’t believe him.  He pulled his hand back and took a deep breath.  “I was lying to you earlier tonight, when I said I never . . . well when I implied that I don’t make a habit of one night stands.”  She was looking at him now, trying valiantly not to be distracted from his words by the line of his jaw and that stubborn lock of hair that kept falling onto his forehead no matter how many times he pushed it back.  Handsome was not a strong enough word to describe him.  “What are you thinking?” he asked.

 

“You’re so beautiful,” she said before realizing it.  When she did she gasped and flushed in embarrassment.  In spite of the seriousness of the moment, he had to laugh.

 

“You’re really cute when you blush.”

 

“Really?”

 

“No.  Not really.”  Her face fell and he hurried on.  “Let me finish.  You’re more than cute, Sarah.  You’re the beautiful one.  Don’t cry!”  She hadn’t meant to cry, but hearing those words from his lips . . . it was a dream come true.  She felt his hands gently brushing away the tears, heard him whisper meaningless words to soothe her, and still a part of her refused to believe it.  Then his lips found hers and she had no choice but to believe it.  His mouth was like silk and velvet and Hershey’s kisses.

 

He finally managed to force his lips away from hers but he didn’t move away altogether.  He rested his forehead against hers and closed his eyes, focusing on the way her hair smelled and the warmth radiating from her body.  It warmed him in ways that went beyond the physical.  With great effort, he kissed her forehead and straightened.  His body cried out against him, craving contact.

 

Sarah watched as JC rubbed his temples.  He seemed deep in thought, and she sensed there was some great battle being fought inside him.  It caught her off guard when he finally spoke, not opening his eyes until he finished.  “Sarah, I’ve got quite a list of girls I took advantage of.  I knew better, but I still did it.  None of them deserved it and I hate myself for the way I treated them.  I can’t let you be one of those girls.  You’re too good for that.  You deserve more.  That’s why I asked you to take me back to the hotel.  I don’t trust myself and I don’t think I could live if I messed whatever this is up.”

 

“Josh,” she said savoring the way his name felt coming from her mouth, “I know you wouldn’t do that to me.”

 

“Yes,” he said slowly.  “I would.  It was what I had planned when I asked you to dance tonight.  But I realized that I couldn’t do that.  Not to you.  There’s something about you, Sarah.  I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but you’re special.  We’re in town for the rest of the week.  That gives us three days.  I really want to spend more time with you, Sarah.  Not for sex, though I wouldn’t mind that--”  His eyes widened as he realized he’d said that out loud.  “Um, uh, what I mean is . . . I . . . oh boy.”

 

Sarah laughed.  “I think I know what you mean.  I’m not sure, but I think I do.  And I would be thrilled to see you again.”  Yeah, every bit of you, she added silently.

“So, that said, I guess we should get going.”  She could sense the discomfort behind the words.  She found it adorable that he was embarrassed.  It made him all the more human, all the more real.  She nodded and started the engine, turning the car around.  “Hey, where are we going?  The hotel is that way,” he said, pointing behind him.

 

“I know.”

 

“So where--”

 

“I am helping you prove that you are trustworthy, and that you won’t do anything I don’t want you to.”  He swallowed, unable to hold back the thrill her words sent through his body.

 

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