He stiffens and slowly turns to look back down at me with confusion and shock. I go to lower my hand but he quickly catches it and holds it against his jaw as I say "Not like... s.e.x. I mean for us to just sleep next to each other... if you want."

I see another million emotions in his eyes as he silently tries to decide. I also make a silent vow as I look up at this innocent man. I will not allow him to take this punishment, no matter what. He suddenly says "I would love to if it's really okay with you."

I smile and nod my head as I say "I wouldn't have offered if I wasn't okay with it." He gives me a warm smile and scoops me up. He carries me to the bed and helps tuck me in as he says "Do you need anything?"

I slightly chuckle at him as I shake my head and say "No, just sleep." He hesitates before walking over to the other side. He awkwardly s.h.i.+fts from foot to foot before saying "Are you sure? I can get you some water or something."

I close my eyes as my smile grows at his nervousness. I reach over and pat the other side of the bed saying "Just get in here." He takes a deep breath and quickly kicks off his boots. He goes to take off his s.h.i.+rt but decides to leave it on before crawling into the bed.

I smirk at him and say "It wasn't too bad right?" He gives me a look before pulling the blanket up to my chin and tucking me in tight. He acts like I don't have working hands. "Are you comfortable?" He asks looking me over.

A strong sense of guilt washes over me as I look over at him. Without really thinking, I turn to my side and reach out. I push his long, soft hair back behind his ear as I say "If this was a different time and under different circ.u.mstances, I would give this a chance."

"I don't want you to think that I'm rejecting you... it's just not possible." I say in a soft voice while laying on my side. He gently grabs my hand and presses it against his cheek before slowly closing his eyes.

He slightly turns his head and places a soft kiss on the inside of my wrist as he whispers "I know." He keeps his eyes closed as he takes a deep breath. When he does look at me, his intense eyes nearly knock the air out of me.

"I won't go past touching you... can I... can I have my way with you for just this once?" He asks with that same intense look in his eyes but this time it's accompanied by his pain. With our eyes locked onto each other, I silently nod my head.

I see relief flash through his eyes before he closes them again. He kisses my inner wrist again and slowly drags his lips to my inner elbow. He kisses me again before taking another deep breath. When he opens his eyes again, he's only a few inches away from my face.

"I want to remember every inch of you. The way you smell, the way you taste, and the way your skin feels under my fingers." He says looking me over for the hundredth time. It's like he's trying to burn my very being into his eyes.

He reaches up and gently pushes my hair back as I continue to lay on my side, silently watching him. I should be freaking out and making one hundred and one excuses to run away but instead, I'm laying here, watching this perfect being marvel at every inch at me while I do the same.

He props himself up of his elbow and slowly reaches out with his long fingers. He gently touches my forehead before slowly slipping down to the tip of my nose. He then traces my eyelashes, making me smile as I shut my eyes.

As his fingertips leave my long eyelashes, they travel along my delicate jawline before coming to a stop on my chin. I slowly open my eyes to find him leaning over me, watching me with an undeniable hunger.

He slowly begins tracing the outline of my lips before lightly touching them. "Can I kiss you? Just a small kiss... nothing more." He says just above a whisper. "Just a kiss..." I say looking up at him with swirling emotions.

His eyes dart back to my lips before slowly closing his eyes. He must really be struggling to control himself... When he opens his eyes again, he lightly touches my lips again before slowly leaning in. He pauses with the barest of touches and I'm shocked to find how intense it feels.

He pulls back and slightly shudders before leaning back down and closing his eyes. I close my eyes and come alive at the touch of his lips but at the same time, I feel so relaxed... almost as if I'm under some kind of spell but I know better.

This is just Kian and what his touch is capable of doing to me. My head spins as he ends the kiss entirely too soon. He keeps his head down and puts his cheek against mine as he tries to control his breathing.

His breath against my cheek and ear has me closing my eyes again as I s.h.i.+ver. He moves his head down and traces the length of my neck as his fingers map out the way. Gooseb.u.mps break out as his fingers slowly dance over my exposed collarbone.

He places a feather-light kiss on my collar bone before following his fingers to my exposed shoulder. He then places a light kiss on my shoulder and says "I want to memorize every inch of you but I'll stop here. If I were to continue... I wouldn't be able to stop myself."

His voice tightens at the end so I quickly reach out and pull myself against his hard chest. He hesitates for only a moment before wrapping his arms around me. I bury my face into his chest and struggle to keep my own desires under lock and key.

I keep my eyes tightly closed but when he starts running his fingers through my hair again, I finally relax in his arms. He pulls the blankets up around us both as it gets harder and harder to stay awake. The last thing I remember is him kissing the top of my head before I finally gave in to the pull of sleep.