Practice Makes Perfect (When in Rome, #2)

by Sarah Adams

While we kiss, Will’s hands fumble with the buttons of my shirt, starting at the bottom and working their way up. There’s only one left when I grab his hand. “Wait. Time out.” He pauses immediately and pulls back. “I’m not ready yet,” I say in a nervous rush. “I’m sorry…I thought I would be, but then as things started progressing—” Will immediately cups my face, cutting me off. “Don’t apologize. No explanation needed.” “I feel bad.” “Don’t.” He adjusts to his side, resting on his forearm and then using his free hand to pull my hand to his mouth. He kisses my inner wrist with a tenderness that surges to my soul. “You don’t owe me—or anyone else—anything, Annie. Just kissing you is a gift. One that…” His brows pinch together and he pauses, idly playing with my fingers. When he looks at me again, I see something so raw in his eyes I never expected to see: fear. I never do learn what he was going to say. I expect Will to leave, but he sighs and pulls me over to rest my head on his chest, holding me so tight it feels like he’s afraid I’m going to fly away.