“One that was forged because we went through a traumatic event together.”

“It’s more than that. I feel things with you.”

That helped ease her hurt. “I don’t want you here if it’s just because you think you owe me something.”

“I want to spend time with you.” He frowned. “I was attracted to you before the drugs. I’m still attracted to you.”

The tightness in her chest eased. “Okay.”

Smiley wrapped his fingers around the curve of her hips, holding on to her. “How could you even question my attraction?”

“I don’t know.”

“You do know or you wouldn’t have said something like that. Look at me.”

She hated seeing the way he gazed at her in that moment, as if she’d hurt his feelings. It made her regret the rash assumption. “My track record with men isn’t that great.”

“You’re sweet, Vanni. You make me laugh and you drive me a little crazy.”

“I know it’s a bit annoying that I’m not more outgoing.”

“You don’t annoy me.”

“You just said I drive you crazy.”

He smiled and the pained look in his gaze vanished. “It’s because I’m so worried I’ll say or do something that will drive you away. I don’t want that. We’re from dissimilar backgrounds and I’m worried those differences will make you want to leave. I need you to stay.”

“You do?”

“Very much so.” He released her hip with one hand and cupped her face, dipping his head until his mouth hovered just inches from her lips. “I also would never call what we experienced traumatic. It brought us together. I can’t regret that.”

“Me neither,” she admitted.

He caressed her cheek. “Let me take you to bed. I want to prove to you how strongly I feel. I’m not good with words but I can show you.” His fingertips trailed from her cheek to her neck. “Say yes.”

She was tempted. “Do you understand that I don’t typically rush into a sexual relationship?”

“I do. What we share is special.”

She wanted to believe that. “I don’t know what you expect or want from me. Is it just sex?” She needed to express her concerns. “I don’t want to be used. That’s how I’ll feel later if you just walk away. I don’t do casual sex.”

Smiley softly groaned. “I’d frighten you if you knew how serious my feelings are.”

“Is that just a line?”

His eyebrows arched and a confused look filled his gaze. “What does that mean?”

“Men just say what they think a woman wants to hear to get her to agree to go to bed with them. They don’t mean it.”

“I’m nothing like your males, Vanni. I wouldn’t lie to you. Our females wouldn’t want me to tell them I have deep feelings. They prefer males who keep an emotional distance. I don’t want that with you. I wouldn’t share how I feel if I was just saying what I think you want to hear from me. I’d keep it hidden.”

“So you’re looking for a girlfriend? A serious relationship?”

“Yes.”

“I don’t know how that could work out between us. You live here and I live about two hours away.” She wished she could see a way to make it work but wanted to be totally honest. “You also spend a lot of time at that Reservation place. That’s up north. Long-distance relationships never work. We can’t even date. You saw what happened when we went shopping together. It’s not as if we can go out to dinner.”

“You never have to leave my side. We could live together.”

Whoa! She swallowed hard. “That’s moving kind of fast.”

He let his hand drop away from her throat. “Life is short, Vanni.”

She had learned that lesson. Gregory and his goon could have killed her. She also could have died from the drug. She peered up at him and wanted to say yes but it just wasn’t that simple. She wished it could be.

“Give me some time.”

“I’ll give you anything you need.” He stepped back and urged her to follow him.

They ended up in the bedroom. Smiley sat on the bed and bent to remove his boots. She enjoyed watching him strip out of the shirt. He had a beautiful chest and his fit body always took her breath away. He stood and cocked his head.

“Will you let me show you how I feel?”

She clumsily unbuttoned her shirt. He watched as she removed it and let it drop to the floor. His gaze seemed fixated on her bra.

“You’re so beautiful.”

It encouraged her to reach back and unzip the skirt then shove it down her hips. It hit the floor and she stood there in her bra and panties. Smiley came closer and reached around her to unfasten the bra. He had it off in seconds. She’d noticed the first time he’d so easily unlatched her bra that he seemed to have some experience at undressing a woman. He looked down as he bared her br**sts, a soft, sexy noise coming from his parted lips. He wasn’t like any other man she’d known. She decided he was so much better. No one had ever affected her the way he did.

He lightly caressed her h*ps before hooking his thumbs in the sides of her panties and surprised her by dropping to his knees. He tugged them down until they were around her ankles. She used his broad shoulders to help keep her balance as she stepped out of them. Smiley looked up at her, his dark eyes smoldering with passion.