Chapter 37

Miranda greeted AJ at the door with a smile and a kiss. Tenderly taking her into his arms after placing the bottle of wine he had brought on the hall table, AJ kissed her deeply. "If you keep that up I might have to put dinner on hold until I've had my wicked way with you," she told him when he finally allowed her to come up for air.

"Is it something that can stand reheating?" he asked with a lecherous grin.

"It is as a matter of fact," she grinned back and led the way to the kitchen so she could turn off the stove and he could put the wine in the fridge.

Taking him by the hand she led him into her bedroom where she had just put clean sheets on the bed when she'd gotten home from work. She had even turned back the covers invitingly, but when she had done that, less than an hour ago, she hadn't known she'd be inviting him into her bed so soon after he arrived at the door.

"Your house is lovely Miranda, I noticed that we have the same tastes in colors and furnishings," he smiled at her gently.

"Yes I noticed that too when I was at your home," she said running her hand up his chest and letting it come to rest over his heart. "I have wondered why no woman had laid claim to your heart AJ. It is such a kind and caring one."

"I have had a few bad experiences since my divorce so I guess that I have become gun-shy about letting it become involved. As you know it wasn't that long ago that I was engaged."

"I know, but someone like you needs someone in their life to care for them as much as you care for others. If you keep giving out without getting love and kindness in return then you can burn out," she told him as she began to undo his tie.

"I have always believed that the more love you give out, the more that you have to give," he told her with a smile as he watched her undressing him.

"I believe that too, but you need to have someone giving back to you as well."

"Are you offering to love me Miranda?" he asked confused as to just where this conversation was going.

"Do you mean that in the physical or emotional sense, AJ?" Miranda said hoping to avoid the answer she knew that she wanted to give him, but wasn't sure that he was ready to hear just yet.

"I am guessing that you have plans to love me in the physical sense, since we're here in your bedroom and you are undressing me, so yes I was asking if you were volunteering to be the person that you said I needed to give me love and kindness."

"And if I were?" she asked.

Grinning, he replied, "Now I can see the lawyer in you, all you are doing is answering questions with more of your own."

"Alright AJ I might have spoke sooner than I was planning, but yes, I would like to be the person in your life that gives you love and kindness."

Stunned that it was now out there in the open, he couldn't find the words for a moment, and before he could think of what to say, she spoke again, "I've shocked you."

"A bit, how can you feel that way about me so soon? We haven't known each other long enough for love to have developed."

"I'm sure you've heard of love at first sight..."

"Yes I have. Is that what you are saying has happened here?" he asked incredulously.

"No, it isn't," she answered. "I found you attractive when we first met, but it took talking to you and coming to know your personality before I knew that you were the kind of man that I would like to love. Please don't think that I expect you to feel the same or make any changes in the way you act with me because of this. I just wanted you to know that, like you, I don't go in for one-night stands or meaningless relationships. In fact Tom and I had talked about becoming lovers just to relieve some sexual tension, but I could never quite bring myself to do that. I want to care for the man in my bed, and I do care for you AJ. I just wanted you to know that," Miranda told him as she slid his jacket off his shoulders and reached for the buttons of his shirt.

To Be Continued….