“You are on birth control, right? That was really hot and it’s not likely that you’d get knocked up from that, but I don’t like to tempt fate.”
I gritted my teeth. “Yes, I am. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
He kissed me and stayed over top of me. “I get tested, so we’re good there. I’d have told you before, but we weren’t touching each other.”
“Oh, yeah, I got checked up while you were gone. No issues despite being cheated on,” I sighed. “But...”
“What, hon?”
I rubbed my lips together. “Have you been tested since your last partner? I know you have lots of other options.”
His face softened. “One, yes I have been tested. And I always wrap it up. I’ve never been bare with anyone. And two, Jessie, I’mnot talking to anyone else. Haven’t been for a while. You can go through my phone if you want.”
“Sorry. Yeah. You told me all that. It’s just, you know.”
I didn’t want to say his name. Mikey got it, though.
He settled on his side facing me, patting my cheek. “I know. I would never do that to you. And what we just did? That was my first time doing that, too.”
I nodded. It was the first sexual thing we’d done together, and it was still the freakiest thing I’d ever done. Still, someone treating me the way I’d been treated for the past four years, I had trouble believing it all. I looked at my nails, running my fingertip over a jagged edge. “You do still get messages from girls, though, right? Like, nudes and stuff?”
He chewed his lip but didn’t look away. “Yeah, I do. But I never found what I was looking for with people like that. With you, I want something deeper. I genuinely like you. All of you.”
I twisted my lips with a little snort. “Not just my killer rack?”
“Definitely not just your killer rack,” he said with a kiss. “I also like how you don’t take any shit, and your smile, and your laugh. I like this little dimple,” he said, touching my cheek and waiting for me to smile so it would show, “Thank you. And I like how somehow, you like me, too.”
I stroked my thumb over his cheek. “This is all really unexpected, you know.”
“I know. I’m fucking terrified, but I’m going with it. I hope you will, too.”
I raised an eyebrow. “You told me not to be scared of being yours.”
He chuckled. “I feel good about you being mine. That doesn’t mean I’m not afraid I’ll screw it all up.”
“Interesting contradiction, Mr. Miknevicius.” We shared a tender, delicate kiss and then he moved to the bottom of the bed. He put a towel where I’d made a bit of a mess.
“Sorry about that,” I said with a grimace, getting up to head forthe bathroom.
Ben’s brow furrowed and he scrambled after me, tackling me back to the bed. He lowered his voice to a growl.
“Don’t you dare apologize for being sexy as fuck and squirting on my bed.” He nuzzled my nose, making me giggle. “That was hotter than actual sex. You’re perfect, Jessalyn.”
I yawned, patting his side. “Thanks, bubby. Now get off me so I can go pee and brush my teeth. Some of us have to get up early.”
He laughed as he rolled off me. “You going all mountain mama on me?”
“Reckon I am.”
He followed me into the bathroom to do our evening business. When we headed back for the bedroom, he was wrestling me into bed again.
“What gives, Jockey?” I asked, laughing.
“I can finally touch you and mess with you like I’ve wanted to,” he said, clinging to my side. “You ready to go to sleep?”
“Yeah, but let me get this bra off. I can’t sleep in them.”
“I’ve noticed,” he said with a skeevy grin. I rolled my eyes and reached for my bra clasp, but he beat me to it. “Can I hold your tits while we sleep? Though they aren’t the only thing I like about you, I’m still kind of obsessed with them.”
