Kaylie smiled up at him. “They didn’t ask. I didn’t want them. You ask with every look and word. Every touch. Besides that, I want you so bad it hurts. And before you ask, I’m not some fragile little virgin. I’ve had exams and stuff. I haven’t had sex, but I’m not afraid of—ugh.”
“You are Kaylie. You don’t need labels, and I don’t care if you’ve had a hundred lovers or none. I’m just so glad I get to be the one now.”
“The one now?” Kaylie bit her lip. “I know you said move slowly, but I was kind of hoping that if you feel the way I feel—it’s not going to be just for now. It’s forever.”
“Forever’s a big deal. I don’t want to take that spot unless you—”
“I want you to. I’m sure. Jaxson, I know sometimes Cupid has one more arrow, but for me—there’s only ever been one arrow, and it’s like I said. A direct hit. I only wantyou. I...”
He leapt to say it first. “I love you, Kaylie. I wasn’t backing out or away. I love you, and it scares me how much. It worried me that it was wrong to love you after Alana, but she’s on our side. She wants me to be happy, and you make me happy.” He stepped into her space, letting her come to him, letting her mold herself against his chest, so small compared to him. “Now, could I try to make you happy, lover?”
She nodded, hard and fast. “You already do—but I’m always going to want more.”
Jaxson looked ruefully down at his middle, where his cock, excited about being back in use after years of loneliness, was suddenly pitching a tent in his uniform trousers. “I think I can offer more.”
KAYLIE WAS SURPRISEDby how easy it was. To sit on her couch, talking, laughing, cuddling, kissing... The hours slipped by, and thebordeslipped down, two glasses for him, one for her, making the world glow with new warmth—or maybe that was the way Jaxson listened and nodded with her as they spoke about how they’d fallen into friendship and somehow found themselves in love. Or it could have been the way she felt safe enough to put her hand on his leg, move up to his thigh, and squeeze, a silent signal that she wanted more than conversation and kisses tonight.
It was easier still, surprisingly simple, to find her way from sitting beside him, leaning against the solid muscular wall of his chest, to straddling him, her face buried in the tawny fur that she uncovered as her fingers slid his uniform shirt over his head. Her fingers dug into his collar, and their tongues tangled, teasing, tasting, more drunk on one another than liquor.
Her fingers found scars and dents under the fur, markers of a lifetime without her.
But I can be here for the second half. Thanks, Alana. Thank you for sharing him. I’ll never give you a reason to regret it. She pressed one more kiss against his shoulder.
“You’re spoiling me. No one hugs like you do, Kay.”
“No one to hug. My whole life didn’t have as many hugs as these few months aboard theComet Stalker,” she confessed.
“I’m going to fix that. Whenever you’re not working, you’re going to be on my lap, in my arms. Deal?”
“It might make mealtimes a little messy, but I’ll try it,” she giggled.
Jaxson looked at her, worshipful happiness in his eyes, and she felt a rush of peace soar through her, leaving aroused desperation in its wake. “We could do more than hug,” she whispered.
“We could.”
Kaylie swallowed as she pulled her dress over her head, revealing the simple white bra she was wearing, straps hidden by her hair. With a sudden burst of shyness, she clung back to his chest, hiding herself in his arms.
“You’re gorgeous.
“So are you. And built like one of Marcus’ anatomy guides. All muscles. Your shoulders would make three of me.”
“No, no. You’re counting my chest in there. Each shoulder is one Kaylie. The space between my collarbones? That also equals one Kaylie.”
“You’re just bragging now.”
“I’m proving that I’m more. More than enough.”
Her fingers were brave around him. The words he said made all of her brave. Kaylie stroked one hand down the long, thick bulge. “More than enough. So much more. Um.”Is that going to fit? Possibly? No. How could it?
Well. Women give birth. That’s not even close to the size of a baby, but it’sbig. Also, women don’t enjoy giving birth. Something big is not supposed to go into something so small.
On the other hand, how come women are always bragging about the size? I...
“I don’t even know what’s going through your mind, but I want you to stop thinking about it. It’s not making you smell happy.”
“You can smell when I’m happy?”
“Or sad. The nose knows.”
