Rex tosses his hat on the counter when we get back and heads for the couch. “Do you guys want to watch a movie?”
“I think we’re going to chill for a bit. Maybe nap.” I lead Lacey toward my room, eager to finally be alone with her.
“Cool. Do you want me to order dinner for us?”
“Uh. Sure,” I say, not really caring if I eat again tonight or not.
As soon as we’re in my room with the door shut, Lacey presses up against me. And then my mouth is on hers the way I’ve wanted it to be all day. She kisses me back with the same intensity. I think it’s safe to say we’re on the same page, but I still ask, “Do you still want to have sex?”
“Yes. I brought condoms. A whole box of them just in case. It’s taking up like half my carry-on.” A slight blush creeps into her cheeks.
“I got some too,” I tell her, then crash my mouth down over hers again.
We walk back to my bed. I sit and pull her on top of me. Her knees bracket my hips, and my hand slides under her tank top. My lips wander down the column of her neck to her collarbone as I inch her shirt up to her bra. She lifts her arms so I can get it the rest of the way off.
“You’re so beautiful.” I place a kiss between her breasts just above the pink lacy material.
She undoes the clasp of her bra and lets it slide down. My throat tightens as I swallow.
“My turn.” She grabs the hem of my shirt and tugs.
I wrap my arms around her, crushing her to me. We’ve gotten this far before, but something about knowing we intend to have sex this time has every moment of this feeling important.
“One second.” I get up and find the candles I bought for tonight.
Lacey grins as I set them on the floor beside the bed and light them.
I climb back into bed, and we get under the covers. We kiss while we let our hands roam and press into each other. She has one leg thrown over my hip and I pull her against me until we’re both panting.
My fingers work to undo her shorts, and she slides a hand under the band of mine. She’s squeezing me tight, slowly sliding her palm up and down, when a knock comes at the door.
Lacey and I both freeze.
“Ignore it,” I say and place a kiss on her lips.
“Collins!” Rex yells followed by three more knocks.
“What?” I shout back.
“Is something burning in there?”
I start to tell him no, but when I glance to the floor, one of the candles has tipped over. The carpet is singed but, thankfully, not burning.
“Oh my god,” Lacey hisses as she sees the damage. Her eyes are wide as she blows out the others.
“Probably something burning outside,” I say to Rex.
He must believe me because he goes away.
“I’m so sorry,” I say to Lacey as I stare at the unlit candles.
“It’s fine. I don’t need candles.”
I nod but don’t feel great about how this is going. I wanted it to be perfect.
Lacey climbs on top of me though, and I forget all about the candles. I’m trying to go slow, but I’m so ready that it isn’t long before I’m peeling her out of her shorts and shucking off mine.
My condoms are in the bedside table. I reach over and pull out two. “Scented or light-up?”
