"Rules," he says finally. "If we do this, we have rules. Clear boundaries."
Relief floods through me. "Yes. Absolutely."
"Okay. What do you want the rules to be?"
I've been thinking about this for days. "No sleeping in the same bed after. We do this, then we go back to our separate spaces."
"Agreed. What else?"
"No kissing outside of sex. Keep it contained."
He nods. "No dates or romantic gestures. This stays physical."
"And no falling in love," I add. "That's the important one. We both know this can't be more than what it is."
Something flickers across his face. Pain, maybe. But he nods. "No falling in love."
"And we can stop anytime. Either of us. No questions asked."
"Anytime," he agrees.
We sit in the car, rules laid out between us.
"So," I say. "Do we have a deal?"
Jackson looks at me for a long moment. "You're sure about this? Really sure?"
"I'm terrified. But yes. I'm sure."
"Okay." He unbuckles his seatbelt. "But we're doing this right. You set the pace. You tell me what you need. We stop the second you're uncomfortable."
"That sounds reasonable."
"And Maya?" His voice drops. "This doesn't fix everything. Sex isn't therapy."
"I know. I'm not looking for a fix. I'm looking for a choice."
He studies my face like he's memorizing it. "Okay. We can try this."
The relief is overwhelming, followed immediately by terror.I just propositioned Jackson Anderson, Emma's brother, the man I've been in love with for years. And he said yes.
"Not tonight," he says, reading my face. "You're exhausted, and I'm wired from the game. We do this when we're both ready. When it's right."
"Okay. When?"
"Soon." He reaches over and squeezes my hand. "And Maya? We can stop anytime you need to. That's the most important rule."
I squeeze back. "I know."
We head inside. Emma and Chase still aren't back. Jackson goes to the basement. I go upstairs to my room.
Max is on the bed, waiting. He meows his judgment.
"I know," I tell him. "This is probably a terrible idea."
He purrs anyway.
I lie on the bed and stare at the ceiling. My heart's pounding, hands shaking, but not from panic, from anticipation.
