“Sometimes,” she says.
“Right now?”
She shakes her head. “Right now, I’m nervous.”
I take her other hand and kiss her knuckles. “It’s just me.”
Her brows furrow for a moment, almost as if she’s thinking about it, but then she nods. She tugs at the edges of her bandages until they start to come up. Then she keeps going, revealing the raw skin, pink and dimpled. I trace featherlight touches around the edges. “It looks better than the last time I saw it.”
She presses her lips together, but a chuckle comes unbidden. “Leave it to you to get me to laugh at a time like this.”
“What does the doctor say?”
“That it’ll look better than this, but never as good as my normal skin. I’ll probably need at least a couple more surgeries. Most likely more.”
“I wish you were more confident about it. I don’t see something gross or unattractive. I see another piece of evidence of how amazing you are. Strong. Brave.”
“I don’t see myself like that. Sometimes I’m just grateful to be alive.”
I grab her hand. “I’m adding indestructible to the list.”
“You’re sweet.”
“If you’re okay with it, I want to take this journey with you, Tab. I want to remind you who you are when things get bad. After every surgery. After someone stares at you. When you’re sad, I want to be there.”
A small grin lifts her lips, and my stomach flutters like I’m fifteen again and about to have my first kiss.
I close her bandage back up, securing the tape. She lifts from the bed, unclasping her bra from the back, then peeling it away before dropping it off the side of the bed.
Her round breasts and pink nipples are painting worthy. Too bad I don’t have a lick of talent in that department.
“It’s your time to catch up, superstar.”
I strip down until I match her, bare for bare. I move forward to kiss her, then drop my head to her ribs. “I don’t have a condom.”
Peeking up, she runs her hands through my hair. “I’m on birth control.”
“The team checks us regularly, and I’m good.”
“I’ve never been checked, but pretty sure I’m good. No slut tendencies here.” She presses her lips together to keep from laughing.
I move over her. “You’re going to pay for that.”
She spreads her legs, and I slip between them. She runs her hands over my pecs and torso, her touch burning a need inside me. Then her hands drift lower, grabbing my ass.
“You’re killing me.” I bear all my weight on my left hand while gripping my dick, using the head to rub circles over Tab’s clit. Her lids flutter, her lips pressing together to conceal her moans.
Soon, her hips move with mine, her mouth dropping open, her pleasure filling the room.
“You are so fucking beautiful.”
“Levi.”
I don’t give her what she wants. I keep circling and circling until her cries ramp up. She squirms, but I’m relentless. She’s so gorgeous like this. Free, untethered.
She throws her head back, letting out a cry, and I thrust inside her, bracing myself while she spasms around me.
I grit my teeth. “Holy shit, Tab.”
