It wasn’tthe first.
But I saw his point.
“That’s so I can ascertain if they have issues so I won’twaste time or emotion on someone who’s an asshole.”
He looked dubious.“You sure?”
“Mo, honey,” I said quietly, “can you imagine the shit I’vecome up against because of my job?”
The dubiousness fled, understanding replaced it, and henodded.“I can.”
We were on rocky ground here and I didn’t want to be onrocky ground.
Not now.
Not when the wait was finally over and we were getting tothe good stuff.
But maybe it was good to at least start the discussion, soit didn’t get buried under all the goodness.Both of us trying to ignore it wasthere.Then it became harder to bring it up, but it was between us and neededto be dealt with, and since we didn’t deal with it, it grew out of control andbecame a problem.
This was a very adult thought.
I still didn’t want to broach it and this demonstrated why Iwasn’t a big fan of being an adult.
But Iwasa big fan of Mo’s, so I had to be anadult.
Damn it.
“And we need to—” I began.
“Babe, I don’t like you stripping,” he announced.
Shit.
Fortunately, Mo wasn’t done.
“But I also wouldn’t like you being a journalist based inSyria.My job isn’t often dangerous, but it is far from always safe.If you hada problem with it, we’d talk about it, but it would definitely drive a wedge ifyou put your foot down about it.It isn’t what it is.It’s who I am and if youasked me to stop doing it, it’d be you asking me to stop being who I am.I’lleventually have to get out of the field because this kind of job has a shelflife and I won’t be as strong and quick as I need to be.What you do isn’t thesame, but it is in some regards.I like you and I’ve had enough experience withwomen to know I won’t like every single thing about you.But the same goes forknowing that what I like, I like a lot so I’m willing to work at it and findways to compromise with the rest.”
Okay, that right there wasn’t a little bit.
It was a huge truckload.
“I see you’ve been thinking about this,” I noted.
“On the ride back to you.I knew if I started things withus, I had to be all in.”He pulled me closer.“I’m all in, Lottie.”
Yeah.
That was a huge truckload.
He gave me that.He gave me a kiss.
And when he pulled away, I whispered, “Thanks, Mo.”
That was when he gave me a smile and pulled fully away,exiting the bed.
I wanted to get into his “experience with women” (and howthey’d fucked him up) but I was learning this was how Mo was.
He had to get rid of the condom and he didn’t make thatannouncement or a production of it.
