I pause, then start unfastening the buttons at my wrists. “For almost punching your brother?”
A smile flickers across her face. “For sticking up for me. Nobody’s ever tried to start a fight for me before.”
I sit on the edge of the bed facing her. “I’m sorry about that. It’s the one thing you told me not to do.”
“I also told you not to hit on my mom.”
“Okay, it’s one of the two things you told me not to do. I can do that once she’s back home if you want.”
“Don’t you dare.” We’re grinning at each other now, and I’m dying to sink into her soft body, but we’ve still got some items to discuss.
“So I take it you believe me about the girl at the bar last night?”
She nods, and that eases one of the knots in my chest.
“Does that mean you also believe that I genuinely wanted to be with you last night?”
Her chest rises and falls before she answers. “That’s a little harder.”
“Is it the age thing?” My heart’s pounding at the thought that she might reject me for something I can’t control.
“No. I like you just the way you are.” She reaches for my hand. “I just didn’t expect for us to actually…”
“Catch feelings?” Those two words feel like the biggest gamble of my life, and everything in me celebrates when she nods, her eyes not budging from mine. And then I go for it, spilling all the words that have been bumping around my chest for days.
“I liked you from our first meeting, and then I liked texting with you, and the last few days it’s gotten even bigger than that. But I have to ask…”
She nods for me to go on when I hesitate.
“You told your parents that you’re fine being single. Does that mean you only want a fling?”
My heart seems to pound in my ears as I wait for her answer, but she’s quick to put me out of my misery.
“I was fine being single, but that was before I met you.” She presses her lips together, wets her lower lip. “How could you ever just be temporary?”
Instant relief. And this next part could scare her off, but I have to say it anyway. “Good. Because what I’m feeling isn’t going to go away.” I press my hand to my chest, where the warmth has been expanding since we walked through her bedroom door. “I mean, I wore a tie for you tonight. It’s got the fucking Cardinals logo on it.”
She throws her head back in laughter. “Take it off.” I comply immediately, and her eyes darken. “Keep going.”
My heartbeat picks up. “Just so I’m clear—”
“My parents know a horrifying amount about my sex life after tonight, so we might as well put those condoms to good use.”
Her smile is wicked, and it’s all the permission I need. I yank off my shirt, kick off my shoes, and start unbuckling my belt.
“I love you in that dress,” I say, “but I’m going to need it off you right the hell now.”
She twists around to unzip it at the side, slithering out of it to reveal a bra and panties in the same shade of red.
“Fuck,” I breathe. “Can’t wait to unwrap that.” Then I stalk toward her and tumble her backward on the bed to do just that. First, I unhook her bra and pull it down her arms. It’s the first time I’m seeing her naked breasts, and I’m struck speechless.
“Well?” She looks at me nervously, and I surge forward to kiss her as my palms find her nipples. She squeaks and writhes and bites my lower lip, and that’s when I know sex with this woman’s going to be as incredible as the rest of her is.
I kiss my way down her neck and shoulder until I reach the softness of her breasts. Then I lose my cool and lunge, sucking her nipple into my mouth, stroking it with my tongue and making her writhe. I release it and move to the other one, repeating my actions until she’s panting with need. I push back and look with satisfaction at her stiff nipples, wet from my mouth.
“So there’s no confusion: I want to keep seeing you once we’re back home.” I circle my finger around one rosy peak, loving every jolt that I pull from her body. “I don’t want this to end.”
Her fingers clench the sheets as she tilts her pussy up, and I fucking love that she’s already begging for it. “I want that too,” she whimpers. “Want to make this real.” This time when I lower my mouth to her nipple, I gently scrape my teeth over it, and she practically leaps off the bed.
