She picks nervously at the front of her pajama top before slowly walking toward me.
The moment she reaches me, I pull her gently into my arms.
“I’m scared,” she admits quietly.
“Of what, baby?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
“The next part,” she says, glancing toward the bed. “I don’t know what to do. I mean… Iknowwhat to do, but I don’t know what to do. Does that make sense?”
A chuckle tries to escape my throat, but I swallow it down. She isn’t trying to be cute.
She’s trying to be brave.
“We’ll take everything at your pace, babygirl,” I tell her softly. “Nothing happens tonight…or ever…that you’re not fully ready for.”
“Oh, I’m ready,” she says quickly, her cheeks heating. “I’m just nervous that I won’t be good enough to keep you happy.”
Silly woman.
I lift my hand and tilt her chin up so she’s forced to look at me.
“Abigail Davis,” I say gently, “you’ve had my entire heart for years.”
Her eyes soften.
“There isn’t a single thing you could do wrong tonight,” I continue. “Because it’s you.”
I brush a strand of blonde hair behind her ear.
“This isn’t about being good enough,” I tell her quietly. “It’s about being together.”
Her shoulders slowly relax.
“Besides,” I add with a small smile, “I’ve waited this long for you. Waiting a little longer wouldn’t bother me one bit.”
She studies my face for a long moment.
Then she steps closer, sliding her arms around my waist.
“I don’t want to wait,” she whispers.
My breath catches.
“You sure, baby?”
She nods against my chest.
“I trust you.”
Those three words hit harder than anything else she could’ve said.
I pull her closer, pressing a slow kiss to the top of her head.
“Then we go slow,” I murmur. “As slow as you need.”
Her fingers tighten in the back of my shirt.
“And Tank?”
