“I figure out where to store brine underground.”
That breast got the same attention, and a quiver rippled under my skin. “There’s more.”
Was he going to keep going? I wanted him to. “I analyze data about dirt?—”
A hot mouth closed around the same bud, only he let go right away. “Try again, just like you told me the first time,” he muttered against my breast. “Or I’m not going to fuck you for breakfast.”
I bit my lower lip. I liked this game way too much, but also, I could also be laid on the table or against the counter, or however he wanted to do me. “I determine the well type, location, and the rate for optimal pressure to manage the carbon dioxide plume. I also analyze data from the storage tests.”
“Sounds like you do more than play with rocks.” He moved on top of me, nudging my legs apart with his knee. “You make them your bitch.”
“No, I can’t do that.” I swept my hands down his shoulders as he notched the head of his cock at my entrance. “The rocks will always show me who’s boss. I just try to sweet-talk them into letting me work with them, and when they don’t like it, they push back. Hard.”
Just as I said that, he thrust inside, smoothly and slowly, as if he sensed I might be tender and didn’t want to make it worse. While he was inside me, I didn’t care. I was full, and all was okay.
He dipped his head to nibble along my jaw. “Every time you want to diminish what you do, remember how good you get fucked if you don’t.”
I widened my legs to take him farther. Pleasure was building like a sensual mudslide in my veins, ready to crash over me any moment. “I won’t forget.”
Chapter Nineteen
Van
* * *
“This is no good.” None of the places we had looked at all week were feasible. Clover and I were touring the third apartment. This one was up a flight of stairs behind an old house right off Main Street.
Clover squinted up at the entrance. “We haven’t even gone inside.”
“It’s going to be winter soon, and those steps will become death.”
She tucked her hands into her jacket. The rich blue brought out the dual colors in her eyes, and she had on a cream knit hat. “I’ll keep them clear.”
“No. Absolutely not.” I envisioned her laboring up those stairs with a baby belly blocking her view. One small slip was all it would take. “We can call and tell the landlord we’re canceling.”
“She’s up there waiting for us.”
“I’ll run up.”
She tucked her arm through mine, a move that was starting to feel so natural it was like she’d been taking me by the arm for a decade. “It’s not icy right now. Let’s go look at it. You might like it.”
If I moved in here, she wouldn’t be able to visit me, but I’d humor her and do a tour. “Fine, but you’re going up first.” If she slipped, I’d catch her.
Her smile dipped a moment before returning in full force. “I kind of like this protective side. It’s almost caveman-ish.”
“Me, Van. You, be careful.”
She laughed and took the stairs like they were nothing more than a few steps up a porch and not a full flight of wooden steps attached to the side of a house. The wind licked at the tendrils of her hair sticking out of her hat. I herded her inside as soon as we reached the top.
An older woman smiled at us. “Hello, I’m Zelda. Van and Clover?”
“Yes,” I said, shaking her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Ooh, this is nice.” Clover clapped her hands together.
The place was cute, but it wasn’t happening. I waited until she looked her fill, then I gave her a small shake of my head. She smirked and thanked Zelda, telling the landlord she’d think about it.
Not one ounce of guilt hounded me. I might be a caveman, but I needed her to be safe when she was visiting me. Or we could keep living together…
