He collapsed on me briefly before he rolled us so I was on top.
I rested my head on his shoulder.
His hands roamed my back.
We caught our breath.
His fingers hit a scar and stopped.
I froze.
“Felt them our first time, baby,” he said softly.
Oh God.
Shit.
After watching him play and spending so much time with him, particularly the time at the Art Center opening, once I had my friends-with-benefits idea, I was powerless to do anything but propose it to him.
Even if I’d been nervous about suggesting it—because I hadn’t lied, if he’d declined, I’d have allowed that play—still, that kind of thing would always be mortifying.
And even if it was a spur of the moment thing, I still thought it was a great idea.
Because he was interesting.Confident.He knew himself.He was comfortable in his skin.I liked being around him, even when we were bickering.I liked what I knew about him, so much, I wanted to get to know him better.And I knew he was great in bed.
So, using my intuition, I threw the idea out there, and as crazy as it sounded, I was sure it was a good idea.
But it was way too soon forthatgetting-to-know-you info.
I lifted my head and pushed up so I could look down at him.
“It’s a long story,” I replied.“And not a post-great-sex story.”
“Yours to give when and if you wanna give it,” he said, and I relaxed.“One thing I need.You okay?”
I gave him a small smile.“Yeah.Three years of therapy with a counselor who was pretty awesome and who I still exchange Christmas cards with got me to a good place.”
“All right,” he said, his eyes moving over my face.
I cupped his jaw.“I’m fine, Hutch.”
“I believe you, May.”
I hadn’t had my name for long.
But I loved it.
After being forced to be three different girls in the span of seventeen years—the age I finally began my journey to figure out who the hell I actually was—when the thing with my ex went down, and the aftermath, I was so used to shedding an old skin (or being forced to), that was where my mind took me.
But this time,Igot to choose.
My place.
My job.
My name.
So I picked what I wanted.
