“I trust you.”
Beau shakes his head ruefully while grabbing a cooler. “I made sandwiches for us and packed snacks.”
“My romantic.”
“Yours?” Beau asks gently, tone belying his confidence.
“Mine,” I tell him firmly.
A beautiful flush creeps up his neck, so I kiss his cheek, tempering whatever emotion flows through him. Toeing off my shoes, I jump into the bed of the truck with a flourish. Beau copies me by taking off his own shoes, climbing into the back alongside me. He presses me down into the comforter, arms on either side of my head. A shiver of anticipation rolls right through me.
“Tonight, I’m gonna make love to you.”
Oh. My breath picks up a little and I swallow loudly. “Yeah?”
Beau nods slowly, fingers teasing at the hem of my shirt. “That alright with you?”
“What’s making love entail?”
“I’m thinking I just want to suck you off, long and slow, have you tremblin’. Maybe you can suck me off too, if you’re good.”
“You don’t want to fuck me?”
Beau laughs again. “We don’t always have to fuck. You’ll see. This can be even better. Want me to show you?”
“Show me,” I beg, voice gruff with desire.
“Later.”
Record scratch. “What?”
Beau moves to the side, lying on his back, then pulls me against him. “Let’s eat and watch the stars come out, maybe slow dance to a song or two, then I’ll show you what it means to be made love to.”
“I’m so going to get you back.”
Beau’s lips dance under his beard. “I bet.”
“There’s something else we need to talk about.” Heart pounding painfully against my ribs, I tilt my head to look upat Beau. “I stopped having sex with boyfriends a bit ago. I got tested earlier this year. Everything came back fine. All that to say if you want to… ever think about…” I trail off and tear my gaze from his, to instead stare up at the dark sky. “If you want to fuck me without a condom, then that’s something we can entertain.”
Beau grabs my chin, forcing my eyes back to meet his own. “Sweetheart, why did that make you nervous?”
“Not all men like it. I’ve never done it before, but I’d like to do it with you.”
“My annual physical was a few months ago. Everything was fine for me too. If that’s something you want to try, then we will. All you ever have to do is ask.”
I hope this man always makes my heart soar and swoop. But there’s also something else I want to discuss with him.
I draw circles against his chest, gathering courage, and using the warmth of his body to steady my nerves. A couple of deep breaths, and his hand firm against my neck, steadies me.
“Before you, I used to take the meaner johns, or should I say… the ones that like it rough.”
Beau’s fingers tighten ever so slightly on my neck. “Were you hurt?”
“Only when I wanted to be, mostly.”
“Mostly?” Beau asks, voice dark.
“I’m fine now. But I just… I wanted to share that part of me with you. I never really liked it; I think it was another way to punish myself. Sex with you is intimate and sweet. I like it that way… you make me feel cherished.”
