“Thank you.” He said the words on a sigh, then he headed upstairs.
Taking my heart with him.
I was falling hard, and I was falling fast.
I eyed Daphne. “A green dental treat?”
To my dying day, I’d have sworn she arched an eyebrow as if to say,I know I’m being bribed…I just don’t know why.
I grabbed a treat from the jar. “Daddy has something important to do tonight. You be a good girl and sleep like the dead. I know you’re capable.” Hell, sometimes she went down so hard that she snored. “Upstairs.”
She focused on the treat.
I pointed to the stairs.
She took them at a run.
My footsteps were heavier as I followed.
Since I’d moved her bed back to the spare room, she had gone there. I joined her in the room and pointed to that bed.
She plopped onto her butt.
“Be a good girl.”
Again, I’d have sworn she smirked. I gave her the treat and beat a hasty retreat, shutting the door. I hadn’t grabbed my pajamas, but I could do that when I went to either join her or retrieve her—depending on how the next hour or so went.
The primary bedroom door was open, and I stepped inside.
Andre lay on the bed. He’d pulled off the blanket and top sheet. Oh, and he’d pulled off his clothes while he’d been at it. His head was on a pillow and his hand grasped his cock. Although the pose could’ve been arrogant, it was anything but. He pulled his lower lip through his teeth.
“I like.”You need to assure him.“I’m sure you know I find you attractive. It’s more than that, though. It’s how you’re willing to be vulnerable with me.” Then I had a moment of true lucidity. “Crap.”
His movement still. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I don’t have any condoms. I haven’t used the things in, like, two decades. And hardly even back them. Marty and I just—”Damn. I hadn’t meant to say his name in this space tonight.
“You’re worried you might not remember how to use them?” Andre’s expression held just a touch of mischief.
“Well, when you put it like that…” I arched an eyebrow.
He held my gaze. “I’ve never done anything with anybody. So I can guarantee I’m negative. But I’m asking you to take my word for it.”
“Just like I’m asking you to take mine. Marty and I were faithful for our entire marriage. Of that I had no doubt. Still, my doctor, wantedto run a full panel the last time I saw him. He claimed he was just being precautionary—for when I was ready to return to the dating scene.”
“He’s either a very good doctor or a very nosy one.”
I grinned. “Both. I’ve been with him forever. I maintained I had no plans to ever sleep with anyone again, and he countered with knowing I was negative would enable me to open myself up. I didn’t believe him. Not at the time. I thought we were wasting the lab’s time. Of course, I came back negative for everything—as I’d known I would.”
“And now you can assure me that we’ll be safe.”
Slowly, I nodded. “I can find the report somewhere.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Just like if you tell me you’ve never been with someone, I choose to believe you.” Maybe a bit reckless, and Doctor Raymond likely wouldn’t approve, but sometimes one just had to make a judgement call. Andre was likely the virgin he was claiming to be. Or, at the very least, he’d never been kissed properly. Even as I held his gaze, though, I found the truth in his beguiling eyes. Lying was hard for him—it didn’t come naturally as it did for other people. I took a breath. “So, you’re okay if we go bareback?”
He nodded. “Only—” Again with the lower lip through his teeth.
