Page 104 of The Backup Plan

That earns me the sleep-drugged laugh I was working for. “So dramatic.”

“The word I’d use would be accurate.” I smile back. “There’s a difference.”

She shifts, propping herself up so her hair falls onto her face. I reach up without thinking and tuck it back.

She freezes for half a second.

And that makes me do the same.

“I’m assuming that was an okay thing to do, or no?” I ask, meaning more than just the touch.

She nods. “Totally fine.”

“I’ve spent so much time telling myself that this can’t happen that I think I’ve conditioned myself to react,” she says, and I appreciate her honesty.

“Well, I for one, am not complaining that it happened. That you knocked on the door. That you let me know what you wanted.”

Her smile is shy and she blushes. “Neither am I.” She leans forward and brushes her lips against mine. Good morning to me. “I would like to take one thing back though.”

“Oh?”

“Consider your needs improvement corrected.”

“Oh.” Hello ego boost. Her smile is a seduction in and of itself . . . as if her naked, warm body against mine wasn’t already. “You say that now,” I murmur, letting my thumb trace an idle line along her shoulder, slow and careful, like I’m still learning what she’s okay with. “But I reserve the right to accept further corrections or chances to prove myself worthy if you feel so inclined.”

“No woman will ever complain about a man who’s willing to work for improvement or one who gives her incredible orgasms.”

I lift my eyebrows. “I think that was a compliment.”

“It was most definitely a compliment.” Her lips slide into a satisfied smile.

“I need to keep you around. You’re good for my ego.”

She laughs softly, the sound loosening something in her chest—and mine. As the teasing fades, it’s replaced by something quieter. More genuine. Her fingers on my skin pause and just rest in that spot over my heart.

The moment stretches. Comfortable. Charged. It doesn’t need words, but it feels so damn poignant.

She exhales, her breath warm against my collarbone before shifting to rest her head on my chest.

If there was such a thing as feeling someone overthinking, that’s exactly what this change feels like.

“Talk to me, Doc,” I say to try and stop whatever is spiraling in her head.

“I don’t know how we do this,” she finally says.

“Whew, because I was worried you didn’t want to do more than this,” I tease and press a kiss to the top of her head.

Why does this feel so easy?

I stare at the ceiling, considering it. “Well,” I say, “I once snuck around with my high school coach’s daughter for an entire summer, and no one ever found out except my brother, so I think I might be an expert on this subject.”

She lifts her head, eyes wide as if she doesn’t believe I just said that. “That’s not very reassuring.”

I grin. “My point is that we’re adults. Smarter. More careful. And significantly better at lying when necessary. Plus, we don’t have to hide any evidence in my parents’ car that I had a girl in there.”

She laughs. “That’s your pitch?”

I shrug. “It worked before, right?”