He shifts, easing up to standing, keeping us both joined for a moment.
“You’re incredible,” he murmurs, his voice husky.
I smile as he brushes a strand of hair from my cheek. “You’re not too bad yourself.”
Pulling back, he carefully slides fully out of me. I watch as he tucks himself away but leaves his zipper open.
Taking my hand, he helps me to my feet and pulls me into a hug. I can feel the evidence of his release trickle down my inner thigh.Didn’t think that through, did we?
When he notices me shiver, he removes his grey Henley and pulls it over my head and arms. The warmth of the fabric against my bare skin and the intimacy of the gesture makes me pause. It’s small, but it means something.
Naked under his large shirt, I let him guide me towards the stairs. I stop long enough to grab my bag off the floor, but my discarded clothing can wait until later.
“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he suggests, his voice low and husky.
I grin, brushing a hand along his arm. “I think it’s time for you to take your clothes off, Pretty Boy. It’s not fair that I’m the only one naked in this scenario.”
He laughs softly, leaning down to press a kiss on my temple. “Deal. Lead the way, Trouble.”
Thirty-Two
The soft sheets are warm against my skin, but it doesn’t compare to the heat that still thrums through my veins from earlier in the kitchen, then again in the shower.
Beck’s body curves against me, soft and pliant, in the crook of my arm. I can’t help but run my hand over her smooth skin.
“We didn’t use a condom tonight. I’m really sorry. I’m up to date on testing and everything is good, so you don’t have to worry about that.” My chest tightens at my lapse in memory. I’d been so caught up in her, in us, that I’d completely forgotten, and that’s not like me.
She drags her hand over my chest, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I know. Don’t be sorry. I was just as eager as you. I’m on birth control and had myself tested after you know who. I haven’t been with anyone since.”
Her reassurance makes the tension ease a little, but my mind won’t slow down. We still need to talk, and now that we are lying here in the silence and safety of her bedroom, maybe she’ll be ready. I’m not complaining—far from it—but I know she was distracting me with sex.
Holding her hand over my heart, I gently squeeze. “Before we go to sleep, we still need to talk.”
She freezes for a beat, her breath catching, and I feel the subtle shift in her body. Her wide blue eyes meet mine, and I know she’s holding something back.
“Hey.” I cup her cheek and run my thumb back and forth over her jaw, grounding both of us. “Tell me about the text messages from Braden.”
She hesitates, biting her lip. “It’s not really a big deal. He wanted me to know he saw me.” She attempts to give me a reassuring smile, but it falters.
“I don’t believe you,” I say, holding her in place, gently but firmly. “Please talk to me. We’ve talked about this. You don’t have to deal with him on your own. But to help, I need all the information.”
We lie in silence as she trails her fingernails over the coarse hair on my chest.
“Beck.” I squeeze her hip.
Swallowing, she slips out of my arms and gets out of bed. Her long braid rests down her spine, and her hips sway as she walks naked across the room. I sit up against the headboard, blanket falling to my lap, and watch her as she pulls a white fleece robe from behind the door. I’m momentarily disappointed when she wraps it around herself, hiding from me.
She crouches to the floor, rummaging through her bag until she finds her phone, then returns to the bed without a word. I open my arm, and she crawls to my side so I can hold her.
Biting her bottom lip, she takes a steadying breath before silently placing her phone in my palm. The weight of it feels heavier than it should. Not the phone, but the trust that comes with it.
“You can just tell me,” I say softly, but she shakes her head.
“No, this is easier. I want you to see.”
When I turn the phone over in my hand, the screen wakes up and asks for the six-digit password.
“741123,” she says without prompting.
