Page 71 of Can’t Say No

Connor smirks as he closes the space between us. I’m still frozen with anticipation, and maybe a little trepidation, when his lips meet mine. Skin against skin, he’s all muscle and heat. Every nerve is on fire, each point of contact buzzing under his touch.

Connor shifts us both so I’m kneeling above him.

“You set the pace,” he whispers. His hands reach to his bedside table for a condom and he deftly rolls it down his length before resting his hands on my hips.

“Take what you need.”

Slowly, I lower myself onto him, pleasure crashing through me as I adjust to the stretch. I’m tempted to close my eyes, to hide from the intimacy of the moment, but the tender look on Connor’s face keeps me anchored right here with him.

A groan escapes his lips as I take him fully, and I’m almost undone by the sound alone.

“Better than I could have imagined,” he murmurs.

And it is.

We lose ourselves in each other, touching, exploring, tumbling toward euphoria together. Ecstasy builds steadily as our movements become more frenzied, and before too long, we’re left trembling after the pleasure crashes over us in waves. The whole time Connor’s eyes never leave mine.

Eventually I collapse onto his chest, fully spent.

We stay tangled together until our breathing slows. Then he gently rolls me to rest on my side before stepping away into the bathroom.

I’ve never felt this way before. Equal parts desire and peace.

It’s love. I’ve never felt love like this before.

I wake to the soft sound of breathing and feel the corresponding rise and fall of Connor’s chest at my back.

I need to get the fuck out of here.

Last night was incredible. Walls down, heart-to-heart, completely consumed by each other, I’ve never experienced anything like it. But this? Lying together in the aftermath… this has me panicking.

Quietly, carefully, I slip out of his hold and drop to the ground to try to gather my clothes in the dark. I fumble around for a solid minute feeling for my panties before giving up. Call them a consolation prize for Connor.

I’m nearly to the bedroom door when I hear a sleep coated voice from behind me.

“Delaney, why are you crawling across my floor naked in the dark?”

I cringe. “Caught me.”

I hear Connor scooting out of the bed. “And what, exactly, did I catch you doing?”

I cringe harder as he crawls up beside me. “Umm, I was… sneaking out.”

Connor reaches for me, and as cuddle-adverse as I may be, I can’t resist the pull of his steady hands. He hauls me up into lap right there on the bedroom floor, and I just barely make out the sharp lines of his face. He looks amused, a smirk playing on his lips, but I don’t miss the flicker of hurt that passes over his eyes.

“Lanie, are you literally running away from emotional intimacy?”

I gulp. “Uh… yes?”

Despite myself, I shift deeper onto his lap, my body craving the connection.

“Baby, you can go if you want. But I’d really rather you didn’t.” He glances over his shoulder to the glowing clock face behind us. “It’s two in the morning. At the very least, go sleep in the guest room across the hall rather than walking home in the middle of the night.”

Reality sets in.

I’m sitting here with the most incredible man, who loves me, has always loved me, and I can’t get away fast enough.

What the fuck is wrong with me?