Page 35 of Awakened By the Guardian

“This isn’t about you,” she said.

“No, it’s about you—and the fact that you are closing off an entire part of your life because of some bad boyfriend choices.” Gary levered himself up enough that he could press his cheek to hers. It was a sweet gesture. “You just jerked me off and gave me the best orgasm of my life. Allow me to return the favor.”

“It’s not the⁠—”

“It is the same. Let me do this for you. No strings attached. Teach me how to be a patient, tender lover.” He pressed a kiss to her temple. “Think of it as your way to prove how wrong I am—or a generous gift to whatever woman I eventually end up with.”

A slice of jealousy cut through Margaret at the idea he would be with someone else. It was sharp, quick, and wholly irrational. Of course he needed to find a woman who was perfect for him, someone who could match him in sexual appetite. Wasn’t that why she was planning to leave him?

“What are you thinking?” he asked.

She’d always been honest before, so there was no sense in holding back now. “That I don’t like the idea of you with another woman. I know that’s illogical. I know⁠—”

He dropped a sloppy kiss on her temple. “I love that you just said that.”

“Ew!” she cried, wiping herself off. “Okay, lesson number one. No sloppy kisses.”

“Got it.”

She could hear the humor in his tone. Also, the satisfaction that he’d gotten her to say yes. Margaret exhaled slowly, forcing herself to face her fears. Gary was right. If she wanted to find out if she could ever enjoy sex, then she might as well start now. She could try with the man she actually wanted to be with.

“Margaret?”

“Yes?”

“Can I play with your breasts? Just a little?”

“Um…okay.”

His hand flexed. It had been so still on her belly, but she was hyper aware of it now, knowing what Gary intended. His every shift and caress had her tensing in reaction. There was so much pressure, so much awkwardness.

He didn’t say a word. Neither did he go straight for the boob grab, which was what she half feared. But Gary was better than that, and he curved his hand to run the edge of his nails lightly across her belly. Up by her neck, he started to nuzzle her. There was no other word for it; he pressed his nose into her neck and lightly rubbed.

“I love the way you smell,” he whispered.

“That’s my deodorant.”

“Nope,” he argued with a chuckle. “It’s you.”

When he rubbed his big nose under her jaw, she joined his laughter. He was playing with her. And, yeah, maybe this was more intimate than ever, but it felt…comfortable. Familiar. And completely different as the hand on her belly inched upward.

“How do you like to handle your breasts?”

Margaret grimaced. “I don’t know.” She’d never analyzed it.

“Okay,” Gary said. “How about this? You tell me if you don’t like something, or if you’re tired of it. No keeping quiet. Don’t just put up with anything because you’re too self-conscious to say.”

She winced. He knew her too well. She would totally keep quiet just to get something over with.

“Margaret? Deal?”

She took a deep breath and went all-in. “Deal.”

With that, Gary brushed back her bra and slipped his hand underneath. Big hand, big grip. Except, he didn’t squeeze. He supported her gently, moving things around a bit as he cupped her left breast. Then, still holding her, he brushed his thumb across her nipple.

It wasn’t exactly pleasure, because she was too tense. But it wasn’t unpleasant either. Her body tightened, and her breath stuttered.

He must have sensed her change, because he immediately froze. “Too soon?”