Page 103 of Animal Beats

She walks toward the bed. Over her shoulder, she tosses, “You better make me.”

“Oh, I will alright!” Kicking off my jeans and shoes, I nearly leap to get to her. She’s managed to toss her dress onto the floor. Finishing undressing her will be my pleasure. My fingers go around to her back. “Let me help you.” I unclasp her bra. “Isn’t that better?”

“Let’s take off your shirt so we’re even.” She giggles. “I never thought I’d be naked from the waist up before you.”

I smile. “Hard to believe.”

Her hands push my shirt up my torso. “In a rush, Babysitter?”

“You make me this way.” She pauses. “Besides, your upper body is unreal. I’ll never get enough.”

“Your wish.” I strip buck naked, and toss my shirt over my head. “Now who’s overdressed?” My hands reach out for her panties.

She steps back. “Maybe I want to keep them on.”

The challenge in her voice is cute. “Well, I guess you don’t want me to give you any orgasms tonight then.” I shrug.

“I didn’t say that!” She rolls her panties down her legs. “There. I’m wearing my birthday suit, just like you.”

“You wear it better.” I wiggle my eyebrows. “For your reward, let me give you a warm-up orgasm.” I pick her up and drop her on the bed, following her to the headboard.

Her thighs open to allow me better access and I don’t waste a second of the gift she’s giving me. I lick and suck and explore her pussy, watching as her head thrashes on the pillow. Her body tenses and I give her clit one last bit of attention. Boom! She comes in a loud shout of completion.

Before she can regain her wits, I grab a condom and put myself in a position I’ve never been. On top of her, looking down directly into her blown-out pupils. I swallow hard. “This is a first for me, Hayden.”

My use of her name earns me a double-blink. Then a smile. “Hate to break it to you big guy, but we’ve had sex quite often.”

My chest expands. “True. But never like this.”

I allow her to absorb what I’ve said. “You mean, missionary?”

Leaning down, I kiss her. The fact there’s nothing between us, or I don’t have to turn her head to make contact, feels so right. “Yeah.”

“Here’s a secret. Before you, that’s all I ever did. Usually in the dark. Under blankets.”

I glance around at the moonlight streaming in through the windows overlooking the ocean. We’re on top of the comforter. “Let’s try my version of missionary then.”

“I think I’m going to like it.”

We both really do.

Sometime later, I join her on the balcony. “You have ruined me for every other woman on this planet. You know this, don’t you?”

While staring at her phone, she offers a slight smile. Not the resounding, beaming happy face I expected. Nor does she say anything. “What’s up?”

She holds up her cell. “They went in another direction.”

It takes me a while to process what she said. “Are you talking about the interview you had with that company, Behind the Scenes?”

“It’s Behind the Memories, drummer boy.”

She continues to stare at her phone, folding in on herself. Not dramatic. Not loud.

Just… smaller.

Time goes by in silence, then she nods. Stands. “Do you want something to drink?”

“Never thought I’d hear those words from my babysitter.” My joke earns a smile. Not a fake one, nor halfhearted. Not a full-body one either. But we’re getting there. We walk into the kitchen and share a couple of glasses of sparkling cider.