Page 130 of Lucky Mother Pucker

I get rid of the condom, then pee and wash up. When I walk back into my bedroom and see Lucy curled up in my bedsheets, my chest squeezes. I really like seeing her in my bed.

I want to see her in my bed like this again.

I almost tell her that, but I stop myself. So much has changed between us already in the last few hours. We’ve annihilated the friends label we worked so hard to hold on to.

Now we’re…I don’t know what we are.

But what I do know is that I want this—I want her. And I don’t want to scare her off by telling her how strong my feelings are for her…or that I want her in my bed with me every night.

Play it cool.

I slide back into bed and wrap my arms around her, pulling her against me.

I cup her cheek in my hand, studying her face. “You okay with everything we just did?”

She nods, the most adorable shy smile playing on her lips.

She’s quiet for a long moment, a focused look in her eyes as she looks at my chest.

“Do you want to talk about anything?” I ask.

She looks up at me and shakes her head. She hesitates for a second. “I know what we just did means that we’re more than just friends. And I know that we should probably talk about it, but…” She trails off. “I just kind of want to be in the moment.”

I’m quiet as I listen to her.

“For so long, I’ve been in fight-or-flight mode, just trying to survive,” she says softly. “I never really got to just be. To just enjoy things as they happen. I’ve always been on edge, expecting the worst and trying to figure out a way to cope.”

Her sparkling blue eyes are big as she looks up at me. She bites her lip like she’s nervous.

“Can we do that? Can we just keep doing this for a while?” she asks softly. “Stay friends, but also have fun?”

My chest aches at how she’s been conditioned to always prepare for the worst-case scenario. How she’s never been able to let go and enjoy anything because she’s always had to endure the roughest shit.

I don’t want her to live like that anymore. I want to make her feel safe. I want her to feel like she can let her guard down with me.

I want her to feel like she can move at her own pace.

“Yes. Absolutely,” I say. “As long as you want. Whatever you want, Luce. I’ll give it to you.”

That hesitation disappears from her gaze instantly. She grabs my face and kisses me. “Ready for round two?” she asks in that sweet voice.

I chuckle against her mouth. Before I can tell her yes, my phone buzzes. I ignore it and keep kissing her, but then it buzzes again and again.

I growl as I break our kiss. “Hang on, let me get rid of that.”

I grab my phone so I can put it on Do Not Disturb mode, but then I see a bunch of texts from my sister.

Do you want soup or a sandwich for lunch? I’m guessing both because of your monster appetite.

You’re on your way, right?

Hey so this bedroom set isn’t going to move itself into my spare room. You’re the muscle I need for this. I’m paying you with food, remember?

“Crap,” I mutter.

“What’s wrong?”

I huff out a breath. “I forgot that I promised my sister I’d help her move a bunch of furniture today. Damn it.”