Page 61 of Make It Last

“Not gonna argue with you there.”

Yet I could feel his arousal. I shimmied my bottom over it.

He gritted his teeth. “Ava,” he warned.

“What? I did just say we could kiss forever, but that was sort of a lie because I want more.”

Tanner sucked in a breath and shifted, carefully lifting me in his arms.

“My boot is so not sexy,” I pointed out.

“We can work around it.”

“Can we, though? Because to get my clothes off,” I said, “we’re gonna have to take it off.”

“Are you sleeping with it?”

“Yeah. I take all my clothes off, put on my sleep clothes, and then put it back on. The doctor told me I could sleep without it, but I don’t want to accidentally mess up my ankle.”

“We can handle it.” He began walking across the room, holding me easily.

“You don’t have any trouble carrying me,” I felt the need to point out as he adjusted me in his arms and crossed over to my bedroom door.

“You’re not heavy, Ava.”

“I’m not sure about that. My ex told me I was chubby.”

“He’s an asshole.”

“He is!” I giggled.

The next thing I knew, we were in my bedroom, and I was starting to get a little nervous. Tanner, once again, somehow read my mind.

“Don’t go there, Ava. Stop thinking.”

I swallowed and nodded, trying to ignore the confusing muddle of my hormones going crazy and anxiety spinning into the madness. He eased me onto the bed, shifting me all the way back against the pillows and making sure my leg was fully extended on the bed. He rested both hands on the sides of my hips, looking into my eyes as he leaned over the edge of the bed.

“Let’s go ahead and get that boot off.”

“Are we going to?—”

“I know we don’t want to have to worry about that. We’re gonna take it off, get your leggings off, and then put your boot back on.”

“This is good. I like this plan,” I agreed with alacrity.

In short order, we took care of matters. Then I was on the bed in my panties, with my boot on. Still so unsexy.

“You have too many clothes on,” I announced.

Tanner’s cheeks were actually a little flushed as he looked back at me. His breath was short, and I decided this was a good sign. Because I was hot all over and could barely breathe.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tanner

More than one first

You have too many clothes on.