Page 83 of Power Play

“What are you doing?”

He knew it was there. Does that mean he’s heard me? Oh, fuck.

Al stalks toward me, his hard cock bobbing between his legs. He climbs onto the bed, tossing the vibrator beside me, and covers my body with his again.

“Toys are friends. They aren’t a threat. Not to me, not to my ego.” His lips twist in a smirk. “If that’s what it takes to get you there, I want all the tools in my arsenal.”

My heart beats a little faster. He’s not offended or put off… but that doesn’t mean he’ll like what I have to say next. I take a breath, then exhale slowly. The contraception talk might be even more embarrassing than my husband knowing I use a vibrator while I think of him.

But if we can’t have these conversations, we have no business having sex.

“My last test results were negative, and I have an IUD.”

“Me too.” He laughs awkwardly. “Not the IUD part. The test results. But if it would make you feel better…” Leaning over, he rummages in the bedside table, coming up with an unopened box of condoms. “We can be double protected. Make sure nothing happens until we’re ready for it.”

Until. Like it’s a given that we could have children together. Like he wants to expand our family.

Not right now. We can talk about it again later, when we’re not so lust-blind to the consequences.

But it doesn’t sound terrible. Having more kids. Giving Emmy a sibling—or more than one. I’ve never really thought about having kids myself, but now that I have her in my life, I wouldn’t trade her for the world.

Warmth floods over me, and I heave out a sigh of relief. “I think I want that.”

“We’re new. Just because we’re married doesn’t mean we can’t use them. It’s not a matter of trust or commitment. It’s protection—for both of us. IUDs aren’t infallible.”

He gets me. In a few words, he’s summarized what I’ve been struggling with. He makes me feel seen. Heard. Appreciated.

Taking the box from him, I rip it open and snag a foil square off the strip. I push it into his hand, his fingertips brushing mine and sending shockwaves through me.

All finesse is brushed aside as he tears open the condom, his knuckles brushing the inside of my thigh while he gets himself situated.

I expect him to roll on top of me right away and get down to business, but he surprises me by cupping my cheek, his thumb stroking over my nose.

“You’re sure about this?” he murmurs.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything.”