Page 128 of Instigator

I go to reach for him again, but he bats me away. Instead, he takes me by the hand and crawls onto the bed, the two of us settling on our sides, staring at each other.

“I meant it,” he says suddenly.

“Meant what?”

“Move in with me.”

My breath catches in my throat. “For real?”

“Really, for real,” he confirms. “Be with me. Love me.”

“I do,” I promise. “I will.”

“Ceci, I…” His throat bobs as he gulps. “I want to make this good for you. I want to be good for you.”

“Oh, Wish. You already do.” I run my hand through his hair. “You’re so good to me.”

He reaches for his nightstand, extricating the lube—and a condom. Surprise runs through me, and I do my best to keep it off my face.

“I’m not sure yet,” he says, reading my expression. “I’m… trying.”

“Only if you want to.”

“I do,” he says with a nod. “I want to try again.”

If that’s what he wants, I will do whatever he needs to support him.

“I got something for you,” I say, leaning over to my bedside table.

“You like buying me presents,” Aidan teases. His hand sketches down my arm, over my hip, and back to my waist.

“Yeah, I do.” I retrieve the box and roll back to him, my hand finding his chest. “Is that a problem?”

“I’ve never been spoiled before,” he muses. “I think I might like being spoiled by you.”

Handing him the small box, I hold my breath as I wait for him to react.

A flush floods his cheeks, his freckles standing in stark relief.

“A cock ring?” He raises an eyebrow skeptically.

“A vibrating cock ring,” I clarify.

“And to be clear… this is the only type of ring you want to give me?”

It’s my turn to be confused.

“We’re still on board on the no-marriage thing?”

“Did you… change your mind?”

He shakes his head. “No, if you don’t want that, I still don’t need it. But you’re giving me a ring here, and⁠—”

I burst out laughing. “Aidan, it’s a fucking cock ring, not a marriage proposal.”

“I’d do it, you know,” he says.

“What are you talking about?”