Page 53 of If You Were Mine (After We Fall 3)
“Of the tire swing? Why?
“Because it was just a rope tied to this skinny old branch. I always thought it would snap.”
“Even if it did, you’d only fall a couple feet.”
“What can I say? I’m delicate.”
“Uh, I beg to differ.”
I poked him in the side again and then snuggled closer. “Why’d you want to escape your house?”
He shifted, as if he was uncomfortable. “I don’t know. Just didn’t like being cooped up, I guess. I still don’t.”
That made sense. He liked his privacy and his freedom.
One thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t pressure him, couldn’t make demands, couldn’t set limitations or conditions. And honestly, I didn’t really want to. He’d told me as soon as he walked in the door he didn’t know where this could go, and it had taken me all of three seconds to realize I was OK with that. Even if all he had to offer was orgasms and conversation right now, I’d go with it. I’d be patient.
But lying there, wrapped in his arms, cuddled against his side with my head on his chest, listening to his heart beat, our feet tangled together, the blankets cradling us with warmth…I was dizzy with hope, drunk with possibility.
Nineteen
Theo
* * *
In the morning, I woke up first, and for a moment I forgot where I was. It happened to me all the time because I moved around so much, but what rarely happened was the smile that took over my face when I realized whose bed I was in.
Claire was facing away from me, curled into a ball. I moved close behind her, tucking her into the crescent of my body, one arm around her stomach. Her breathing changed and she hugged my arm, wriggling back against me.
“You’re still here,” she said softly.
“I’m still here.” I was as surprised as she was, actually.
“Somehow I thought I’d wake up and you’d be gone.”
I’d done that a lot in my past. Honestly, I could count on one hand the number of times I’d spent an entire night in a woman’s bed. And I was always sorry and just wanted to get the fuck out of there in the morning.
Today was different. I didn’t want to leave her. What the hell was that about? My muscles tensed up.
Um, it’s about sex, asshole. Duh.
I relaxed again. “This bed is way too comfortable to leave. Especially with you in it.”
“Mmm.” She was quiet for a moment. “You’re the first to sleep in it.”
“Am I?”
“Yes. I’m not in the habit of asking guys to stay.” She giggled. “Now you should feel special.”
I pinched her butt. “You’re gonna pay for that, little girl.” Scenes from last night started filtering through my mind—we’d played stranger again, in the bedroom this time—and my dick decided to wake up too, tapping against her butt as it grew hard.
She took my hand from her stomach and brought it to her breast. My breathing grew ragged as I kneaded the flesh in my palm, teased her nipples into stiff little peaks, and rubbed my cock on her ass. She moaned when I swept my hand down her stomach and between her legs, finding her wet and warm. My fingers moved over her clit, rubbing gently at first and then harder and faster. I took my cue from the sounds she made, the way she moved against my hand. When she came, she cried out my name, and I nearly lost it and shot my load all over her back. Her perfect, smooth, vanilla-skinned back, unmarked except for a little crop of freckles near her tailbone.
Jesus. I want to come on her back.
Claire probably wasn’t the kind of girl who enjoyed that sort of thing, but once the thought took root, I couldn’t ignore it. Without a word, I flipped her onto her stomach and knelt above her with one knee on either side of her thighs. We’d used the last condom in my wallet after coming upstairs last night, so this would be better anyway—as long as she was OK with it. Should I ask? I glanced at her profile on the pillow and saw that her eyes were closed and she was smiling blissfully.
Nope, not asking.
