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I had something good with Leo right now. Something comfortable and safe. I didn’t want to mess that up by committing to something with him before I fully recovered from my trauma.

“Alright,” I nodded, “Though I don’t think I’m interested in being intimate with more than one person at a time. So, if you find someone else you want to explore things with, please tell me, too. Safety and stuff.” I didn’t meet his eyes and instead chose to fidget with my fingernails.

Leo huffed before crawling up to me and pulling my hands into his, “I’ll send you my last exam results when I leave tonight.” And then he started covering me, tugging me down into the bed again so he could start to trail kisses up my arm. Over my shoulder.

I giggled at the sensitive touch, “I haven’t been active, therefore tested, since the first time you and I…um, fucked.”

Leo groaned, “You and your filthy mouth.”

I playfully shoved at his shoulder, which he retaliated against by pulling me further down the bed so he could wrap his arms around me, throwing one of his long legs in between both of mine, pinning me underneath him.

“Ah,” I nodded against him once, “I forgot how much of a cuddler you are after sex.”

“We couldn’t do this after you seduced me in your office—” my protest of how that whole thing went down was smothered by his lips covering mine in a searing kiss, before he pulled back just enough to say “—I need to make up for lost cuddle time.”

I smiled as he tucked his head against my chest, his breath fanning across my breast. I managed to untuck my arms that were trapped between us, so that I could wrap them around his shoulders instead. I was fully willing to cuddle. I was craving intimacy like this. I may not be ready for a real relationship, but I was more than ready to casually lay naked with a man like him.

The fact that Leo wasn’t cold and closed off after seeing me at my most vulnerable, was also comforting. I had been sharing a bed with a man for a few years, and even he would turn over and give me his back almost immediately after he and I were intimate.

I needed this form of aftercare.

So I squeezed Leo to me, smiling when he released a satisfied groan from his chest.

ChapterFourteen

LEO

Warm lips were pressingagainst my forehead, gently pulling me from unconsciousness. I was on my stomach, half my face hidden in the pillow that my arms supported for me. When had I fallen asleep?

“Thank you,” her voice was a whisper.

“Mhmm,” was all I could manage.

Even though I couldn’t pry my eyes open quite yet, my ears heard every soft step that led her to the door. It wasn’t until after I heard the latch close, silence suffocating the room, that I lifted my head and confirmed that, yes, I was alone again.

According to the clock on the nightstand, I had just over five hours to get ready for my interview.

* * *

Three weeks had passedsince our formal agreement that night in Jacqueline’s bedroom. Winter had come to Southern California, and even though the rains hadn’t started yet, and the sun was still shining, it was humid and cold every morning and evening. I was wearing more long sleeves to work, and Jacqueline only wore her tempting pencil skirts when she could wear thick stockings underneath them.

Jacqueline and I had managed to get together again three more times, averaging once a week. Both of us were having long workdays, and with Jacqueline finally hiring new employees to support her in HR, plus my afternoon rugby training, it almost felt difficult to sync our schedules.

But when we did manage to meet up for a quick shag…fuck, we weresodamn good together. It wasn’t difficult at all.

I still couldn’t believe how responsive she was to my touch, my mouth—fuck, even my look. All it took was one heated glance, where I didn’t try hiding how badly I wanted her, and her cheeks would bloom with color.

But like the mature and professional adults we were, we stayed away from each other in the office. Now that we both had security in getting our mutual itches scratched, there was no need for us to fool around on the clock.

…Even if the idea was still hot as hell.

Mary and Jamie constantly inviting me over to their flat after work didn’t help either, but so far, we’ve managed.

Currently, I was on my way to refill my coffee. The way Americans prepared their coffees in the US waswonderful. Creamer isn’t common back home. Usually, coffees were served black or with a splash of milk. Here? It was a never-ending stock of creamers. Signe even started stocking the fridge with holiday-themed creamers. Dairy, oat, soy, anything you could think of.

As a man who thrived by having a constant stream of caffeine flowing through his blood to survive the average workday, I practically skipped with excitement to the break room. Excited to try another flavor.

As I entered, I realized Jacqueline was just sitting down to enjoy her lunch with my cousin and their friends. Jacqueline’s back was to me, but I saw her stow away her earbuds in her purse before taking her seat.