Page 51 of Brooklynaire

JesusChrist.

I push a lock of hair out of Rebecca’s perfect face. It’s damp from exertion. Her expression is half dreamy and halfwary.

No way to know which half iswinning.

“Nate,” shewhispers.

“What?” I bury my face in her hair, and tighten my arms around her curvy body. My dick gives a tired but hopeful littletwitch.

She clears her throat. “At least I’m on thepill.”

“I know,” I mumble. “They’re right there on the bathroomcounter.”

“Okay…”

“I’d never endanger you,” I whisper. “I’m careful.”Until right now. Why would she even believeme?

She hesitates, and I hope against hope that we don’t have to talk much yet. I need a few minutes to figure out what the hell to say. No—I need more time than that. A year doesn’t sound long enough. “So…” She lifts her head off my chest. “Why do you think wejust…”

“Bec?”

“Yeah?”

I pass my palm down her smooth arm, and give it a caress. “Don’t ruin it. Unless you really needto.”

She lays her head on my chestagain.

I could offer to leave. Maybe she’d prefer it. But I don’t, though. I’m a stubborn asshole who just got the only thing he’s ever wanted and couldn’t have. So I close my eyes and doze, as her heartbeat slows againstmine.

But my subconscious won’t let me forget for too long that I’m naked in a bed with Rebecca. I wake up sometime later, still in the pitch dark. She’s stretched out beside me now, her back to my front. I run a hand down her side, because I can’t help myself. Her skin is incredibly soft, and I love the way the downhill of her ribs goes uphill again at herhip.

So I do itagain.

“Mmh,” she says as I stroke her skin. And when I cup her breast, the nipple hardens under my fingertips. She clamps a hand over mine, encouragingme.

Jesus. I’m not nearly as strong a man as I thought I was. One touch from her and I’m hard andready.

I drop open-mouthed kisses onto the back of her neck and let my hands wander her body. Soon enough she’s whimpering and pushing back against mybody.

So I roll us in her direction—pushing her face down on the bed, lifting her hips towardmine.

“Yes,” she gasps as I push myself home for the second timetonight.

Yes.

I give it to her fast and hard, and she rocks back against me with breathy gasps. When I snake a hand under her body and stroke her, she sobs my name into thepillowcase.

We shudder together before collapsing into a useless heap of tiredlimbs.

Then sleep comes forgood.

* * *

Rebecca

Consciousness arrives slowly. The feel of a man’s hard body against mine is even better than discounted cashmere, and I don’t really feel like waking up. A big hand is stroking my hair, and I close my eyes against the sunlight that is entering theroom.

But then my dream man gives a very Nate-like sigh, and I wake up all at once. It’s a good thing I’m facing away from him, since I’m sure I’m wearing a stunned expression as the memories of last night’s events stack up in the cool light ofmorning.