Page 49 of Serve and Protect

I smile. “Not just to sleep.”

As my words sink in, it takes him a moment to respond. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“Okay.” He nods, but a second later, he frowns. “Shit! Do you have condoms?”

“No. Do you?”

He shakes his head. “Sorry, no.” He rests his forehead on my shoulder and groans. “I can’t believe this.”

I run my fingers through his hair, which elicits a moan from him. “Actually, I’m kind of glad you don’t carry condoms with you.”

“I guess you’re not on the pill,” he says.

“Nope. No need for it.”

I can tell he’s wracking his brain for a solution. “I could run to the store,” he offers.

“Since it’s a Sunday night, all of the local stores are closed by now,” I point out. “I suppose you could try the gas station. They’re open late.”

He shakes his head. “I’m not leaving you and Granny here alone.”

I muster all the courage I have. “There areother thingswe could do, you know—activities that don’t involve the risk of pregnancy.”

The look on his face is priceless. “You’d be okay with that?”

I brush the hair back from his forehead. “Yes, I’d be okay with that.”

He stands. “I’d sweep you up in my arms and carry you to bed, but unfortunately” —he glances at his sling— “that’s not in the cards tonight.”

“Don’t worry about your shoulder. I promise to take good care of you tonight.” And then I stand, take his good hand, and lead him from the living room, down the hallway, and into my bedroom.

Pumpkin follows us, but I gently guide him out of my room. “Not tonight, Punky. Mommy’s got company.”

And I quietly shut the door.

Chapter 18 – Chris

I might actually be dreaming right now. I’m thinking this has to be a dream because I’m in Jennie Lopez’s bedroom, and the door is closed. We’re alone, just the two of us, and she’s gazing up at me with these gorgeous dark eyes filled with desire. I’ve had this dream so many times before, and each time I woke up alone in my bed, wishing it were real.

Right now, she’s reaching for the hem of my T-shirt. Hell, I never got this far in a dream before.

“We’ll have to pick up some condoms tomorrow,” she says casually, as if she’s making a grocery list. She attempts to work my shirt over my head and off of me without disturbing my sling, which is impossible.

“I don’t think this is going to work, honey,” I say. “I’ll have to take the sling off.”

“But your shoulder!”

My shoulder is thelastthing on my mind right now. “It’ll be fine.”

She unclips the strap on the sling and gently slips it off me, biting her lip the entire time like she’s defusing a bomb. Finally, she helps me out of my shirt.

“Please tell me this isn’t a dream,” I say as she folds my T-shirt and lays it on her dresser.

Dimples appear in her soft round cheeks as she grins. “I’m pretty sure we’re both awake. I know I am.”

I’m growing harder by the second, and pretty soon she’s going to notice. It’s impossible to hide a hard-on when it’s at full staff and tenting pants.