Page 92 of The Baby Bargain

Her brow furrows like she's working something out. "I, uh, you saw mine."

"I did."

She presses her lips together. "Is it weird if I say this is weird again?"

I shake my head. "Most people drink to skip the awkwardness."

"Right." She nods. "I really don't mind if you do. If that's your routine."

Maybe I should. It might settle the nerves in my stomach. But I want to feel this. Every second of it.

"So… um… are you ready to start today?" Vulnerability streaks her expression.

I want to say yes, but I can't lie to her. "I'm not sure."

"You have technical issues?" Her voice is matter-of-fact, even as her gaze goes right to my crotch.

"No." I can't help but laugh. I haven't had sex in two years. I get hard likethat. Fuck, it's happening now, all from the eager look in her eyes. "It's more—"

"Emotional?"

"Yeah." I turn toward her. "I haven't kissed anyone in two years."

She nods with understanding.

Fuck, Ariel is something else. Empathetic, smart, funny, quirky.

Beautiful.

It's hard believe she wants me for this.

She has her pick of guys—the entire state of California is lining up for the job—and she wants me.

"We don't have to kiss." Her eyes stay on my face. They study my expression.

"We do."

"Oh."

I need those soft red lips against mine. "It's not a physical problem, princess." The pet name falls off my lips. Pushes my mind to dirty places. "I want to throw you on the bed, roll those jeans to your ankles, and split you in half."

Her pupils dilate.

"Just saying it makes me hard."

"Chase—"

"But I'm not sure I can… No, I can. Physically. It's more—" I try to find a good way to explain it. I barely understand it myself. It's tricky. "I haven't tried. I don't know how it's gonna go. I might freeze."

Her fingers curl around my wrist. "You're scared?"

"That's a good way of putting it."

Her laugh is easy. "I am too." She looks up at me. "It's um, well, my mom, before she died, she always talked about consent."

"Yeah?"

"Well, not always. Just the one time, really." Her cheeks flush. She's as nervous as I am. More even. "I was young when she died."