Page 56 of Wild Like Us

As his lips draw back up to mine, he stops. He goes really still. Only his chest moves with his breath. And he whispers against my mouth, “Not here.”

“What?” I pant.

His hand—his hand carefully, slowly falls off my ass. Even at six feet, I have to look up to meet his eyes. Such a weird thing that I rarely need to do. And I might be more upset by Banks slamming on the brakes if it weren’t for his expression.

He looks pent-up and torn-up. Like ending it here is the rightthing, but not necessarily what his body wants. Still holding his boxer-briefs against his package, he explains, “I’m not taking your virginity in a motel bathroom. From someone who lost hisin one, let’s just say it’s not worthy of praise.”

I get stuck on the two new facts.

Banks lost his virginity in a motel.

It sucked, apparently.

“Your first time wasn’t that good?” I ask outright, retightening the towel around my chest.

“None of my firsts were. Crossed off a lot of boxes too early, and lookin’ back, I wish I would’ve waited for the person who made me feel…” He lifts a shoulder. “More.” He slowly tucks my hair behind each ear. The right. Then the left. Like I’ve seen him do to himself all the time. “You have a lot of grit, Sullivan Minnie Meadows, to wait until you know you’re ready. And I like you a hell of a lot. You don’t have to wait for me if you don’t want to, but I’m hoping you can.”

To wait for a better moment?

A more romantic place?

For him?

He likes me a hell of a lot.

“I can,” I nod repeatedly, my lungs inflating with more emotion than I can add up. “I definitely can.” I glance down at his sculpted,nakedframe. Wow…he’s still hard. “Uh, so do you need to come still? You can use my towel if you don’t want the fucking mess.” I’m about to offer the towel on my body, but he touches my hand to stop me.

His lip draws in those almost-smiles as he sweeps my frame head-to-toe. His gaze is fingertips running down my bare flesh. My lips part, a shiver slipping through me. Tingling me.

Fuck,Istill need to come. My body is begging for relief that I’ve given to myself plenty before.

He must register the want in my eyes. “Take the shower, mermaid. I’ll be out here on land.” He already grabs the broken rod and fallen shower curtain.

“The water is super hot,” I tell him. “I couldn’t adjust it.”

Banks easily fixes the shower rod, then skims his fingers through the water. “It’s colder now. Been on for a while.”

I’m unable to suppress a rising smile. Remembering the last few minutes where we let the hot water run cold.He pinned me to the wall.He cupped my bare ass.He kissed me.I can still feel his strong, affectionate hands and lips on me. I’m filing it all in under: Pump My Fist in the Air, a Sullivan Victory. “You take the cold shower,” I tell him. “I’ll be out here.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah. Land isn’t that bad.”

He nods. Our eyes stay latched for a sensual beat before he steps into the tub. Dropping his boxer-briefs on the tiles before he shuts the curtain, giving us both privacy.

My smile hurts my fucking face. Banks really does want my first time to be more starry-eyed and romantic. But I begin to frown remembering that his firsts weren’t what he hoped.

Leaning back against the wall, I shut out those thoughts and slip my hand beneath the towel and between my thighs. More swollen and wet than I even thought. Skidding my finger over the tender, bundle of nerves, my whole body convulses—I shudder.

Fuck.

I close my eyes and picture Banks next to me. Behind the shower curtain, he’s stroking himself. Maybe even imaginingme.

His arousal towards me is like a liquid drug seeping through my blood stream. I’m higher than the fucking clouds.

My back arches, my hips wanting his hands. Imagining is enough to quake my limbs, and I ripple into an orgasm. Noise catches in my throat.

His grunt is also smothered. Maybe by the knowledge of me here.