Page 173 of The Moment You Know

“Anyway,” he went on, overlooking being called a jerk, “I think it would make you more comfortable if we sort of date, for lack of a better word. I feel like if we start having sex right away, it’ll just be too much like how sex was for you when it wasn’t good. And I don’t want to get anywhere near that.”

They were going to be ‘sort of’ dating? She pondered that for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. That’s not the worst idea I’ve ever heard.”

“Good. Now, I think it’s important for us to start slowly, spending time on all three bases before sliding into home. Take sexual baby steps, if you will.”

“Did you just say ‘sexual baby steps’?” she asked. This was turning out to be a somewhat strange conversation—and she had hundreds of conversations with Jules to compare it to.

“Yes. It’s important to enjoy the journey, so I think we should enjoy it a lot. Especially since everything will be new for both of us.”

So … he was basically telling her that sex was a ways down the road and on that road there would be a lot of foreplay and dry humping—

“Wait,” he said, breaking into her thoughts. “Were you thinking we were going to have sex tonight?”

“What?” Paige quickly schooled her features, because that’s exactly what she’d been thinking less than a minute ago. “No. Of course not. Jeez.”

“Because we’re not. No matter how much you might want to.”

She did her best to ignore the implication that she would be the only one to want to, figuring David was trying to pull her chain some more, which was something he seemed to enjoy doing. “Honestly, it never even occurred to me.”

He scrutinized her face and then raised his eyebrows. “Huh. That must be your I’m lying through my ass look,” he mused.

Totally busted, she was unable to keep from laughing.

He grinned, loving the sound of her uncontrolled laughter, which he’d missed terribly, and waited until she was done to continue. “Now, I know I said I wanted to let things happen organically, but I also think we should establish a few ground rules.”

“Ground rules?” Then, before he could answer, she pointed a finger at him. “You know, for someone who said they didn’t have a plan, this sounds like a plan.”

“It’s more like … common sense guidelines that will benefit both of us.”

It sounded like word-play to her, but she gave in. “Fine. What kind of ground rules are you proposing?”

“Communication is the first one. We’re going to talk to one another. A lot. If at any time, you feel uncomfortable with what I’m doing—or we’re doing—you need to tell me immediately, so I can stop, or we can work through it together, all right? I don’t want to be told that you don’t like something after I’ve been doing it for thirty minutes.” Then, because he simply couldn’t resist, he tacked on, “Or be told seven days later.”

Paige rolled her eyes. “For God’s sake, quit whining about the seven days, already.”

He grinned again, before leaning back in his chair and turning serious. “I also really don’t want to hurt you, either by doing something that triggers you, or actually physically hurts you in some way, so you need to speak up if either of those circumstances happen. Don’t worry about offending me if you need to tell me to slow down or stop whatever I’m doing. Got it?”

“Got it.”

“On the flip side of that is letting me know when you like something. This one is really important, since I plan on doing the things you like on a regular basis, so it’s information I need to have. You can tell me with words, obviously, but if you find yourself incapable of speech in the heat of the moment—and if I’m doing my job right this will always be the case—then moans and groans will get the message across.”

In the middle of taking a bite, Paige simply nodded, picturing him doing his ‘job’ and possibly making her moan and groan, and finding it immensely appealing.

“Now, on to protection.” He took a breath, holding it for a long moment before releasing it. “I assume you’ll want me to wear condoms?”

She paused to consider her answer. There was a part of her that wanted him to wear them, because otherwise it would feel too intimate. Plus, there was the added knowledge that he’d been barebacking it with Ashley not too long ago and Paige needed a layer of separation from that.

But there was also a part of her that wanted nothing between them.

At her conflicted expression, David said, “I figured you’d want me to. Is that not the case?”

“Yes and no.”

“Is it more yes, or more no?”

“I’m not sure, to be honest,” she answered quietly. “I’m on the pill, but …”

They looked at one another for a long moment and then he leaned forward. “How about this? I’m going to get tested this week so you’ll know I’m clean, and when the time comes, you can either roll the condom on me or not. It will be one hundred percent your decision, okay? And I’ll be fine with whatever you decide to do.”

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