Page 38 of Little Etheldreda Riding Hood

“Good,” I manage to spit out. He cracks a smile and I burst out laughing so hard, Dolly meows in concern.

“What?” he laughs.

I lay on my side, unable to control my giggles just like the first night we were together. Dolly jumps up onto my hip and walks down to my face, and starts licking me like a kitten. Zach hunches down beside me. “So, does this mean I lost?”

That makes me laugh even harder.

He leans down and kisses me on the forehead, and even with the giggles still going, I pull him down next to me. His eyes meet mine. “Fine.” I manage to breathe out. “Three out of three.”

He raises an eyebrow. “Three out of three?”

“Dinner, a shared experience, and a kiss,” I press my lips to his and he rolls me until I’m on top of him, his hands grabbing my ass and squeezing as the kiss grows longer.

When I finally need a breath, I lay my head on his shoulder and say nothing for a long moment. “Is it okay if I want more than a kiss? I know you need to go in tonight–”

“Have you lost your mind, woman? I could be lying here half dead and would still want to be inside you.”

I snort. “You’re such a romantic, Zach Lamar.”

“I do need something first.”

I look up at him. “What?”

“A promise that you’ll be there when I wake up.”

I let out a teasingly beleaguered sigh. “I guess I can arrange that.”

As I agree, he moves us into a sitting position, stands, and offers me a hand up.

Dolly follows us as we walk to Zach’s room, and he has to use a foot to keep her from following us in. “Go feed your gremlins, nosey lady,” he fusses at her. The sun is setting and golden light streams in through the blinds, giving us our own private golden hour in his plain little room. He takes both of my hands in his and pulls me close to him. I can feel his heartbeat against my ear as his cock grows rigid between us.

“I’m so grateful I found you again,” he says into my hair. “I thought I’d never see you again when I woke up alone.”

I squeeze him tight. “I’m sorry for—“ I start to say, but then he cuts me off.

“Don’t be sorry. Things work out how they should. This time will always remind me not to take you for granted.”

The word “always” surprises me. It’s way too early, but I know how this works. At least how it worked for Mae and Jim. It’s exhilarating and absolutely terrifying. I have nowhere else to go if this goes epically wrong. I have nothing–

“You’re super quiet,” Zach’s voice rumbles. “What are you thinking?”

I shake my head.

He leans back and grasps my chin with his hand. “You’ve got storms in your eyes,” he says and I shake my head again, unable to speak, suddenly on the brink of tears.

“Come on, let’s go lay down and rest for a bit.” He undresses me until I’m down to my underwear, then strips to his boxers. His cock is erect, but he doesn’t say a thing about it, just pulls me into bed and wraps me in his arms.

“Do you want to sleep or talk?” he asks once we’re settled.

Truthfully, I want to cry.

I look down at his arms wrapped around my waist and sigh. Uh, Darla’s stupid cards. I guess I do have a secret.

“Look, I can’t keep letting you chase after me like this, not when—“

“Not when what?” he asks quietly.

The words are on the tip of my tongue…just say them. God, why is it so hard? “I haven’t been honest about everything. There’s something I have to tell you.” I roll over in his arms and face him. Our faces are inches apart and the way he stares into my eyes is too much.

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