Page 91 of Never Really Over

“Layla, stop hiding those beautiful eyes from me.” Reluctantly, I lift my head. “Just because I’m not ready to talk about a wedding right this second doesn’t mean the thought hasn’t already crossed my mind.”

“It has?” I can’t help but smile.

“More than once. But what we have between us is brand new. Sure, we’ve been down this road before but that was then, and this is now. I don’t want to screw it up by rushing through the steps. That’s the good stuff before we get to the even better stuff and I don’t want to miss it. I want to take you on dates and have you and Poppy get to know each other more. I’ll admit, though, that it scares me a little bit just how quickly I want to skip through the steps because I see a future with you I’m more than ready for, but we can’t. If this is going to work, we have to start it out right.”

“Well, you didn’t have to be so logical,” I grumble.

That makes him laugh.

“Come here.” He tugs on my hand, pulling me over his body. My breasts press against his chest. “That’s better. Am I off base or not? The last thing I want to do is screw this up.”

He tucks my hair behind my ears so I can’t hide behind it.

“You’re not off base.”

“Promise? I’m not getting the most comforting vibes right now,” he admits.

I shrug and lean down, crossing my arms over his chest and resting my chin on them. “I promise. I know we tried to take care of this earlier, but I guess a part of me is still holding onto that idea that now we need to play catch up. I agree that we need to do this right, but going slow feels wrong.”

“I didn’t say go slow,” he says, grinning as he pointedly looks between us.

I roll my eyes. “Well, some things we can take fast. Or slow works, too.”

“Slow definitely works.” He pulls my mouth down to his, kissing me so tenderly it almost makes me cry.

“We don’t need to rush to catch up, Layla. We’ll go at whatever pace is natural.”

“What if I say it feels natural to…” I take him in my hand and he lets out a quiet moan.

“That definitely feels natural,” he agrees.

“It’s not a fun conversation to have, but I’m clean and on the pill. When Mom was in the accident, I gave blood while I was at the hospital just in case she’d need it, even though she didn’t. I also got tested and know I’m clean.”

“I was tested about nine months ago. Clean, also. I haven’t been with anyone since. But I don’t want to go in bare if you’re not completely sure.”

“I wouldn’t have been the one to bring it up if I wasn’t,” I assure him.

With an animalistic growl, he flips me onto my back, pulling one of my nipples into his mouth. His teeth graze over my sensitive skin and I cry out.

“Had enough time to recover?” I tease, my hands once again pinned above my head.

“Little shit.” He laughs. “Do I need to prove it to you?”

I nod, happiness coursing through my veins.

“You asked for it. On your knees. I want to see that beautiful ass in the air, Layla.”

I flip over so fast it makes him laugh again but the second my butt is where he wants it, all humor vanishes. His strong hands massage my backside before he gives it a light tap. The sensation hits me straight in my core and I whimper.

“You like that?”

“Yes.”

This time the tap is more of a slap, leaving behind a delicious sting.

I look behind me and see him licking his lips. “Fuck me, Layla, your ass is a work of art.”

I preen under his praise and wiggle it around, letting him know it’s his for the taking. Okay, maybe not for thetakingbecause I’ve never gone down that road and I’m not sure I’m ready for that. But maybe one day. If he’s game, I would be willing to try it. With him.

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