Page 57 of Welcome to Forever
“And I’m not,” she confirmed.
“So what are we doing, Kat?” he asked, already missing the feel of her in his arms.
She didn’t respond for a long moment. “We had sex. Val and my sister have both been telling me that I need to relax and have…” She wobbled her head from side to side, and if he wasn’t mistaken, her skin was growing steadily redder. “They think casual sex is exactly what I need to push me back into”—she fidgeted with her hands—”thatarea of my life.”
Tonight hadn’t felt casual to him, but maybe she was right. Maybe he could reframe his thinking. It was just meaningless, feel-good sex. That’s all. “Casual sex?” he repeated.
She nodded, her gaze uncertain as she looked at him. “Isn’t that what it was?”
“Right.” Memories of the way she’d looked at him when they’d been in bed flashed through his memory. And the way he’d kissed every bare inch of her body, cherishing her like the rarest of flowers. “Yeah. I’m surprised you’re okay with that, though. You don’t seem like the type of woman who does those things lightly.”
She hugged herself, lowering her head to watch the ground as they walked toward his back porch.
Ah, shit. He hoped he hadn’t offended her. “No offense. You just seem more wholesome than that.”
“This year is about moving on for me.”
Micah watched her, loving how fidgety and cute she was when she was nervous. “So your goal this year is to make some changes in your life? And part of that involves casual sex?” he asked.
She nibbled her lower lip and his crotch jumped to attention. He had to say, he kind of liked the idea of ravaging her body again with no strings, or guilt, attached.
“Do you intend to have casual sex with a lot of people, or just one person?” he asked, suddenly hating the idea of anyone else getting their hands on her.
They were back at the steps of his deck and she sat, leaving just enough room for him to sit beside her on the still damp wood. Their legs brushed against each other as he did.
“I’m not really the type to see more than one person at a time. I don’t want to change that drastically. So most likely just one.” Her gaze skittered toward him and she looked away quickly.
“It’s a good thing you have me, then.” Because if there were no strings attached, maybe he could be a good father to Ben and keep seeing Kat.
She was looking at him again. “I didn’t plan this tonight, either. If I had, I would’ve worn way better underwear.” Her cheeks were crimson now. “Sorry. Talking too much. I should probably get home to sleep before I completely scare you off.”
Micah reached for her hand. “I’m not scared, and I kind of liked those underwear. The little bow on the front was a nice touch.” He leaned in closer, the smell of her body mixing with the scent of new fallen rain.
Her gaze fell on their interlocked hands. “We could have our own little club of two.”
He lowered his voice. “You and your clubs. What would we call this one?” He turned in toward her and his other hand stroked up her inner thigh. It would be so easy to pull her up on the deck and have her right here under the moon.
“The Lovers’ Club?” she suggested, with a small giggle.
His mouth brushed against her ear, kissing down her jawline. Damn, she tasted sweet. “Count me in. Just us. Any rules for this one?”
“Rules?” she asked, closing her eyes as he continued kissing her.
“Yeah. You know. The Friendship Club has rules.” He kissed her neck. “One hour a day after school. Be good to others.” He pulled her on top of him as they sat on the deck’s steps, the oversized T-shirt she was wearing was pushed up around her waist as her legs straddled him.
“I guess…” she said through shaky, shuddering breaths, “the only rule would be that it’s just sex. And when we want out…”
He pulled down the neckline of her shirt, gaining access to the sensitive skin above her breasts. She moaned softly as he kissed her there. “Then we say so,” he said, completing her thought.
“Right.”
That sounded perfect to him. He stood with her body still wrapped tightly around his and, ready for more, doubtful he’d be able to get enough in this lifetime, he carried Kat back inside to his bed.
—
The next morning, Kat pushed open the door to her and John’s room together and stared for a long beat. Then she walked to the small bedside dresser and sat. Ready or not, life was moving on. It’d been moving on since Micah had shown up this year with his broad shoulders and black hair. And those chocolate-colored eyes that made her knees liquefy. Good thing for those mirrored sunglasses he liked to wear. That kept her on two solid, walking legs most days.
Those solid, walking legs didn’t feel so solid right now, however. The mission this morning was packing John’s things so that Julie could have a more hospitable place to stay. If she were going to stay here for any length of time, the couch definitely wouldn’t suffice.
