Page 58 of Second Best Again
Her laugh dissolved into a shiver as he held her tighter, his teasing turning into another slow exploration.
His hands smoothed over her waist, anchoring her to him as his grin turned cheeky. "Besides, I've got worse faults. I lied because I do snore loud enough tae shake the walls; I'm irresistible tae women—curse that—and I eat baked beans on toast, which you hate."
Her laugh slipped free despite herself, but he could see the tension easing from her shoulders.
She snorted. "You forgot farts. Maybe you just want to wait until I fall for you before I learn about them. You men are obsessed with them."
Euan waggled his brows shamelessly. "Aye, well...it helps me get along with David, doesn't it?"
Her laugh slipped out before she could stop it. "True. Bonding over bodily functions. What is it about boys and the stuff that comes out of their bodies?"
His voice dropped wickedly as he leaned in closer, his lips brushing her ear. "I thought ye liked the stuff that comes out of my body." He waggled his brows shamelessly.
Her eyes flew wide, half-shocked, half-amused, and then she dissolved into helpless laughter, smacking his chest. "You are impossible, Euan."
He nuzzled into her neck, breathing her in. "Mmm. Ye smell brilliant. Like...somethin' I like tae eat."
"BO?" she asked, incredulously.
He grinned against her skin. "Better. Somethin' delicious."
And then words gave way to touches. His mouth traced the curve of her shoulder, her hands clutching him as they sank into another round of slow, lingering lovemaking. This time there was no rush, no frenzy; only discovery, every kiss and caress a conversation in itself, until they were both left tangled in the sheets, breathless and sated.
They shifted over, pressed to one side of the mattress, leaving the rumpled sheet bunched in the corner. Sage glanced at the dark spreading patch and groaned.
"Oh, brilliant. A big wet spot on day one. And I haven't even put the mattress protector on yet." Her voice wavered, humour cracking as the realisation hit. "Euan...the condom—"
Euan snorted, dragging the sheet up half-heartedly as if to cover the damage. "Aye, well. At least it's proof we broke it in properly."
She stiffened, about to pull away, but he tightened his arms around her, holding her fast against his chest. "I'm sorry," hesaid quickly, voice low. "Didn't mean tae act the smartarse. But...the truth is, I wouldn't be averse tae a wee bairn, someday."
Her breath shuddered, then she gave a small, wry laugh. "Euan, I'm forty-five. Forty-five, and edging towards menopause. It's not happening. It's probably safe."
He tipped her chin up so she had to meet his gaze, his thumb brushing her jaw. "Safe or no, Sage...we'll face it together, aye?"
She swallowed, the panic ebbing under the steadiness in his eyes. "Yeah. Together."
The silence that followed felt a little uncomfortable until his mouth quirked in that wicked grin of his. "Mind you, it might've helped if I'd grabbed the right packet. I need the extra-large, and I was in too much of a rush."
Her laugh burst out before she could stop it. "Oh, for God's sake, Euan. If that's your way of bragging, I should warn you: I'm not into any kind of dick-comparison."
He pressed a hand to his chest in mock horror. "What, ye don't like my inches?"
"Euan..." she warned, still laughing.
He dropped his voice theatrically, glancing down. "Now you've gone an' done it. Euan Junior's hurt."
She stared at him incredulously. "Do you seriously talk about your penis like it's got a mind of its own?"
He waggled his brows, completely unrepentant. "Well, he does. And he likes you a wee bit too much. Any more, and I would be dead, I tell ya."
She dissolved into helpless laughter, the last of her panic scattering into the dark with it. "Well...so next—dinner?"
"Pizza?" he asked hopefully.
"Alright. Unless you're about to say pineapple."
He froze, then groaned as if she'd just insulted his ancestors. "Pineapple? On pizza? That's a crime against nature, lass. Folk that eat it should be locked up."
