Page 49 of Merry Mayhem
I stare at her. “You’ve imagined this?”
“Yeah. When you answered Christmas EveandChristmas morning. You can’t wait for the good stuff, but you also like to drag it all out, right?”
It all makes sense to me. Maybe it wouldn’t to someone else, but I understand exactly what she’s saying.
And she’s right.
“We had the same answer on that one,” I remind her. And myself.
She catches her bottom lip between her teeth and nods.
I skim one hand up her side underneath the flimsy shirt she’s wearing. She shivers at my touch.
“Is this something that we can pursue?” I ask her. My hand wraps around her rib cage, my thumb nestled under one breast. I revel in the way her breath saws in and out quickly and unevenly.
“What are you asking me? Birth control? How I feel about having a guy over with my kid at home? If I’m dating anyone?”
“Uh…yeah,” I stammer. “All of that.” I puff out a breath. “Fuck, I probably shouldn’t admit that I forgot you have a kid downstairs.”
She gives me a smile. “Never dated a single mom before?”
“Actually, no.”
“It’s particularly interesting when the child is old enough to move around the house on their own and understand some of the things they hear and see.”
That stops my fingertips from stroking up and down the silky skin of her back. So shehasdated.
“Oh.”
She tightens her thighs around me. “I have an IUD. I’ve never had a guy here with my daughter at home. Or without mydaughter at home,” she adds with a little wrinkle between her brows. “And I’m not dating anyone.” She pauses and studies my face again, then says, “I haven’t dated in a really long time. I haven’t had sex in a really long time either.”
Heat licks through me, and I squeeze her side. “How long?”
“I’m really busy. And often really tired at bedtime. Let’s just say that my vibrator, which can get me there in five minutes or less, is my favorite appliance. And I really, really like my espresso machine.”
I take that all in and feel the corner of my mouth curl up in a very smug grin.
“Why are you smiling like that?” she asks, also smiling.
“Trying to decide what to say to that.”
“Speechless?” she asks. “Never been with a woman who hasn’t had sex in so long?”
“Not speechless,” I correct. “Trying to decide if I should say that I can definitely get you off in under five minutes if that’s what you need. Or if I should tell you that I absolutely promise every single five-minute increment you give me past that will be absolutely worth being a little tired in the morning.”
She takes a deep shuddering breath, then shakes her head. “I’m also going to tell you that I’ve never been with a guy younger than me. You’re gonna wear me out, aren’t you?”
My laugh is louder now, and I press my lips together and glance toward the steps. Where her twelve-year-old daughter is sleeping. But I pin Thea with a very serious hot stare when I look back at her. “Yes,” I say simply and firmly.
She just stares back.
“Tell me you’re going to let me,” I tell her, my voice husky, my hips pressing more firmly into hers, where I’m sure she can feel exactly the effect she has on me.
“Yes, Josh, I am going to let you.”
Fuck, yes. I haven’t felt this triumphant about anything in a really long time. Somehow, spending more time with this woman, having a chance to get close to her, having a chance to give her pleasure, and yes, being worthy of her giving me some of her precious time and sleep, feels like a huge accomplishment.
“But it’s going to take a little juggling. Between Merry Mayhem and us not wanting anyone to catch on, and my daughter,” she says.
