Leaning forward again, she lowered her voice. “One time, before we were together, we just made out with our shirts off. It was scary to be so exposed, but I also felt good. I liked Cooper and wanted to be close to someone. When he held me and didn’t make fun of me for being scared, I started trusting him. It didn’t magically fix things, but it was a start. Over time, I would have fun during sex even if it took me longer to actually orgasm.”
I glanced at Dylan and bit my lip. “I really want to be close to him. I’m just worried I’ll freak out and he’ll ditch me.”
“I don’t think Dylan’s that kind of guy. He cares about you and has for a while. I saw him stealing glances at you months ago. His feelings are real. If you do freak out, he’ll understand. He wants all of you and he wants to keep you. You need to trust in that.”
I looked at where Dylan was getting bowling pointers from Vaughn. He wore a serious expression, clearly hoping to improve enough to give the V-team a run for their money.
“I’m going to practice.”
“Just remember what you’re feeling isn’t wrong. With time, you’ll get control of the bad feelings, but don’t blame yourself for having issues.”
“Have you tried therapy?” I asked.
Farah shook her head. “I’m going to try though. I’m really nervous about having the baby and Tawny says therapy helps her.”
“It takes some getting used to,” I admitted. “I guess we’re both going to practice until we get the hang of new things.”
Smiling, Farah scooted off the chair. “I better get back before Cooper thinks someone’s messed with his woman. He goes pretty caveman lately,” she said then added, “I love when he does. I know I shouldn’t, but I need him to make me feel pretty.”
“You are pretty.”
“This,” she said, rubbing her belly, “doesn’t always make me feel so sexy. Cooper loved the baby bump though.”
I instinctively placed my hand on my stomach and wondered about the future. Was it possible that with enough practice I could enjoy sex? Could I be a wife and mother one day with as much ease as I was a sister and daughter now? If practice was the secret, touching Dylan was going to be the most pleasurable experiment ever.
Chapter Fourteen ~ Dylan
My whole day sucked. I woke up in a weird position, having irritated the exit wound scar on my back. The spot bothered me all morning. Once a cold snap struck around noon, my chest scar throbbed too.
The guys on the worksite whined about the cold. A few were solely focused on the upcoming holidays. My only concern was getting Cooper’s office finished before the weather turned to shit and supplies got harder to come by.
Lunch upset my stomach and too much coffee only made it worse. By the time Nick showed up after his classes, I was in a shit mood.
“Go,” he said, pointing for the door. “Visit your woman and see if she can turn that frown upside down.”
While Nick snickered at my grumpiness, I left him to take over the jobsite. The guys were slacking off again when I walked past them. Hell, they didn’t even fake work for my benefit. Nick appeared behind.
“Oh, Dylan, I know a few guys looking for construction work. They have experience too. You might want to meet them.”
Frowning, I didn’t get his point, but the guys did. They were replaceable and Nick had no allegiance to them. Work picked up as Nick stood nearby. I left the office, feeling better than I had all day.
My good mood didn’t last long.
For whatever reason, Jace got on my nerves. He had a dark gaze like a predator dissecting its prey. Whenever he smiled though, his face changed and I saw the kid underneath. Of course, he rarely smiled at the guy dating his sister.
“Busted,” Jace said, answering the door. “Poor dumb Dylan.”
Frowning, I was ready to ask what he meant. Winnie appeared first and walked past her brother, shutting the door on his smirk.
“What’s going on?” I asked, nervous after a long crappy day.
“Do you sit outside our house in your SUV?” she asked, staring at me wide-eyed. “Harlow said you do and she doesn’t lie to me.”
Even knowing this conversation was always a possibility, I didn’t know how to answer her. I shoved my hands into my pockets and stepped back. Needing a minute to think, I wanted to find the right words to make her understand. Except those words didn’t exist.
“Why would you do that?” she asked when I remained silent.
“I get tense,” I muttered. “I feel overwhelmed, I guess. My friends bailed on me when Larry pulled his shit. The business is taking off and that’s great, but it’s a lot of pressure. I felt alone until I met you.”
Winnie stared at me and I couldn’t read the expression in her normally expressive hazel eyes.