“Really? You’re sure?”
I smiled. “Yes: no more playing hunt the lost condom.”
He laughed softly. “I kinda liked that game.”
“Well, I didn’t. Anyway, we’re good to go,” I said, arching one eyebrow. “Oh, but I should mention… I don’t know if this will bother you… but I got my period. That’s why I know it’s safe for us to stop using condoms. Does it bother you? I mean, will it bother you?”
I felt suddenly anxious: we were reaching for a new level of intimacy and I wasn’t sure what his reaction would be.
“Can you? I mean, is it okay to… while you’re…? I don’t want to hurt you…”
I stroked his cheek. He looked so worried.
“Yes, we can still make love. I was just checking that you were okay with… a little bit of blood.”
His eyes were huge. “I want to make love to you, Caro. God, I want to.”
“Then I think you’re wearing too many clothes.”
He responded immediately, kicking his sneakers off his bare feet and tearing his T-shirt over his head. I thought I heard one of the seams rip.
“Hey, it’s okay! We’ve got all night. I want to take it slow with you.”
He looked confused for a moment, then smiled shyly.
“Okay.”
I pushed him down so he was sitting on the edge of the bed again, and sat astride him. His arms encircled my waist, pulling me towards him.
“Mmm,” I said, nuzzling his chin as I wrapped my arms around his neck, “this is my happy place.”
Using my teeth, I tugged gently on his earlobe and was rewarded with a soft moan. I let my fingers ripple across his back, enjoying the feel of his skin and the tautness of his defined muscles. I used my fingertips to massage him lightly and he groaned again.
“What’s your favorite color?” I whispered against his neck.
“What? Um… blue. No, green. Red – maybe.”
“That sounded definite! So, football or baseball? Or maybe basketball? Hockey?”
“Basket… base… um…”
“Are you finding it difficult to concentrate?” I teased him.
“Caro, I can barely remember my own name when I’m with you!”
I chuckled quietly. “What do you like for breakfast?”
“Jeez, I don’t know!”
“Tell me!”
“I don’t usually eat breakfast.”
“Well, what would you like tomorrow?”
“You!” he said.
He stood up suddenly, taking me with him, then threw me down on the bed.
“Enough with the slow,” he said, his eyes dark and serious.
A pulse of desire and lust and need surged through me.
I sat up slowly, hooking my fingers into his belt loops and pulled him towards me. He trembled as I ran the tips of my fingers under his waistband. With bold hands, I traced the outline of his erection through his jeans. He inhaled sharply.
Watching his face the entire time, I opened his jeans, one button at a time, and pulled them down his long, strong, tan legs. His eyelids fluttered closed and he breathed deeply as I pushed the jeans past his knees.
They tangled around his ankles and he nearly fell over trying to kick them off. I smothered a laugh. Sebastian didn’t have an arrogant bone in his body, but he was a man, and all men have their pride.
“Come and lie down next to me,” I said, still smiling.
I wiggled out of my skirt and tossed it onto the floor. Tonight was not a night to worry about creased clothing.
We lay facing each other: he in his briefs, me in my T-shirt and panties. He scooted down the bed till our faces were at the same level and he smiled at me.
“Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.”
“What’s your favorite color?” he said.
“I have absolutely no idea.”
He laughed happily and ran his warm fingers down my arm.
“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed.
“So are you,” I countered, “and so sweet.”
He frowned slightly and let his hand drift over my body until he was cupping my backside. He squeezed gently and I responded by hooking my leg over his hip.