Page 56 of Good Enough

And now I’m totally screwed. I started something I can’t one hundred percent finish. Idiot.

Normally, he would be happy to take her to bed and make her lose all sense of time and space, but there were some things he needed to clarify before he could allow this to go further.

“I hate to ruin the moment, baby, but we need to talk.”

He felt her breath freeze inside her. “What is it?”

“Relax.” Pushing her off of his chest to bring their faces together, nuzzling the tip of her nose with his. “I see panic welling in those beautiful brown eyes. I’m not changing my mind. Exhale, okay?”

“Okay,” she agreed. He felt her exhale, purposefully trying to relax. And failing miserably.

Brushing the hair out of her face, Waters made sure she was looking at him and completely aware of him. “Neither one of us is new to sex, but we’ve obviously not discussed certain factors. It wasn’t like either of us woke up this morning thinking we’d be where we are right now. I just want you to know you’re safe. I cleared all my physicals after my injuries two years ago, and I haven’t been with anyone since then. But—”

“Before that, you were leading a parade?”

Her words stung a little bit. “That wasn’t where I was going with this, but I don’t know that I would have called it a ‘parade,’” he groused.

She leaned down to kiss him on the forehead, then brushed a fingertip across one eyebrow. “That’s okay. I didn’t expect anything different. I’ve been with two other men, the most recent being six years ago.”

Waters took a moment to process.

What the fuck? How the hell has this woman not had a string of lovers? Definitely should have had more than two.

Not the issue. Need to tackle the real issue.

“What I was about to say was, I’m not physically prepared for this to happen. I figured if I didn’t bring anything along, I wouldn’t be tempted.”

“Oh.” She was trying not to show her disappointment.

So fucking adorable.

“No worries, baby. Tonight, we can play. But I don’t want to run any risks for you, so we’ll just have to wait for the really good stuff until I can run into Coxen Hole.”

“That city really should have a different name, all things considered,” she mumbled and blushed.

He thought about what he’d just said and started chuckling. “Yeah, it probably should.”

Both were grinning as he pressed a light kiss on her beauty mark.

“I’m on birth control, but… I get it. Safer all around to both be protected.”

“I promise I’ll make it worth the wait.”

He lowered his hands to grip underneath her ass, then turned off the couch so both feet were flat on the floor. Standing with her still wrapped around him, he headed toward her suite. “In the meantime,” he growled, “no more talking except to tell me how good it feels when I make you come.” His mouth crashed into hers, teeth immediately nipping her bottom lip to have her open her lips and let his tongue in to wage war on the inside of her mouth.

Once inside her room, he set her on the edge of the bed, flicking a finger and telling her to move toward the center. He made sure she complied, then he turned and closed the double doors to the War Room, flipping the lock. Returning to the bed, he followed her down onto the rumpled sheets. Kai’s legs slid to dangle off the side of the bed.

Kai’s neck arched as Waters lowered his mouth to her pulse point. His warm breath pressed openmouthed kisses along the column of her neck, his hands gently squeezing her breasts. He was murmuring something to her, but he was so overwhelmed he didn’t know what he had said. All he knew was that the words felt as if they were affirmations, as if he were telling her all the ways she pleased him.

He went up on one knee between her legs. “Waters,” she moaned as he moved off of her.

“Shh, baby. I’m still here.” He moved his arms behind his head and pulled his T-shirt up and over, chest and arm muscles rippling with the action, then flexing as he folded it and lightly tossed it toward the chair in the corner of the room.

Her eyes glittered up at him, and she exhaled a soft moan. “Why is that so fucking sexy?”

Looking down at her, he asked, “What’s that?”

“When men take their shirts off like that. Just grab it from behind their shoulders and whip it off.”

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