Page 31 of Finding Emotion

Skylar blinked before sitting back, her ass resting on his thighs as she straddled him. “Wait, you weren’t sure it was okay to let me fuck you? Like, what, it was forcing things or something?” She snorted. “Hell, I was the one that took you. And the sex was damn good.” She shrugged, looking away. “Great, actually. Phenomenal, even. I don’t normally come like that.”

The hair along Damon’s forearms prickled, and he couldn’t help the lance of desire that slid through him at her admission. “You don’t?” Damn it, his voice had turned all husky.

“I mean, I know how to get myself off.” Skylar rolled her shoulders, her ass shifting a bit on his legs. “But when that panic shit hits, it’s not always about that.” Her hands moved to rub her arms, as if she was suddenly cold. “And definitely not three fucking times. I was impressed you held out that long.”

The memory of each time she’d squeezed down on him brought sweat to his forehead. He told himself to focus. “Panic attacks are no joke. Do you know what brings them on?”

She scowled at him. “Don’t play doctor, at least not unless it’s in a fun way.” Her eyes narrowed, but it didn’t seem like she was seeing him. “I know exactly what causes them, and normally I can stem it off.”

Damon frowned as he tried to place her expression. It was no longer anger; not exactly. She shifted her weight again, a trembling taking over her body. “Hey, you don’t have to tell me anything.” His own hands came up to settle over hers, where they still clutched her arms, and he rubbed to give her more warmth. “I’m glad it doesn’t happen often.”

“Glad, are you?” Skylar shifted forward until she was on her knees instead, rubbing along Damon’s partial erection as she straddled his waist. His hands tightened over hers when she shimmied, sending a spark through him. She leaned closer to his face, her lips almost brushing his as she spoke. “Are you sure you’re not disappointed?”

Damon tried to tug his mind back from the heat and forced himself to release her, bracing his hands behind him again. “I’m sure. I mean, I enjoyed sex with you, but I don’t wish for you to go through that first.” He remembered how she’d huddled into herself, and it was easier to swallow.

A puff of air brushed his face when Skylar snorted. “Seriously? You really are sweet.” Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she rested her chest against his, her lips still tantalizingly close. “Next, you’ll tell me you don’t want to hear the story,” she murmured against him.

Her eyes stared straight into his but were almost impossible to read. “Do you need to tell it, Skylar?” he asked.

Her fingers played over the back of his neck before she shook her head. “I’d rather forget.”

“Then, honestly, don’t tell me.” His hands came up behind her, massaging her back. “As long as we’re good, that’s all I needed to hear.”

“Huh,” she grunted, sitting back again, which pressed her more firmly against his hands. There was a deliberate shimmy to her hips. “You’ve got a partial woody.”

Damon forced a strained chuckle. “Well, you’re hot, Skylar, and you’re pressed up against him.”

“I’m surprised it’s only a partial.” She rocked forward, and her body felt good on his. “Want me to take care of it?”

He wondered if he’d embarrass himself again if she put her mouth on him. “No. Knowing you enjoyed it earlier is enough for me.”

“You’re so weird,” she muttered, leaning forward and resting against his chest.

“I’ve got my own hang-ups about sex.” Damon tensed, waiting for a snort or laugh.

“Really?” she murmured instead.

“Yeah. My ex did a number on me.” His hands began to rub slow circles over her.

Her fingers paused where they brushed his neck as her shoulders stiffened, but then she slowly breathed out, relaxing.

“I didn’t realize until it was over,” Damon admitted. “Her parting shot that she’d always been faking kind of fucked with me.”

Skylar shrugged where she lay against him. “Some women do. I don’t, though.” She brushed her lips above the neckline of his shirt. “You definitely got me there.”

Damon shook his head, pausing when hers claimed the space against his neck that the movement created. He eased back until he was lying on the floor, holding her against him so she wouldn’t slide right off. “I’m pretty sure that was all your doing, Skylar. You had control.”

“True that.” She sighed instead of laughing. “It’s hella strange. You’re getting handsy, so I should be all tense.”

He remembered her order not to touch her in the gym, and his stroking paused. “Oh, sorry.”

Her shoulders shifted, as if seeking his touch. “No, keep going.”

He started rubbing again. Her legs stretched out along his as she softened into him.

“Like it,” she murmured, her lips brushing his neck again. “Weird. I”—a yawn interrupted her words—“feel safe.”

The sleepy murmur caused Damon’s chest to squeeze. “Thanks.” Her words should have made him feel like a wimp again, but they felt like the best compliment ever.

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