Page 143 of From Now On

A few wriggles later, my pants are a pool of cotton around my ankles. I jerk my underwear down, not bothering with my shirt, and then return to Hunter’s lap.

We both groan at how much better it feels skin to skin.

Hunter’s hands land on my waist, moving me back a couple of inches. At first, I think he’s trying to take his pants all the way off. Then, I realize he’s reaching into his pocket.

I stare at the foil packet in his hand.

“Don’t put it on.”

He stills. “What?”

“Don’t wear one.”

“It’s not a big deal to me, Eve. Now, or ever.”

“Itisa big deal to me,” I tell him. “It felt like I couldn’t be too careful, because of my mom.”

Hunter nods. “I get it, Eve. And I’d never?—”

I press a finger to his lips. “That’s not what I mean. I’ve never had sex without one before. And I don’t want you to wear one. I want to feel you. There are other, um, protections in place. So we could, ifyouwant to.”

“Eve.” His voice is soft and achingly intimate. My room has never felt so tiny. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

“That’s not what this is. I promise. I want to…I wantyou.”

Hunter holds my gaze like he’s trying to read the truth there. Then he drops the condom and reaches for me, pulling me right on top of his cock.

“Go slowly, or else there’s no way I’m going to last…fuck.” The last word is strangled, his grip on my hips tightening more with every inch I take between my thighs.

“It feels different?” I ask.

His Adam’s apple bobs with a swallow. “Yeah,” he replies hoarsely.

“Have you done it like this…before?”

An involuntary question I regret asking as soon as I catch the subtle grimace on his face.

“Never mind,” I add quickly.

That will teach me to bring up the past during sex. And considering I dated someone else for years while we attended the same school, I have no right to be upset that he’s been with other people.

But emotions are rarely rational.

“It was high school, Eve,” he tells me. “I barely knew what I was doing.”

“You don’t have to explain,” I say, but I do feel better knowing that it was a while ago.

“I will. If you want to know something, ask me.”

I can feel his balls beneath my ass. He’s fully seated, and I’m pretty sure I can feel that thick vein pulsing inside of me. I clench my inner muscles, and the cords of his neck flex.

“Not that fucking slow, Eve.”

“You should have been more specific,” I tease, running a finger down the bridge of his nose.

“You’re so fucking tight. And wet. I can feel it dripping out of you.”

My inner muscles spasm again, this time unintentionally.

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