Page 23 of Sticking Around

The second I see the stricken look on his face, blood rushes back into my brain, and I realize what we’ve done.

“Oh no.”

9

Brady

“I’m on the pill,” Melanie blurts out.

My stalled heart starts beating again as she climbs off my body, my cock sliding from her slick, warm channel. “I always use a condom.”

Her dress falls over her thighs as she stands, her flushed cheeks paling slightly. “I don’t know what I was thinking. I’m sorry, Brady.”

“We both got carried away.” Hell, this isn’t all on her. I hold responsibility for it too.

“Yeah, but that’s never happened to me before.”

“Same,” I tell her, not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad. “You’re on the pill,” I mumble, mostly to myself.

“I am. It helps regulate my periods,” she says, and I meet her troubled gaze as she takes a step back, stopping when her legs hit the coffee table. Dammit, I didn’t mean to sound like I was challenging that, or that I didn’t believe her. I stand, shove my dick back into my boxers and pull her to me.

She’s stiff at first, and I rub her back. Her body softens against mine and I whisper, “It’s all good.” I press my mouth to her ear. “I’m clean, if you’re worried about that. Like I said, I always use a condom.”

“I’m clean too.”

I chuckle lightly. “Dammit, now I know why that felt so incredible. Skin on skin.” I’m not sure if that’s the reason, though. I think it felt incredible because it was with this amazing woman.

“It was pretty nice.”

I laugh, and inch back. “Nice? Nice enough that you said you never wanted to stop doing it.” I take in the pink on her cheeks.

She glances away, almost sheepish. “I did say that, didn’t I?”

“Did you mean it?”

“Well yeah. I mean, until your pre-season kicks in.”

“Right.” I can’t tell whether I’m relieved or not by that. The truth is I like her, and I want to keep doing it too. I just hope that I’ll have worked her out of my system by the time pre-season does start. She swallows, and it sounds tortured. “Water?”

“Yes please.”

I give her backside a tap. “Why don’t you get started on your next chapter?”

She stretches her arms out. “I think I’ll have a fast shower first. Join me?”

I laugh. “If I join you, it won’t be a fast shower, and you have studying to do.”

“Also, I might need to make a trip back to my place. It’s possible I’ve run out of panties.”

I grin, and reach around to my back pocket, tapping the panties I stole. “You don’t need panties this weekend, Lanie.”

She laughs and kisses me, and I’m happy that the tension from earlier has dissipated. Christ, not once have I forgotten to use a condom. Thank God she’s on the pill, or we’d be running to the drug store. I will never bring a child into this world. I mean, what if something happened and I couldn’t be there for them. Nope, not going there.

“Are you okay?” Melanie asks, and I shake off bad memories. I tap her ass again. “Let me get you a drink before you shower.” I start toward the kitchen and my phone rings. The familiar chime is a reminder that I forgot to call my mother back, and that’s her now. My muscles stiffen as I pick up my phone and slide my finger across the screen. I catch Melanie’s curious gaze as I walk into the kitchen.

“Hey,” I say as I answer.

“I’ve been calling.” Mom’s voice is a bit slurry. No doubt from all the pain meds…mixed with alcohol.

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