Page 165 of The Fake Date Agreement

I slump over her, careful not to crush her, holding her as my cock continues to jerk, and I soften inside her.

Neither of us moves for several seconds.

“Tobie.” I lift myself off her and lie down beside her, gathering the sheets to cover us.

She’s staring up at the ceiling, and I hate myself for not being strong enough to stop things. “That was probably a mistake,” she says quietly.

“The sex or the?—”

“Not the sex,” she says, angling her head toward me. Her expression softens, and she crawls over me. “The sex will never be a mistake. Stop feeling guilty. I practically climbed you like a tree.”

I laugh, squeezing her, not just liking her with each passing day but loving her. “Yes. I suppose you did.”

I run my hand up and down her back as she relaxes. “I’m on birth control, so I think I’m okay, and one of the first things I did after Marc cheated was get myself tested.”

“And one of the first things I did when I realized I was attracted to you was get myself checked out.”

She peers up at me. “Because you wanted to have sex with me?”

“Not just want,” I correct her. “Need.”

“How’s your head?” she asks.

I take her hand when she explores the sore spot with one finger, and I kiss the tip. “What head?”

“Sorry I tackled you,” she apologizes. “You were so nice to me before, listening and hugging me. And I beat you up.”

I chuckle. “You have permission to tackle me whenever you want,Gatinha.”

To my surprise, she scoots up the bed and presses a soft kiss on the bruise. “Next time, I’ll be more careful.”

This woman lights up a part of me I didn’t know was dark.

My heart softens. I pull her into my chest and wrap my arms around her.

I have studying to do, and it’s too early in the day to be lazing in bed, but I can’t seem to want to move.

“Javier?”

“Gatinha?”

“Have you ever wanted something so badly you’re scared to say what it is in case you don’t get it?”

“Yes.”

She peels her face from my chest and peers down at me. “What did you do about it?”

My smile is mirthless. “Nothing. I’m still trying to decide what to do.”

Hockey or my family.

My gaze sharpens on her. “What is the thing you want?”

She looks away. “I’m too scared to say what it is yet.”

I kiss her forehead. “Maybe we can both learn to be a little braver and say the things we’re too afraid to say.”

She settles against me, her hand on my heart, her breath warm on my throat, and the soft flutter of her lashes on my skin is a comfort unlike any other. “I will try.”

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