Page 339 of Breaking the Rules

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Chapter Forty-Nine

Hunter

Ipress the door closed.

Emma sits on the bed. She presses her palms into her quads. Spreads her legs.

"You're nervous?" I move to the bedside table. Get a condom from the box.

"No." She presses her knees together. "A little."

"That's okay."

"Yeah." She bites her lip. "You're not going to stop asking, are you?"

I shake my head.

"That's sweet." Her eyes find mine. "But annoying."

"Sums me up in a nutshell."

She laughs. "Yeah." Her eyes flit to the foil wrapper. "Do we have to?"

"Em—"

"It's just… it's easier without it. Not going there."

"Baby, I'd love to fuck you bareback."

Her pupils dilate.

"But not until we're safe."

Her nod is slow. "I… um… I'll make an appointment next week."

"Sure."

"I was thinking I'd try an IUD."

I nod.

"Since, um… well, I think we'll be together for a while. I hope. And they're really best if you're with someone. Because they can increase your risk of STDs." Her eyes find mine. "Unless you um—"

"I want to be with you a long time."

"Me too." Her eyes go to her laptop, currently sitting on her desk. "We're not playing music."

"Do I have permission?"

She laughs. "Only to hit play."

"What if I want to curate something?"

"Hmm." She tilts her head to one side, assessing my ability to choose music. Her brow softens. Then her shoulders. Her jaw.

It's pushing everything else out of her mind.

I know she wants to be over this.

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