Page 61 of Faking It Right
He reassured me with a soft smile. “That’s normal. But I promise, if you ever decide you’re ready, I’ll take excellent care of you.”
“Will it hurt?” I asked, feeling vulnerable but trusting him enough to ask.
“It can, if it’s not done right. But it doesn’t have to. With proper preparation and going slow, it can feel amazing.” He traced theline of my jaw. “I’d never hurt you, Ryker. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable every step of the way.”
His sincerity touched me. “That’s why I want to try.”
“Well, now I’ll be thinking about that all night, thanks a lot.”
I grinned, feeling a surge of confidence at his reaction. “Good. That was the plan.”
“You’re an evil tease, you know that?” He rolled us over, pinning me to the mattress with a playful growl. “And here I thought you were so innocent.”
I laughed, wrapping my arms around his neck. “I never claimed to be innocent. Just inexperienced.”
“We’ll work on fixing that.” Harley’s kiss stayed gentle, a sweet contrast to the fiery passion we’d shared earlier. When he pulled back and gave me an affectionate look, my heart committed treason against my cynical worldview and became a full-time sap.
“What?” I asked, self-conscious under his intense gaze.
“Nothing.” He shook his head. “I’m just happy.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” Harley rolled off me and back onto his side, pulling me close again. “Come here, I’m not done cuddling you yet.”
I went willingly, settling into our previous position with my head on his chest. His arms wrapped around me, warm and secure, making me feel loved in a way I hadn’t expected.
With a satisfied sigh, I closed my eyes to savor the rare tranquility. Harley’s heartbeat had become my favoritesoundtrack in the span of a few days. His fingers continued their aimless exploration of my skin, tracing patterns that made me shiver.
“You’re thinking too loud again,” Harley murmured against my hair.
“How can you tell?”
“Your breathing changes, and your whole body tenses up like you’re bracing for impact.”
“I do not,” I protested, though I noticed how rigid my shoulders had become and consciously relaxed them.
Harley’s laugh rumbled through his chest. “You absolutely do. I’ve been watching you think for three years.”
Three years of him noticing little things about me while I remained oblivious to his feelings. It was both humbling and mortifying.
“On a scale of one to ten, how freaked-out are you right now?” Harley asked.
“Maybe a three? Honestly, I’m surprised it’s not higher.”
“Why do you think that is?” He glanced at me with curiosity.
“Because it’s you. Everything feels natural with you, even the stuff that might be weird or scary.”
My response seemed to please him. “That’s a good answer.”
“What about you? How smug are you feeling right now?”
Harley’s laughter sounded bright and unrestrained. “Oh, I’m a solid eleven. I finally got you into bed after three years of trying.”
“You weren’t tryingthathard,” I pointed out. “You flirted, sure, but you never actually made a move.”
“Because you weren’t ready.” He continued toying with my hair. “I feared losing you as a friend if I pushed too hard.”
