Page 80 of So Steady

“So come. Say my name while you do it.”

She opened her mouth, as though to say something, but then her lips pressed together and he knew she wouldn’t speak. He drove inside her, watching, feeling. She came screaming his name, her hands raking his shoulders. When she was done, she laughed, shaking all over. “Noah…”

“Hold on.” He was now so close it hurt. He closed his eyes and pressed deep, feeling the pressure pulling him down. In seconds, heat was burning through him and he collapsed into her, breathing like he’d run a marathon. “Jesus.”

Nicole’s hands smoothed across his back, cool as a bathroom floor. “Good?”

He nodded, burying his face in her sweet-smelling hair.

She giggled. “Are you going to move again?”

“Maybe…” Realising he was crushing her, he rose onto his palms. “You okay?”

She beamed, and then her expression changed so fast, it was almost funny. Her nostrils flared, her mouth flattened. He could only see from her nose down, but it was obvious she was freaked out. “What? What is it?”

But she cupped a hand between her legs. “We…without a condom.”

Jesus. This was why you never did what he’d just gone and fucking done. “I’m sorry, Nikki—”

“Don’t be.” Her voice was hard. “I told you to do it.”

“If you’re worried about getting pregnant…” He had no idea how to finish that statement. I make great toast? I’ll pay if you want to get rid of it? I wouldn’t mind being tied to you like that, Nikki.

The doorbell cut him off before he could say anything stupid, ringing loudly somewhere beneath them. He froze. “Who’s—”

“I have no idea.” Nicole whipped his t-shirt off her head, looking terrified. “It can’t be Aaron, he wouldn’t knock.”

That obvious fact got his heart going again. “Maybe a salesperson or something?”

“I’m not sure.” Still pale, Nicole stood, pulling his t-shirt over her head. It fell almost to her knees, a baggy black dress. She grabbed the box of tissues off the side table and swiped one between her legs. Then, to his irritation, she ran to the pile of Aaron’s shit, extracted her watch and snapped it over her tattoo. “Stay here. I’ll see who it is.”

Before he could say anything, she was padding down the stairs. He considered going after her, thought better of it and slumped back on the floor, utterly wrecked. He listened, female voices drifting up toward him. He couldn’t make out what they were saying. His headwaspounding. Had he just barebacked Nicole in her ex-fiancé’s bedroom? He didn’t want to be proud of it, but some caveman part of him was beating his chest and telling him to wipe his dick on Aaron’s pillow.

Nicole returned a few minutes later, looking mortified. “Oh my gosh…”

He sat up. “Everything okay?”

She pressed her hands to her mouth, avoiding his eyes. “Yes, it was Mrs Harris.”

“What did she want?”

“She thought…well…” Nicole giggled and he felt his mood lift. She was happy. That meant everything, no matter how bad, was okay.

“She thought I was robbing the place?”

“Basically.” Nicole giggled. “Sorry, it’s just funny. She’s such a prude and when she saw I answered the door, her eyebrows shot up her forehead. She asked me if I was comfortable being alone with you.”

“What’d you say?”

She gestured at his t-shirt. “I don’t think I had to say anything.”

He laughed, feeling like a boulder had been rolled off his chest. “She knew you were fucking the robber?”

“You’re not a robber!” Nicole looked offended on his behalf and it was so sweet, he had to hold her. He reached forward, grabbing her legs and pulling her onto his chest. She went down willingly, mock-pounding at his chest and shoulders. “Let me go.”

“No,” he said, kissing her cheek. “I’m not done stealing from you.”

She turned her serious navy eyes onto him. “You’re not stealing from me, Iwantyou to take things from me, and I’m sorry about before. I’m on the pill, I’m not worried about getting pregnant, it’s just…”

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