“I know I’m not great about sharing where I’m at emotionally, but I want you to know that I feel the same. I like you. I like you a lot; more than I ever planned on allowing myself to.” Placing my hand on his shoulder, I slide it up the side of his neck, cupping his cheek. “Caring so much for you is scary and nerve wracking for me. Please promise me if you ever want to be with someone else you’ll end things with me first.”

“Where is this coming from? I haven’t been with anyone or even looked twice at someone else since our first kiss. I don’t want anyone but you, Candy. Christ, I’ve been living like a monk for months now.”

“After last night, I don’t know if you can claim that anymore.”

“Did you forget about this morning?” he whispers, huskily.

My cheeks heat with a flush as visions of him above me, his cock slamming into my pussy, storm my mind.

“What naughty thoughts have your cheeks pinking up so much?”

Raking my teeth over my bottom lip, I lower my eyes shyly. “I’m thinking about this morning.”

“I’ve been having a similar problem myself. Football practice was a bitch. Wearing a cup and having a semi is fucking painful.”

I can’t hold in the giggle that sneaks out.

He releases my hand and narrows his eyes. “I see how it is. You find my pain amusing.”

“No, I really don’t. But the thought of you on a football field with a bunch of other guys and a hard on is pretty funny.”

“I’ll show you funny,” he warns, just before his hands reach my sides. All ten fingertips dig into the sensitive skin below my ribs, tickling me.

Shrieks of laughter fly out of my lips as I fall to my back fighting to escape his method of torture. “Stop...please.” Legs flailing and torso twisting, I do my best to wiggle free, but it’s no use. He’s all over me, relentless, like he’s practicing submissions in the gym. “This isn’t fair,” I pant when he settles between my legs.

“Life isn’t fair, Candy.” The pressure of his fingers eases as his warm palms slip under my shirt and languidly skim up my rib cage. I haul in a jagged breath, stomach sucking inward as his touch transforms into slow, tormenting caresses. The unanticipated change has me moaning his name. His heated gaze stays joined to mine as his fingers trickle across the flat expanse of my stomach, pausing to toy with the button on my shorts.

“Please,” I beg, shamelessly. “I want your hands on me.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” I whisper, my voice cracking with desire.

“What else do you want?”

“I want your mouth on me.” I can’t believe the words I’m saying. I’ve never been comfortable enough to ask anyone for what I want sexually.

“Hmm, I want that too.” He pushes the metal button through the loop. “You can be my dessert.” Tugging the zipper down, my eyes follow his tongue as he slicks it along his rounded bottom lip. I want to clamp my teeth into the fullness and suck it between my lips.

“I bet you taste even better than I’ve imagined.” Oh god. His words send fiery tingles to my core.

Ripping the shorts along with my tiny green panties down my legs, he tosses them to the side. The blanket is pleasantly smooth under my bare skin. Lowering his torso, he raises my legs over his shoulders, flashing a rakish grin my way, before his mouth closes over my slit.

Air sucks in through my teeth when his tongue slithers from my entrance to flick my clit. My hips raise, and his answering growl vibrates against the engorged flesh. Gripping my hips, his tight hold is borderline painful, but I like it. I love knowing he wants me so much.

He hooks two fingers inside my pussy, hitting the spot that no one else has ever found.

“You’re so fucking wet,” he says, between sucking and circling my clit with his tongue.

Rocking against his fingers, I clasp his head with my hands and push his face into my pussy.

“Fuck, yes,” he growls, deeply. His fingers pick up the pace, and his tongue mimics the same motion against my clit.

“Yes, don’t stop,” I cry, panting as the pressure builds. He drives me higher than I’ve ever been and my legs tremble right before I explode into the most magnificent orgasm of my life. Eyes squeezing shut, pleasure wracks through every inch of my body. My back bows off the blanket, my fingers clench, nails sinking into the taut muscles of Nick’s shoulders. Even my toes curl from the powerful release, heels pressing on his thick back.

Overcome by the moment, my mind is blank. I can’t form a coherent thought; I can barely find the energy to take air in and out of my lungs. My limbs are weak, feeling like there are no bones inside.

Nick’s mouth remains on my pussy, unhurried while he licks up all traces of my orgasm. His dark head raises, and his wet, shiny lips form a mischievous grin. Swiping his arm across his mouth, he crawls forward between my spread legs. Bracing his weight on his muscular forearms, he appears over me. “I could do that all night.”

His hazel eyes trace over my features. “Are you okay?” A small line forms between his thick, dark brows.

“Yes, I’m great. What could possibly be wrong after that?”

“You look like you’re thinking. I’m just making sure you’re not having regrets already. You’re too good to be true for a guy like me.”

“No, my brain wasn’t functioning for a minute. There are no regrets on my end. I’m not some wishy washy young girl who changes her mind on a whim, Nick.” Running my fingers over his bulging bicep, I confess, “I care about you and want to be with you.”

His white smile shines brightly at me. “You have no idea how happy it makes me to hear you say those words.”

“Oh, I bet I do.” As happy as it makes me when you tell me how much you care.

His mouth lowers to brush mine. “Let’s get you dressed so I can row us back across before it gets dark.”

“Have you ever slept here?”

“No, I never have. Why? Is that something you’d be interested in doing?”

“It might be fun.”

“You’re full of surprises, you know that?”

* * *

“Today and for the rest of this week, I have double football practices and I should find some time to get to the gym for some sparring.” He advances, caging me against the inside of my front door to kiss me goodbye.

After our evening at the pond, we came back to my place and watched some old episodes of Star Trek. I’m not a huge sci-fi fan, but I think I could become one if it meant spending more time with Nick. He was patient with me when I asked questions about the various characters. He probably wanted to shove his hand over my mouth and tell me to hush, but he never showed his frustration. I’m not naive about men and their love of television. He definitely earned some serious bonus points for that.

When it was time to go to sleep, he held me in his arms all night and didn’t try to initiate sex. And it wasn’t that he wasn’t interested. His hard on poking my ass, clued me in to how much he wanted me.

He woke early to shower first and then made me coffee and a bagel, while I took my turn under the hot water. I could get used to having him around, spoiling me, but I’m scared to give someone such an important role in my life again.

Pressing his lips to mine, he tugs me closer, hands roaming over the curves of my ass. “I’m not sure how much free time I’ll have when you’re not at work.”

“Don’t worry, I understand.” Scrunching up my nose in distaste, I continue, “I’m not a clingy girlfriend type.” Leaning my head back against the wood, I observe his handsome face, drinking in the dark stubble dotting his chiseled jawline.

His index finger glides down my nose, tapping the tip twice. “Maybe I want you to be a clingy girlfriend who’ll miss me when I’m not around.”

“I can miss you without being pathetic about it.”

“Touché.” He joins our lips for a final soft kiss. “I’m sure going to miss you. How do you feel about clingy boyfriends?”