I liked having Jamison in my bed. The sex in the bathroom had been amazing—visual and exciting—but having him in my bed felt…comfortable. We’d climbed beneath the sheets after our showers and found each other in the darkness between giggles and shushing each other to be quiet. As I snuggled against his chest, his fingers had stroked along my bare back, until I’d tipped my chin up to kiss him. I’d lost track of how long we’d kissed for, our mouths moving in unison and our tongues tangling as our fingers explored each other’s bodies. Until he’d pushed me back into the mattress, parted my legs, and pushed deep inside me. I’d been more than ready for him. He’d slid in and out of my body, so slowly, every inch a delicious agony. Every cell of my body had screamed for more. But then his eyes had locked with mine in the low light, and there’d been something more than just heat there. Something so overwhelming, I’d stilled in the intensity of it. Suddenly, we weren’t just fucking. We were forming a connection. We were making love. The feeling scared me, but even in the short time we’d known each other, I’d come to trust him.

After he’d disposed of the condom, we’d lain together again, my fingers trailing over the ridges of his abs and the rise of his pecs. His lips pressed to my forehead.

“I should go so I’m not here when Nathan wakes up.” Jamison’s deep timbre was soft in the quiet room. His breaths were slow, and his fingertips combed through my hair, pushing strands away from my face.

“Just stay a bit longer. He’ll sleep ‘til seven. We’ll get up at six and sneak you out.”

“Just like being back in high school and sneaking out of my girlfriend’s room before her parents woke up.”

“Did you really do that?”

He nodded against my head. “Yeah, regularly.” He chuckled. “I even knew which of the steps creaked if you stood on the left-hand side, so I always stepped over that one.”

“Rick and I never did that. I was too much of a goody two shoes for that sort of thing. I didn’t like being in trouble, so I never caused any.”

“So, I’m corrupting you then?”

I smiled into his chest. “I guess you are. I really should make you leave. But I like having you here too much.”

“Me too. I don’t want to leave.”

“Then don’t.”

The silence drew out between us, but it was warm and comfortable. My chest rose and fell in time with his, and my eyes grew heavy. I pressed my lips to his chest once more, before I could fall asleep.

“Elodie?” he murmured.

“Mmm?” I was so thoroughly and delightfully spent, I could barely muster up the energy to respond.

“Do you want to be my girlfriend?”

My eyes flew open and all thoughts of sleep vanished. I lifted my head so I could check to see if he was serious. “Sorry, what?” Butterflies took flight in my stomach and a slightly panicked feeling spread through me. I’d heard what he’d said perfectly, but I needed time to process it.

“Go steady with me. Make this official. Don’t date other people. Whatever you want to call it.” He trailed his fingers over my collarbone and the swell of my breasts. “I like you.”

There was a pure, sweet honesty in his voice, one that went straight to my heart. And for the briefest moment, the word yes burned my tongue. I liked him too. More than I’d liked anyone in a very long time. And there was something between us. Something right and comfortable. Something that screamed at me to accept and see where this went. My body wanted him, and I thought maybe a tiny part of my heart did too. But then the logical side of my brain kicked in, throwing up all the reasons I shouldn’t. I’d only been single five minutes. I barely knew the man. He was too young; he hadn’t even finished Uni. His life would change dramatically when he graduated and he wouldn’t want to be tied down to a girlfriend. Especially a girlfriend with as much baggage as I had. What if he got sick of playing happy family and it wasn’t only me with a broken heart, but Nathan too? I couldn’t be that irresponsible.

I kissed his lips softly. “I can’t.”

His head dropped back to the pillow and he stared at the ceiling for a long moment, before twisting to kiss my forehead. “Okay.”

Disappointment crashed over me, hard and strong, but in my heart, I knew it was the right thing to do. It didn’t mean I liked it, though. “I can’t make that sort of commitment. It wouldn’t be fair to you. Or Nathan.”

“It’s too early. I get it.”

“Exactly. I can’t just think of myself. There’s Nathan, and Rick…”

The arm beneath my head stiffened. “Rick? What’s he got to do with it?”

“He’s Nathan’s father. He’s always going to be in my life.”

“Of course. But what has that got to do with us?”

I shook my head. I didn’t know. I didn’t know why I’d even said Rick’s name while I was lying in the arms of a new man. A man I really liked.

“Jamison, I—”

“You know what? It’s three a.m. We’re both tired. Let’s talk about it in the morning.”

His voice was gentle, but then he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. I rolled away from him, to my side of the bed. Shit. I didn’t want this to end. Not yet. I needed time. I scrambled for a way to fix the situation, but he was right. I was tired and it took me a long time to think of what I wanted to say.

“Jamison? There’s a dinner coming up at work, on February 20th. It’s at the racecourse actually. It’s a really big deal; all the managing partners and our biggest clients will be there.” Hope filled my chest. “Will you come with me?” The dinner was still a few weeks away, but I was trying to give him something. Some sign that told him I wanted more than what we’d had so far.

Just say yes. I can’t commit to anything long term, but see that I’m trying. Say yes.

He didn’t move. His breaths were slow and even, and after a long moment, I sighed and rolled over so my back was to him. I was pretty sure he wasn’t asleep.