Adam woke up with a warm sexy woman wrapped around him, which felt really nice, but his brain was screaming at him. What in the hell had he just done? Had sex with a woman, nine years younger than he was, that’s what. After all his self-righteous, judgmental pontificating toward Beau about being seven years older than Alyssa, he’d just done the same damn thing with an even wider gap in age.

He’d loved every minute of it. Even though he’d had to silence his thoughts. But once the deed was accomplished his convictions had roared back with a vengeance. So how to move forward? That was the real question. Pretend it didn’t happen? Act like it was a one-time phenomenon? Enjoy her while she was here? A permanent relationship was not in the cards. He was still too old for her. He needed a mature woman by his side.

Maybe he could take his cues from her. Or maybe he should run like hell.

“Having second thoughts?” she asked.

Damn she’d caught him. Had he tensed up? “Not exactly. Just trying to figure out the next step.”

She nodded, and her hair tickled his chest. “I was wondering the same thing, but it was too comfortable here with you to move. So, I decided not to think about it.”

He sighed. “That is certainly one of the options. Maybe not the best one in the long run, but certainly appealing at the moment.”

“We’ve got options. We can look at it as an itch scratched, one time, no harm no foul.”

The easiest idea by far but for some reason he didn’t really feel like the itch had been scratched. In fact, the idea kind of ticked him off.

She continued, “We can enjoy the time I’m here, in bed at the end of the day.”

That sounded a little better, he would enjoy her. But was it courting disaster? Continuing a sexual relationship. And could he get his conscience to shut the hell up for that?

“We can play it by ear, on a day to day basis. Not crossing it off the list, but not making it a given either.” He felt her shrug.

An interesting idea, but then how would they determine when they came together.

“We could develop some kind of code for it.”

Shit, was she reading his mind?

“Like that old song, Knock Three Times.”

A laugh burst forth. “That song from the seventies? How do you even know about that? You weren’t even born yet. Hell, I wasn’t born yet. For that matter my parents would have just been babies.”

She giggled. “My grandmother loved Tony Orlando and Dawn. She played it often and we would dance to it. It’s one of my favorite memories of her.”

“A fun memory. Is she gone now?”

“About a year ago. I miss her a lot.” Her breath caught, and he wished he hadn’t asked.

He rubbed her back trying to ease the pain he was certain she was feeling. “I’m sorry.”

She sniffed. “Changing the subject.” Then she reached up and knocked three times on his headboard.

He wasn’t about to disappoint a lady trying to reign in her sadness, so he let his hands roam her body, looking for ways to arouse her. He kissed the top of her head then her nose and settled on her mouth. He gave her long drugging kisses while his fingers lightly skimmed over her perfect body. Teasing, tickling, arousing every inch.

When he had her squirming, she reached down and took hold of his cock and ran her fingers up and down it until his eyes crossed.

He groaned. “Stop, or we won’t be able to continue.”

She grinned at him and reached for another condom he’d brought in with him and put on the night stand. She used her teeth to tear the package open and then rolled it on him. He gritted his teeth against the pleasure. When it was fully on, he slid between her legs and filled her.

She sighed in pleasure and he held still, loving the wet heat that surrounded him. After a few moments she wrapped her legs around his hips and he took that as the sign to start moving. They moved together in natural harmony that he’d never experienced before with a woman. For some strange reason their bodies seemed to be in sync with each other.

The pleasure built as he rocked into her again and again. Until he felt her body start to gather, so he sped up the friction to urge her on. She came hard, scratching his back in the process. He didn’t mind, in fact, the slight pain carried him into an explosive orgasm that emptied him out.

When he gathered enough strength to move he rolled off her drawing her with him, so she ended on top. He didn’t want to squish her. He was a big heavy guy and she needed to be able to breathe.

They stayed like that for a long time. Replete and relaxed. Eventually she moved off of him and he took that as his cue to leave. He gave her a long kiss. “I’m going back to my room now, sweet dreams, lovely lady.”

She watched him dress and waved as he walked to the door. “Sweet dreams to you too, Adam.”

He walked down the hall to his room and couldn’t bring himself to regret his actions. It had been too perfect. Tomorrow it might haunt him, but tonight it felt excellent.

* * *

Rachel was sated and boneless. When Adam got up to go back to his room she didn’t feel the least bit disappointed. She just wanted to sleep, it had been a long day and she was tired. She waved goodbye to him and pulled the covers to her chin.

Before she could close her eyes, Alyssa burst in her door. Damn, she should have gotten out of bed when Adam left, and locked it.

Alyssa was standing just inside the door, still as a statue her mouth hanging open.

“If you’re going to burst in my room the least you could do is shut the door.”

Alyssa looked back at the door and then turned to Rachel, frowned and pushed the door closed and locked it.

Darn it. No sleeping for her, now. She sat up keeping the sheet over her. “Hand me my robe. It’s on the closet door.”

Alyssa looked at the closet door and back to Rachel still not saying a word.

This was getting old. “Alyssa, knock it off and hand me my damn robe. What the hell is wrong with you, anyway?”

Alyssa got the robe off the closet door hanger and handed it to her. “I’m just surprised. I saw Adam leave your room and was afraid he’d been in here being an ass. It never occurred to me you two were tearing up the sheets.”

“My sheets are just fine, he was not being an ass, and we had two rounds of very excellent sex. Any other questions?” She lifted an eyebrow while holding the robe in one hand.

“You had sex with Adam? Twice?”

Rachel rolled her eyes at her friend. “Do I need to draw you a picture?”

Alyssa giggled. “Mr. High and Mighty had sex with a woman nine years younger, when he was giving Beau a hard time about me?” She laughed and clapped her hands. “That’s awesome, I can’t wait to tell Beau.”

“Oh no, you don’t. You might discuss everything with Beau, but I don’t want my sex life broadcast about the house. Or Beau giving Adam a hard time.”

“Well hell. I suppose you’re right. It’s not my place to say anything.”

She put her arms through the robe and drew the front closed. “No, it’s not, and it’s not like we’re going to get married, or anything. We are two single consenting adults, enjoying some intimacy.”

“So, are you going to keep going at it?”

“I haven’t decided.”

Alyssa rubbed her hands gleefully. “Is that why he left? You kicked him out?”

“No, but I wasn’t sad to see him leave, either. It’s been a long day and I’m tired. I assume he is also. You know I’m not real fond of sharing a bed.”

Alyssa laughed. “Yes, I am aware of that fact. You never did like to have me spend the night, unless I slept in the guest room.”

Rachel shrugged. “I’m more comfortable alone.”

“Okay. I see now that you didn’t need me to rescue you, and you’re right it’s been a busy day. So, I’ll get out of your hair and let you sleep. Alone. I wonder if you’ll change your mind when you meet the one.”

“Doubtful, thanks for coming to rescue me or cheer me up or whatever. Not to be rude but don’t let the door hit you…”

Alyssa laughed and walked to the door. “You might want to lock this to keep people out… of your bed.”

Rachel rolled her eyes and then did lock it once Alyssa was gone. Since she was up, she put on a nightgown, dropped her previous sleep clothes in the laundry basket, pulled her hair back in a tie, and climbed into bed. As she drifted off to sleep, she imagined Adam in the bed with her and found she didn’t exactly hate the idea.