I press the door closed.

Emma sits on the bed. She presses her palms into her quads. Spreads her legs.

"You're nervous?" I move to the bedside table. Get a condom from the box.

"No." She presses her knees together. "A little."

"That's okay."

"Yeah." She bites her lip. "You're not going to stop asking, are you?"

I shake my head.

"That's sweet." Her eyes find mine. "But annoying."

"Sums me up in a nutshell."

She laughs. "Yeah." Her eyes flit to the foil wrapper. "Do we have to?"

"Em—"

"It's just… it's easier without it. Not going there."

"Baby, I'd love to fuck you bareback."

Her pupils dilate.

"But not until we're safe."

Her nod is slow. "I… um… I'll make an appointment next week."

"Sure."

"I was thinking I'd try an IUD."

I nod.

"Since, um… well, I think we'll be together for a while. I hope. And they're really best if you're with someone. Because they can increase your risk of STDs." Her eyes find mine. "Unless you um—"

"I want to be with you a long time."

"Me too." Her eyes go to her laptop, currently sitting on her desk. "We're not playing music."

"Do I have permission?"

She laughs. "Only to hit play."

"What if I want to curate something?"

"Hmm." She tilts her head to one side, assessing my ability to choose music. Her brow softens. Then her shoulders. Her jaw.

It's pushing everything else out of her mind.

I know she wants to be over this.

For it to not matter.

It's going to take time.

But that doesn't mean it needs to hang over us.

I know how to relax her.

I sit at her desk. Wake her computer. Pull a few albums into a playlist.

There.

She lets out a sigh of contentment as a familiar guitar riff fills the room.

"This is my favorite song now." I turn back to her.

"Good taste."

"I think about you every time I hear it."

"Since last night?"

"Since always."

"Oh. Well, good."

"It's not on your desk."

"Add it."

I pick up a silver sharpie. "I'm not sure I can."

She nods. "It's tradition. People I care about write on the desk."

"I see your handwriting and Kaylee's."

"There aren't many people I care about."

"Just sounds like a made up tradition."

She laughs. "That's how all traditions start." She motions to the desk. "Pick your favorite part and write it."

I do. I scribble the lyrics that make me think of her.

Of us.

Of what I want to say to her.

"Read it to me," she says.

"I'll do you one better." I play the song. Skip to the lyrics I wrote for her. Adorn them with the perfect design as they play.

An ornate key next to a locked heart.

It's obvious.

But it's right.

She stands and moves toward me.

Her fingers brush the desk. Her lips part with one of those sighs of contentment. "Hunter…" She looks down at me.

I look up at her. "Yeah?"

"I… That's perfect." She leans down to press her lips to mine.

I stand and wrap my arms around her.

She groans as I pick her up and bring her to the bed.

She falls onto her back.

I climb on top of her.

She wraps her legs around my waist.

Her hand goes to the back of my head. She pulls me closer.

Grinds against me.

Fuck, that feels good.

She's wearing almost nothing today.

This tiny tank top and shorts.

But it's still too much fabric.

These jeans are too thick.

I need all this gone.

I need nothing between us.

It's so tempting, fucking her bareback.

I want to feel all of her again.

To let that soft cunt envelop me.

But fuck knows there's no way I'll have enough control to pull out.

She breaks our kiss to pull my t-shirt over my head.

I roll her tank top up her chest.

She arches her back and unhooks her bra.

Her hands go to my shoulders.

She flips me over and climbs on top of me.

Her eyes bore into mine as she slides her bra off her shoulders.

My hands go to her chest. I palm her breasts. Bring my thumbs to her nipples.

She groans as I toy with her.

Fuck, she looks so beautiful with pleasure spreading over her expression.

"Hunter." Her eyelids flutter together.

She rocks her hips to grind against me.

I should take my time warming her up.

But, fuck, if she keeps doing this, I'm gonna come in my jeans.

And that's fucking unacceptable.

I bring one hand to her back to pull her closer.

Then I kiss her hard.

My tongue dances with hers.

She groans against my lips as I toy with her.

Then her hands are digging into my hair. And she's pushing her shorts off her hips.

Flipping onto her back.

Pulling me on top of her.

I press my lips to her chest.

Kiss a line down her torso.

She groans as I pull her panties to her ankles.

I should tease her.

Torture her.

But I need to taste her.

I bring my lips to her cunt.

Lick her up and down.

Her hand knots in my hair.

My fingers dig into the flesh of her ass.

I pull her closer.

Bring my mouth to her clit.

Lick her exactly how she needs me.

"Fuck." Her hand tugs at my hair. "Hunter… Fuck."

Her groan fills the room.

She bucks against my lips.

I keep my pressure steady.

Move a little faster.

Faster.

There—

"Hunter—" Her breath catches in her throat.

I pull her closer.

Hold her against me as I push her to the edge.

Then over it.

She pulses against my lips.

Groans my name as she comes.

"Hunter." She tugs at my hair. "Fuck me."

My balls tighten.

Fuck yes.

I shimmy out of my jeans. Reach for the condom. Tear the wrapper with my teeth.

Her eyes fill with need.

Nothing but deep, pure, perfect need.

It's fucking everything.

I bring my hand to her cheek. Rub her temple with my thumb. Whisper, "You ready?"

She nods.

It's all there in her eyes.

She's not scared or nervous or apprehensive.

She's not drifting off to some ugly memory.

She's here.

She's mine.

She's everything.

Slowly, I lower my body onto hers.

She groans as my tip strains against her.

Her fingers dig into my hair. "Fuck, Hunter." Her breath is low. Deep. Heavy with desire.

She lifts her hips. Wraps her legs around my waist.

Pulls me deeper.

Fuck.

She feels good.

Warm. Soft. Slick.

I wrap my arms around her as I drive into her.

Emma's fingers dig into the back of my head.

She pulls my lips to hers.

Kisses me hard.

And deep.

We stay locked like that, moving and breathing together, until she pulls back to groan my name.

With my next thrust, she comes.

Her pulsing pushes me over the edge.

I rock through my orgasm.

Groan her name into her neck.

When I'm finished, I pull back.

I take care of the condom.

Then I climb into bed with her.

She nestles into my chest.

And dissolves between my arms.

It's still hard keeping this a secret.

But it's easier, knowing there's an end date.

Knowing I'll be able to kiss her in front of everyone.

That I'll be able to lead her into the shop and yell I fucking love this girl to everyone who's there.

I start getting my shit together.

Fill my schedule with new clients.

Find my own place.

Think long and hard about how to break this to Brendon.

About what it means if he doesn't believe I'm good enough for Emma.

I don't want it to matter.

But it does.

It really fucking does.