"So." Quinn presses her palms into the soft red fabric of her dress. "This is your bedroom."

She looks up at me with wide eyes.

That innocent expression is irresistible.

I want to push that dress to her waist and dive between her legs.

I want to taste her inch of her sweet cunt.

I want to make her come so hard she wakes the neighbors.

"You like it?" I slide my hands into the pockets of my jeans. I need to slow down. To let her lead this.

She's new and nervous and she's trusting me to lead her.

I can't think with my cock.

No matter how much I want to bury myself inside her.

"I do." She takes in the powder blue walls. The sleek white desk and dresser. The framed art hanging on the walls.

I flick the switch. Turn the main lights off and the string lights on.

Quinn lets out a soft gasp. She looks around the room like it's something out of her favorite movie. Like it's a place of beauty and wonder.

I felt the same way when I first moved in.

But after three years of empty sex—

It screams at me you think this is better than drowning yourself in booze?

I swallow hard.

Yeah, I should sort out the shit that's been going through my head.

But not right now.

Not with Quinn ready and waiting.

She presses her palms into her thighs. "We haven't talked about exclusivity."

"I assumed that was part of the deal."

"Oh. Good. It is." She turns back to me. "Do you… Do you have condoms?"

"You ready to start already?"

"No." Her cheeks flush. "I just—"

"We'll be safe."

"I was thinking." She swallows hard. "Maybe not now. But later, if we both get tested—"

"I believe you're a virgin."

"Okay, if you get tested." She bites the nail of her index finger. "Maybe then we could try it without a condom."

My cock stirs.

It's completely lacking patience.

It's ready to be inside her.

Bareback sex with Quinn?

Hell yes.

Now.

She catches herself biting her nail. Presses her palms into her hips. "What do you think we'll do tonight?"

"Come here." I pat the spot on the bed next to me.

She smooths her dress as she takes a seat.

"That doesn't work."

"What doesn't?"

Her fingers trace the hem of her dress.

"No planning here."

"But…" She catches herself playing with her dress. Presses her hands into the soft grey bedspread.

I brush her hair behind her ear. "No but, angel. We take this one moment at a time."

She nods okay, but that doesn't ease the apprehension in her eyes.

She's nervous.

I get that.

And I can fix it.

Her hand goes to my chest. She traces the hem of my t-shirt. Then pulls it down enough to reveal my tattoo. "Did you always want that?"

"Want what?"

"To be a tattoo artist?"

I study her expression. Is she trying to get to know me? To slow down? To prove a point?

I don't know.

But talking can't hurt.

I sure as hell like talking to her.

"No." My eyelids flutter closed as her fingers brush my skin. "When Chase got Hunter a job as an apprentice, they made it clear it was their thing. That I was supposed to stick with school. Take a different path."

"And you couldn't stand that?"

"Am I that obvious?"

"Sometimes." Her eyes meet mine. "You love them a lot, huh?"

"They're okay." I mean to make it playful, but there's something missing. I love my brothers. I'd do anything for them. But shit is strained. It's been strained a long time.

"You've worked with them your entire adult life."

"So I can give them shit."

"Maybe." Her fingers curl into my skin. "Or maybe you care more than you let on."

Not having this conversation now. "I do care."

"Yeah?"

"About making you come."

Her breath catches in her throat.

For a split second, she freezes.

Then she blinks. Moves. Nods. "Is that what we're—"

"I told you, Quinn. You can't plan this." I shift onto the bed. Behind her. Then I slide my legs around her.

She sighs as I wrap my arms around her waist.

"This okay?"

"Yes. Thank you."

Fuck, she's so polite.

It sends my blood racing to my cock.

There's something wrong with me.

Her manners shouldn't be this much of a turn on.

But they are.

They really are.

I inhale deeply. Replay yesterday's most irritating client. This guy who walked in wanting a back piece, with no prep time. I tried to tell him I couldn't design something that intricate in twenty minutes, but he wouldn't listen.

Probably should have told him to fuck off.

But I made it work well enough.

It was a fun challenge, actually.

Kinda like—

Fuck, this isn't working.

I'm not cooling down.

I'm drifting off.

I have to stay here. In this moment.

And I have to stay patient.

Somehow.

"You love your job?" she asks.

"I do." I pull her closer. Until her back is against my chest. It's nice talking to her. Easy. I almost want to spend the night with our clothes on.

No, I do want that.

Only I can't handle that kind of intimacy.

I hold her in place with one arm.

Bring my other hand to her thigh. Play with the hem of her dress.

"Wes…" Her voice gets low. Needy. Overwhelmed.

This is a lot for her.

I need to go slower.

"Yeah?" I brush her hair behind her head.

"You, um… I forgot."

"That's okay." I press my lips to her neck.

She lets out a soft murmur. "How did you start with tattoos?"

"Stole Chase's gun."

"Really?"

I nod.

"What happened?"

"Got into a lot of trouble."

"How?"

"Lean down."

"What?"

"Pull my jeans up." I pat my right leg. "This side."

She leans forward. Grabs the denim fabric and tugs.

Fuck, this view—

"Oh." She shifts off the bed. Between my legs.

She's exactly where she needs to be. This is exactly where I need her.

Her fingers curl around my ankle. She traces the lopsided skull and cross bones. "You did this?"

"Yeah."

"It's—"

"Terrible."

"Crooked." She looks up at me.

Fuck, she's right between my legs.

Those hazel eyes are big.

Those glasses—

"Oh." Her gaze settles on my crotch. "I didn't, I, um…"

"It's not gonna hurt you."

She stares at my hard-on like it's about to bust through my jeans and attack her.

At the moment, it feels like it might.

"I…" She stands. Stays between my legs. "I did that."

I nod.

"But… how."

I bring my hands to her hips. "You're positioned like you're about to blow me."

"Oh."

"Puts ideas in my head."

"Good ideas?"

"Fucking great ideas." I pull her into my lap.

She yelps as she wraps her arms around my shoulders.

We fall onto the bed.

It's far from smooth.

But, fuck, seeing Quinn sprawled out over my grey comforter—

I'm going to come in my jeans at this rate.

"Come here." I place my body next to hers.

She moves closer.

I wrap my fingers around her wrist. Bring her hand to my waist.

"We haven't kissed yet," she whispers.

"Yeah?"

"I can't touch your dick until we've kissed." Her blush deepens.

She can barely say the word dick.

It's adorable.

And hot as hell.

"Let's change that." I leave her hand on my waist. Bring mine to the small of her back.

I pull her body into mine.

She groans as my hard on brushes her stomach.

She looks up at me for a moment.

Then those big, hazel eyes close.

Her lips meet mine.

It's not like kissing other women.

It's just as hot.

Just as deep.

But it's a million times better.

It's fucking magic.