I smile at Payden as she finger waves, grinning. Maybe she smells sex in the air but it’s fairly obvious she doesn’t believe that for a second.
“Oh my god, how embarrassing,” Nova says, one hand slapped over her mouth. “Do you think she suspects anything?”
I shrug. “Who cares? Payden’s cool, she won’t say shit… will she?”
Nova shakes her head. “No, she won’t. She knows we hang out, but she had that smirk on her face. She’s a lawyer, she knows when people aren’t being truthful.”
Well, shit. I forgot all about that.
“I wouldn’t worry about it,” I assure her. “But she’s probably right, I do need to hit the road. I’ll, uh, clean up first if that’s okay?”
Her eyes dip to my lap, and she bites her lip. What I’d give for her to touch me. But not tonight.
“Of course,” she says quickly. “You know where the bathroom is.”
I smile. “Thanks, I’ll be right back.”
I head down the hall toward the large bathroom and clean myself up. Well, that was a load and a half. I splash my face with cold water and grab a hand towel.
Baby steps.
That was a big one for me. I’ve never had pleasure before like that with a woman I actually wanted, and it was magical. If Payden hadn’t come home, maybe things could’ve gotten evenbetter, but that feeling washes over me. Suffocation. The feeling of not being in control, but I dampen it down. This is Nova. She’d never do anything to hurt me. She’d never dream of that, and the truth is? This is different.
It’s different because I chose it. Someone did not inflict it upon me. It didn’t hurt, and hearing Nova’s soft moans when I made her come were the sweetest sounds I’ve ever heard.
All the things that are supposed to be pleasurable were, and I admit, I get off more seeing her get off. Was that embarrassing coming in my pants? Sure, but she won’t judge me for it. Plus, nobody could really blame me with my girl in my lap rubbing up against me like that. There’s only so much a man can take.
I take a deep breath, steeling myself because I really don’t want to go. I want to stay and cuddle.
When I exit the bathroom, I find Nova in the kitchen. “I promised Tiramisu,” she says when she hears me. “And I delivered.”
I smile. “I can take mine to go, if that’s okay?”
Her face falls slightly. “Okay.”
I move closer, tilting her chin up. “What’s wrong?”
She shrugs. “Nothing.” Those walls are back up again, but I don’t want that. I don’t want to be a schmuck, either.
“Nova,” I say gently. “Do you want me to stay?”
She swallows, not meeting my eyes. “No, it’s fine, you’re tired.”
“I can creep out really early if you want me to stay.”
She blinks, and I notice her wet lashes.Has she been crying?Come to think of it, her cheeks are a little pink. Alarm rings through me. “Nova?”
“You don’t have to creep out.”
“But I can stay?”
She nods. “If that’s okay?”
“What’s wrong?” I ask. “Did I hurt you?”
“No!” she says quickly. “You could never.”
“Then what happened?”