Page 76 of Love Unspoken

"Why?"

"We'd been together once in MIT for two years, and then again after a few years for a few months, and now. I just didn't think I should make any commitments until I was sure it would last."

"Why did you keep going back to her?"

"Sweetheart, I really don't want to talk about my ex when I'm thinking of the various ways in which I want to make love with you."

Her eyes widened. My god, she was innocent! I felt like a lecherous old man even though I was only seven years older than her.

"She was easy. I like sex. And it's nice to have someone to have it with regularly. I don't have to go pick someone up at the bar."

She wrinkled her nose. "Sex is that important to you?"

I chuckled. "Yes, Naya, sex is important to me. Who I have it with, not so much."

The instant the words were out, I knew it was a mistake. "That's not what I meant. I…hell, Naya, I fucked a lot of women, okay?"

"Good for you." She rose as if wanting distance for me.

I was fucking this up. I knew it.

"I want to like the woman I have sex with. I…like to know them. But I also like sex, so I prefer to be in a relationship." Did that sound better? It was the truth.

"What if after we have sex, I decide that was it, and I want to have sex with other people?"

I will fucking kill any man who touches you.

"If that's what you want, I won't stand in your way." Like hell, I won't!

"And you won't agree to turn the light off?" she asked again.

"No."

"Now come here." I patted my thigh.

"I'm scared," she admitted.

"I know. But come here anyway."

She waited a moment and came to stand in front of me. I opened my thighs and pulled her in between them. I nuzzled her stomach. I lifted her sweater.

"Take this off."

I didn't wait for her to do as I said; I knew she would. I unbuttoned and unzipped her pants, and they fell on the floor. Her body was strong. Muscular and feminine at the same time. I loved a woman who worked out like she did, with a strong core; it wasn't about being skinny but being powerful.

I fucking loved her abs. I kissed her bare stomach and felt her convulse.

"If I do something that makes you uncomfortable, you have to tell me."

"Everything you're doing is making me uncomfortable."

I gently bit her stomach, and she yelped softly.

Her hands were balled into fists at her side. I opened her hands up and put them on my shoulder.

"Let me rephrase that. If I do anything that hurts, you tell me. If I do anything you don't like, you tell me. If I do something you feel shy about, shut up and let me continue." I looked into her eyes.

"Then…you can continue," she invited a ghost of a smile on her lips.