Page 46 of The Pilot

Her brows furrowed for a moment, before it dawned on her what he was asking. She blushed but didn’t drop her eyes. “One. Is that okay?”

“Okay? Harper, I haven’t been able to think about anything other than being with you for weeks. Every time I hear the water in the pipes when you’re showering, all I can think of is you, naked upstairs, how the water and soap might look as they slip over your body. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’ve jacked off to thoughts of you almost every day.”

Her blush deepened. “You have?”

“Yes.”

“Oh.”

“Does that turn you off?” he asked gently, wondering if he should’ve kept his mouth shut.

“Does it turn you off that it doesn’t turn me off?” she asked with a small smile. Her hands were at his sides, and he could feel her fingers tighten on him as she spoke.

“No way.”

“Good. Because when I’m in the shower? When you hear the water in those pipes? I’m usually getting myself off to thoughts of you.”

And just like that, Linc was hard. He wanted to grab this woman and drag her into his bedroom and take her right then and there. The thought of waiting even one more minute to have her was almost physically painful.

“I’m going to make love to you tonight. And tomorrow. And tomorrow night. And probably before we leave Boothbay. I’m not sure I’ll be able to get enough of you. You’ve gotten under my skin, Harper, and I’m not even mad about it. I like you there. And I like you here. In my house. Your stuff strewn around the rooms. I’m looking forward to spending time away with you, more than I can say. And not just in bed. Talking to you, laughing, shopping, eating, all of it. I can’t think of anything better than a couple days off with just the two of us.”

“Ditto.”

He chuckled. He had packed a lot into his words. But he wanted to be sure they were truly on the same page. “Are you on birth control?”

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “There hasn’t been a need.”

“All right, we’ll have to stop at a store on the way there. I don’t have any condoms . . . because there hasn’t been a need for me either. Are you truly okay with this? It’ll change things. I hope for the better, but it’ll definitely change our relationship.”

“I’m ready for it. I want it, Linc. I want you.”

Moving slowly, giving her a chance to pull away, Linc lowered his head. She leaned forward, meeting him halfway. Their kiss was surprisingly gentle. Maybe because Linc knew that tonight, he’d finally be able to do all the things he’d fantasized about.

Anticipation churned inside him, and he knew it would make tonight all the better. Kind of like Christmas morning when he was a kid. He looked forward to it all month, and when it finally arrived, he felt almost giddy. As if something deep inside him had finally been fulfilled.

He’d felt the same way while he was training to fly fighter jets, and the first time he sat behind the controls was like Christmas morning all over again. Linc had no doubt being with Harper in the most intimate way would be exactly like the satisfaction of anticipation fulfilled.

“I need to go pack,” he said, after he pulled back.

“Yeah.”

Neither moved.

Linc grinned. “You have to let go of me before I can do that.”

“You need to let go of me so I can go get the suitcase I packed this morning,” she countered.

“You first.” It was childish and silly, but their banter made Linc feel lighter than he’d felt in weeks.

She had a huge grin on her face, but she sighed as if extremely put out and dropped her hands from his sides.

“I win,” Linc crowed, then kissed her hard and fast once more before stepping back.

“I think we’ve both won,” Harper said in a low voice.

She couldn’t be more right.

They went their separate ways, moving at a quick pace. As reluctant as they’d been to stop touching each other, they were apparently just as eager to be on their way.