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There’s less and less hesitation in her answers. “I want to have sex with you,” she says. “I don’t know what I like so I can’t give you a list of boundaries or anything, but I want to try things. And have you…teach me.”

I swallow roughly. Fuck. “Okay. I can do that. And in return, I need you to keep communication open with me. This only works if there’s trust on both sides.”

She nods, her eagerness making my cock hard. “I can do that.”

I let out an exhale. “Okay. Okay, good.”

And then I’m just about to stand with her in my arms when she stiffens with hesitation. I lean back and quirk an eyebrow in question.

“There’s just…one more thing,” she starts carefully. “This can only be temporary, and it can only be physical.”

I frown before I can catch myself. Despite my brain being stuck on the physical piece of this—I’m blaming having her sexy body in my lap for that—her comment doesn’t feel great to hear.

She must see that in my eyes because she gives me a smile that’s less than happy. “Lucas, I’m leaving after this case is over. I was never going to stay in one spot. It would be pointless to make this anything else.”

My frown deepens. She just got here, how are we already talking about her leaving?

But…she’s right. I know she’s right. She was a nomad when I met her; I shouldn’t be surprised by this.

And yet…

“Alright,” I agree with a tight throat. “This doesn’t go beyond the end of the case. And it stays casual.”

I try desperately to ignore the flash of relief on her face. “Okay,” she says on an exhale. “Okay, good.” When she bites down on her lip, it takes me a second to figure out what she’s thinking.

But then she starts to squirm in my lap, her thighs trying to squeeze together, and I understand.

“So…” she starts, her voice breathy. “Will you touch me now?”

TWENTY-TWO

LUCAS

I don’t need to be told twice. Serious conversation over, I turn all my attention to the turned-on woman in my lap.

Leaning forward, I suck Charli’s nipple into my mouth through her tank top, delighting in her reaction when she gasps and sinks her hands into my hair. The material grows damp beneath my lips, and I nip at the hard peak with a growl.

Another gasp, this time followed by her hips squirming in my lap. “Let’s go to the bedroom,” she begs, tugging impatiently at my hair.

I shake my head and switch over to her other nipple, just for a second. “Nuh uh,” I argue, muffled against her chest. “We’re doing this slow. I want both of us to enjoy every step of this.”

When she starts to argue, I quickly pull her tank top over her head. She doesn’t expect the move and automatically tries to cover herself with her hands.

“See? That’s why we’re taking this slow. You’re not allowed to be self-conscious about sex when I’m dying for your body.”

Her eyes widen at the declaration, and after a moment, her hands slowly drop to her side. “Really?” she breathes.

A heavy exhale rushes out of me. “Yes, Charli. Really.”

Slowly, so she knows exactly what I’m doing, I lean forward and press a kiss on her shoulder. Then drag my lips across her collarbone. By the time I dip down to suck her nipple into my mouth again, this time without the fabric in the way, her self-consciousness is long gone. I groan at the feeling of her hands sliding into my hair so she can hold my mouth against her.

But when I pull back to switch to her other breast, her hands go to my shoulders and hold me at a distance. I glance up at her in question.

Blushing, she waves at my lap. “Why am I the only one half-naked here? Are you self-conscious?”

I grin, and before she can brace for it, I’m wrapping an arm around her waist and flipping us to lay her down on the couch.

Pressing a quick, hard kiss against her lips, I sit back on my knees, grin still in place. I quickly strip off my shirts before reaching for my belt. “Is that your way of asking to see my cock, Charli?”