I didn’t want to tell Jade about the indiscretion, but I had just fucked her. She had a right to know she was safe.
“Only a couple of times in the last two months, and all with the same woman. I used a condom every time.”
A look of distress cast a shadow over her pretty face, but only for a split second. “Then why didn’t you use a condom with me? Surely you keep a good supply on hand.”
I did. She was right about that. What could I say to answer question? That I’d wanted her so badly I’d lost my mind? That I’d been so crazy with desire I had forgotten to be safe? That had never happened before, even in Iraq, where everyone was so needy and was looking for comfort wherever he could find it. If I didn’t have a condom on me, I didn’t do it, no matter how beautiful or desirable the woman was, no matter how much my cock wanted release. I never had intercourse without a condom. Ever.
Until last night.
“I guess I just…forgot.”
She nodded. “I see. And I understand.”
“No, you don’t understand. You think I just wanted you so much that I forgot. That’s not the case at all.”
“It’s not? I readily admit that’s absolutely the case with me. I knew I was safe from pregnancy, and I knew I was disease-free, yet I knew nothing about you. But I will admit to you, Talon, that I wanted you so much, I was so star-crossed with desire for you, that I forgot to be careful. I don’t condone it. I’m embarrassed to say it. But that is the goddamned truth.”
My cock stirred. She had worked up quite a head of steam, and her body flushed all over a shade of pink so perfect… I wanted her again.
How was this happening to me?
I knew. I had come so quickly that I hadn’t had enough of her to ease my ache yet. I would have to fuck her again.
Now seemed like an opportune time.
I stood and stalked toward her.
“What are you doing?”
“What we both want right now.” I bent down and kissed her lips.
She turned away from me, my lips sliding across her cheek.
“How dare you? You just said I meant nothing to you. That last night meant nothing. You came running into my room, worried that I have given you some horrible, disgusting, blistering disease.
And now you want to fuck me again?”
“Yeah. I do.” What else was there to say?
“Get the hell out of my room.”
“I think this is actually my room, since you’re living in my house.” Had I really just said that?
Christ, how petty.
“You’re going to play that card, huh?” She rose. “That’s fine. I feel like I’m imposing on you guys anyway. I’m making a little working for Ryan, and as soon as my bar results come in, I’ll find a job as an attorney. If not here, in Grand Junction. I think maybe I’ll go into town this morning and find my own place to live.”
Now what had I done? The thought of her leaving tore me in half. “Look, Marjorie wants you here.”
“But clearly you don’t.”
“The ranch is one quarter mine, but it’s also one quarter Marjorie’s. So if she wants you here…”
“If she wants me here, what? You’ll put up with it? How noble of you.”
“I want you here,” I whispered under my breath.
She kept moving about the room, so I knew she hadn’t heard. Thank God.
She walked into her adjoining bathroom and said over her shoulder, “I need to get ready for work.
Please let yourself out.”
The whoosh of the shower sailed into the bedroom. She was naked now, rivulets of water meandering over her perfect body. My cock was granite. God, I wanted her.
I was going to take her.
I quickly strode to her bedroom door and locked it. Then I took off my T-shirt and pajama pants and walked into the bathroom. God bless my father for installing clear glass shower doors. None of that frosted glass in his house. I could see her clearly, her mahogany hair wet and slick, pasted over her shoulders and breasts. So beautiful.
I had to have her. I opened the shower door.
She gasped, nearly losing her footing. I grabbed her forearm and steadied her.
“Get out of here! What do you think you’re doing?”
“Joining you.” I stepped into the shower.
“I’ll scream, Talon. I wake up the whole household.”
“Felicia’s not here yet, and Marjorie could sleep through World War III, as you probably know.”
“Still, I’ll—”
I crushed my lips to hers. She opened for me almost immediately. Yes, she wanted this is much as I did. A quickie in the shower and then maybe a nice long romp on her bed. After that, I would be sated. I could go on with my life, and she hers.