Total pages in book: 87
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80555 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 403(@200wpm)___ 322(@250wpm)___ 269(@300wpm)
“Definitely not going there with Percy either.” I pitched my voice to be more reassuring. “And if you’re upset because you think I’m fooling around without you, I’m not.”
“But you could.” Eric tipped his head back against the loveseat, reminding me of how damn good he looked climaxing. No way was I interested in any other flavor than him. “And maybe you should. We’re not exclusive.”
“We could be,” I countered. “If you want us to be exclusive, just ask.”
“I don’t have the right.” He scrubbed at his short hair.
“Sure you do.” I hadn’t done the agreeing to exclusivity thing for a long time.
“Can you even have no strings or friends with benefits and be exclusive? Wouldn’t that make it…more?” Eric’s pained expression made it clear more would be on par with a root canal in terms of fun.
“Doesn’t have to.” Unlike him, I didn’t have a ton of experience in more serious relationships and even less confidence that I could make one work with Eric. This right here was easy and good and worth keeping going. “And like I said, I’m not dipping my wick elsewhere as it is. If exclusive feels right to us both, why overanalyze it?”
“Indeed.” Sitting forward, Eric gave a sharp nod. “Thank you.”
“How about we move on to the better question of how you’re spending your kid-free night?” Leering at him, I stalked to the loveseat, giving him a long, thorough once-over.
“I should let you sleep…” Eric made zero moves to leave the loveseat.
“What you should do is let me finally make good on that promise to fuck you through the loft.”
He gave an audible gulp. “Please.”
Chapter Eighteen
Eric
No way was I walking away from a chance to spend extended alone time with Magnus with less risk of interruption than usual. Our time together was unpredictable, and while we’d had several sneaky showers, quickie make-out sessions, and oral excursions, we still hadn’t fucked. This seemed like as good a night as any to give it a whirl, especially with our newfound decision to be exclusive.
Which, apparently, we’d already been doing. A comical amount of relief had coursed through me when Magnus said he wasn’t fooling around elsewhere. I was way too invested in something we’d both agreed was casual. And worst of all, I didn’t care as much about the sex as the attention. I wanted to be the one making him laugh, the one he watched stupid movies and cuddled with, the one he cooked late-night dinners for.
I’d clearly expected the night to head in this direction because I’d showered when I arrived home from the night out with my friends. A very thorough shower, the likes of which I hadn’t done in years. Montgomery had been a side on principal, if not preference, finding anal play “distasteful.” I’d been happy enough with other activities and in love with my husband, but memories of enjoying fucking occasionally poked at my brain.
I was finally going to get my wish, but Magnus was taking his sweet time, digging around in a row of bins near the dining table and chairs.
“I thought we were going to the loft.” I stood up from the loveseat and gestured at the stairs.
“Just need to find the condoms I bought a couple of weeks ago. They never made it up to the loft.” Magnus shared this information with an off-hand tone, shooing the dogs away as he looked. Finally, he came up with a small paper bag containing a box of unopened condoms. “Here we are.”
“Thank you.” More of that relief surged through me. He’d been telling the truth about not fooling around, and he’d also clearly been planning ahead for us fucking.
“For buying protection?” Magnus drew his eyebrows together.
“For…all of it.” I made a vague gesture, trying to encompass the last few minutes. “For being nice.”
“You’re pretty easy to be nice to.” Crossing to where I stood, he graced me with a soft kiss.
“I am not,” I protested as I looped my arms around his neck. “I’m grumpy and unappreciative. The potatoes you brought to our table tonight were really good, by the way.”
“Hey, for the record, you’re pretty cute grumpy and jealous.” Magnus gave me another kiss, eyes twinkling as if he really meant the words. “And if you’re feeling guilty, feel free to make it up to me with your mouth later, but seriously, I like you, Eric. Even when you’re prickly.”
“I like you too.” Something sweet, like a candy melting, flowed between us. The acknowledgment felt…important, like how graduation was about more than simply a cap and gown. This was about more than the words. And too much thinking on that tipped the balance from sweet to scary, so I pointed at the stairs again. “Loft. Now.”
“Okay, bossy.” Magnus followed me up the stairs to the loft and its low ceiling that made undressing a challenge. I bonked my head pulling off my T-shirt, and Magnus tripped removing his jeans.