35. Remi

"Sea otters hold each other's paws while they sleep so they don't drift apart." ~ Tim Rhodes

My head wasall over the place as I carried Taylor into the bedroom. I hadn't planned on being as vulnerable as I'd been when I showed up at her door, but if that's what it took for her to finally let me in, then it had been well worth it.

We reached her bed, and I lowered her down. The mattress dipped below her as she settled against the pillows. I was about to join her when I remembered something. Protection. I didn't have any with me. I should have grabbed some on the way over, but the thought hadn't even crossed my mind. This hadn't been a booty call; I'd actually needed to talk to Taylor.

"What?" She asked, pushing up onto her forearms. "What is it?"

"Do you have condoms?"

She shook her head. "No. We used the ones I had."

"I don't either, but that's okay. There's a lot we can do without?—"

"I'm on the pill."

I stared down at her, as my brain caught up with what her statement implied. "You are?"

She nodded as she bit her lower lip.

The idea of being inside of her, without any barrier, had my cock jumping with enthusiasm which, from the smile that spread on Taylor's face as her eyes flicked down to my crotch, she didn't miss. Her naked body spread out before me like the greatest temptation a man could ever face.

I'd never been a huge fan of condoms, but I had always used them, even in relationships, just for my own peace of mind, which had been an issue in all three of my long-term relationships. Jana, who I dated through my time in the military. Caty, who I dated my first few years in California. And Misty, who I'd been with for the past eight years.

All of my exes were on birth control and had suggested forgoing the use of condoms. I'd insisted on it. I'd seen what not one but two unplanned pregnancies had done to my mom. Even though I knew I'd do everything I could to support my child, the fact never escaped me that my own father had, and look where we still ended up.

But with Taylor, everything was different. I wanted her to be pregnant with my babies. If she got pregnant, it wouldn't be unexpected, only highly anticipated.

Slowly, like a lion stalking its prey, I crawled onto the bed and hovered above her. Her legs parted as my lips pressed to her neck. As I kissed her, her hands roamed over my back. I loved the way her nails raked over my shoulder blades. The sensation was soothing and erotic. My hips nestled into the junction of her thighs, with my cock cradled in the heat of her sex. Her seam pulsed against my shaft as I rolled my hips into her. Each time I slid easier against her sex, her arousal coated me as her hips tilted up, seeking relief.

Her throat vibrated beneath my lips as she whimpered with pleasure. Her hands fisted in my hair. My dick throbbed with pulsing urgency, demanding that I give both of us the satisfaction we craved.

Lifting up, I rested my weight on one forearm, then slid my other arm between our bodies. I took myself in my hand and pushed my balls, which were tight against my body, down in an attempt to buy us more time.

The last thing I wanted was for this encounter to be a one-pump-and-done situation. I wanted to linger in the intimacy of this moment. I wanted to freeze time and live in this connection for as long as possible.

I stared down at her, and her eyes fluttered open and met mine. Her lips parted, and her nails dug into my shoulders as I ran my engorged head along her slit. When I pressed just the tip in, I felt her body clamp down around me as she bit down on her lower lip.

Sweat broke out on the nape of my neck as pleasure whipped through me with an all-consuming intensity. Her opening pulsed as if it was trying to pull me deeper inside of her. I'd felt her body do the same thing before, but this time, there was no latex to dull the experience. It was just her skin against my skin. I slid another inch in and stilled as her tight, wet, canal enveloped me in its velvety grip. My balls tingled with unspent release, and I'd barely put it in two inches.

I quickly realized trying to make this first time without protection last was an exercise in futility. But damn, if I was going to blow my load before I'd even fully entered her. I had to decide if it was going to be a slow and steady wins the race or if I should just go full force.

Her warm breath fanned my face, and my impulse was to fuck her as hard as I possibly could, but I held back. I feared if I did, I'd lose the thin grasp of restraint I was clinging to. My forehead rested against hers as I moved my hand to her thigh and pulled her leg up to my waist. She gasped as her hips tilted up, and I pushed into her another inch.

She moved her arm, lifting it above her as her hand covered mine, which was resting on the top of her head. Her fingers threaded through mine as her back arched. The motion caused her breasts to flatten against my chest.

Slowly, I sank into her until my body was completely embedded. I stilled and her ankles hooked behind my back.

"Fuck me," she whimpered. "Hard."

At her bold instruction, I pulled out and drove into her again and again with passion propelling my force. The pressure and friction of our intimately joined bodies rocketed me toward climax. I managed to hold my orgasm at bay until I felt her tight canal begin to spasm as her entire body shuddered in release.

My eyes stayed locked with hers as I thrust into her one final time. I tensed as my fingers dug into her thigh so tightly I wouldn't be surprised if there was evidence of my hold on her skin tomorrow. The thought of marking her, of seeing proof of our coupling, served to surge my gratification to greater heights. I poured myself into her as her body milked every last drop from me. Once I was completely spent, I rolled onto my back, pulling her along with me so her head was lying on my chest and her leg was draped over my thigh.

We lay in silence, the only sound coming from our ragged breaths. As difficult as it had been for me to keep my distance from her and respect her boundaries, I knew if I hadn't, we wouldn't be here like this. She would have pushed me away.

"Did you keep the Coach Taylor costume?" she asked as her fingers trailed along the tattoo on my upper arm.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "I did. Do you have scrubs at home?"

"I do."

"I love you, Ana," I whispered against the top of her head. "I think I've loved you since I saw you sitting at that bar."

"I love you, too, Kyle," she said softly.

It was strange, but it felt right that we were declaring our love to each other for the first time using the first names we'd known each other as. It was more intimate. It was more personal. It was more us than if we'd used our actual names. Taylor and Remi were common. Everyone knew us by those names. But Ana and Kyle were ours.

Well, with one exception.

My thumb rubbed lazy circles on her lower back as she melted against me. I figured now would be as good a time as any to break the news we had a Sherlock in our midst. "Just a heads up, Kenna heard us talking in the hall. She heard me call you Ana."

The news caused Taylor to become stiff as a board, as if she were doing the mannequin challenge.

She swallowed an audible gulp as she asked, "She did?"

"Yes, and she sort of put two and two together."

"She did," she stated in a resigned tone as her body relaxed.

I wasn't sure if the release of tension I'd felt stemmed from disappointment or acceptance. I had no clue where she stood on people knowing about us, but there was one way to find out.

"She did," I confirmed. "But it doesn't matter because I want to be with you. For real. No more sneaking around. Is that what you want?" I wondered if she could feel my heart hammering beneath her cheek.

"Yes," she whispered as her head nodded up and down, and I exhaled a breath I might have been holding since the first time I saw her as I pulled her even closer to me.

She snuggled against me, and I could hear her breathing patterns begin to slow. I knew this might not be the best time, but I wanted, no, needed, her to know where my head was at and what my intentions were before she went to sleep.

"And since I know you don't like surprises, I'm telling you now, I am going to ask you to marry me."

Her eyes shot up to mine, and I could see the panic in them.

"Not now," I clarified. "I'm just giving you a warning so your pretty little head can get used to the idea."

The panic disappeared as a grin tilted on her full lips. She laid her head back on my chest.

"A year," she said.

"A year?" I repeated.

"You have to wait a year to ask me to marry you."

"Is that a rule?" I asked.

She nodded.

"Fine," I agreed. I could wait a year. Hell, I could wait forever if it meant that she was mine.