Chapter 9

Luke pulled away and stared into her eyes. He wanted this, he knew he wanted it, but he needed to make sure that she did. The last thing he wanted was for her to regret this even though she had started it.

"Paisley, are you sure about this?" he asked, his voice already husky with desire.

She nodded. "I'm sure, Luke. I've missed this, us."

No further words needed. He covered her lips with his own, deepening the kiss. Paisley joined his motions as they made out on the sofa like a couple of teenagers.

Luke slid his left hand up her side from her waist, relishing in the shivers of her body as he did. He was still over her shirt but cupped her breast anyway.

Paisley was the one to break the kiss this time and throw her head back as she sucked in a breath. She had been responsive before too, and he was glad it was still the same.

He released her and reached down for her shirt, wanting to take it off, but she stopped him by grabbing his hand.

"I don't want to take my shirt off," she told him.

He thought it was odd, but then they were in the living room, so maybe she didn't want to get undressed in here. It would be hard to do much more than touch without getting undressed, but he'd take whatever she was interested in at this point, not pushing her limits.

Her hips rocked on his lap as Luke sucked on that spot where her neck met her shoulder. She was the only woman that he'd ever cared what made her tick this much, and this spot had always been what turned her on the most. Her quiet moans were proof of that.

She angled her neck to give him better access as he nipped and licked that spot. His hands came back up to squeeze both breasts at the same time and she cried his name.

Content to take it as slow as she wanted, Luke was startled when she backed away from him and stood. Before he had a chance to question what was happening, she slipped her leggings and panties off.

Luke didn't ask any questions as he followed suit. His cock stood at full attention, waiting for Paisley to make the next move. He reached down and stroked himself a few times as he watched her.

"I haven't, umm, since Garrett," she said nervously.

"We don't have to do this right now," he assured her. It would be painful but he reminded himself this was at her pace.

"No. I just wanted you to know in case things are . . . different."

It all made sense then. She was nervous about the changes in her body because of Garrett. "Paisley, you made our son. Nothing is wrong and nothing is going to make me not want you. He's a miracle. Everything is going to be perfect, just as it always has been between us." He opened his arms, inviting her to come to him before dropping them quickly. "I need to get a condom."

Paisley snorted. "They worked so well before."

Luke panicked as he pulled his wallet out only to realize he didn't have one. He hadn't been with anyone since her and hadn't kept carrying them around.

"It's fine. I'm on the pill after Garrett."

"Are you sure it's fine? We can put this on hold." He hadn't done it without a condom before ever. The one with Paisley had broken and they had both known it when it happened, but that wasn't the same.

"Mm-hmm." She moved toward him again.

Luke opened his arms back up, ready for her to sit on his lap. They both hissed out a breath as she slid him inside of her and sat fully down on him.

As she began to move, Luke struggled to keep himself from busting early while letting her set the pace. He needed her to lead this, to know that she was in control, but he was struggling to maintain it. Feeling her around him with nothing in between them was like no other feeling in the world.

"You feel so damn good," Luke ground out.

Paisley moaned. She took his hands from her waist and brought them up to her breasts, showing him what she needed. He continued his movements from before as she dropped her lips to his.

Luke swallowed her next moan as his hips eagerly thrust up to meet her movements. It was both too much and not nearly enough.

"Luke," she whined from her spot above him.

"What do you need, Paisley?" He knew but he wanted her to say it.

"You, more, everything," she cried out between breaths.

He flipped her on the sofa so she was lying down and he was above her. She wanted him to take the lead and he was more than happy to.

"You tell me if you don't like anything, okay?" He held himself still inside her, making sure she knew.

Paisley smiled up at him. "You can't do anything I won't like. Please, Luke?" she begged.

Satisfied, Luke pulled out of her completely before thrusting in deeply. Adjusting one of her legs up to his shoulder, he set an aggressive rhythm that he knew would make her come undone quickly.

Her pants turned into full moans as he continued. He wished she were undressed and he could see all of her here like this, but the feeling was everything without it.

She seemed to be struggling to find her release so Luke dropped his hand to her core, finding that nub and pressing down. Paisley cried out in earnest as he moved both his hips and his hand, taking only seconds before she came.

Luke struggled to maintain his own control as she pulsed around him as her release rolled through her. He gave in to his own pleasure and roared her name as he came deep inside her before collapsing around her.

They breathed heavily, both out of breath as he kissed her lips and backed away. That was the single best experience of his life.

Paisley didn't move and Luke ignored their discarded clothes as he scooped her up off the sofa and into his arms. He had no idea how long Garrett would stay asleep, but he was taking all the alone time he could get with her.

He carried her straight up the stairs and into his ensuite. It should be their room, and he hoped that after that it would be but would wait to ask.

Sitting her feet down on the cold tiles, he reached around her and turned on the shower.

"Luke, I can't." She held her shirt down.

"Can't what?" he asked, his brows drawing together as he struggled to understand what she was talking about.

"I-I don't want to get undressed." She stared at the floor.

"Why? Is something wrong?" He backed away, giving her space, trying to puzzle out what could possibly be wrong.

"I just," she started and then took a deep breath. "I have a scar and stretch marks. I don't look the same."

Luke's shoulders sagged in relief. Nothing was wrong. This was just nerves and that he could deal with. She was beautiful and perfect to him, no matter what.

"Paisley." He cupped her chin, raising it to face him. "You are beautiful. Scars and stretch marks only enhance your beauty. You're a mom now, and that's amazing. Nothing can change that."

A tear slid down her cheek as he spoke.

"Baby, if you aren't ready, I will walk out of here right now and let you shower alone. I'm not upset over it. I just want you to know that you can believe me."

He watched the indecision on her face as she stood in front of him and the steam from the shower started to fill up the bathroom. He willed her to understand that he was telling the truth, wanting her to trust him.

Slowly, painfully slowly, she lifted her shirt up and over her head. She dropped it to the floor and looked up at him.

Luke guided her into the shower in front of him with his lips on hers. Exactly as he had thought, no changes in her body had made her any less beautiful to him.

"You're perfect," he assured her, breaking the kiss as she tilted her head under the water. "Absolutely perfect."

She couldn't hide her blush in here. "I'm not, but I'll take the compliment."

"You are," he repeated. He'd spend the rest of his life making sure that she knew it. More words were on his lips, ready to spill out, but he held them back. It was too soon for those thoughts, much less the words.

They showered together quickly, exploring each other but not repeating what happened on the sofa. He wrapped her in a towel before drying himself off and wrapping it around his waist.

"Thank you," Paisley said as they stepped out of the bathroom.

"For what?" Luke asked, curious what she meant. If she was thanking him for the sex, they were going to have to talk because that was not okay.

"Making me feel better." She turned to face him, coming up on her tiptoes and kissing him quickly. "I need to go get some clothes.

"Do you?" he teased.

Garrett's cries interrupted his chances of cuddling in bed with her.

"Our son demands attention." She smiled and turned to walk away.

Luke quickly got dressed, beating her to Garrett's room and picking him up.

"It's a good thing you're cute," he teased the baby. "Let's get you changed so we can all go downstairs. Then you can convince your mama to move into my room."