Chapter 6 #2
We settle on the couch, and this time when she kisses me, there's more confidence in it.
Her hands explore my shoulders, my chest, while mine stay respectfully at her waist and back.
When she makes a small sound of pleasure, I have to remind myself to go slow.
She's not some random hookup. She's Carina, and she deserves every ounce of patience I possess.
A floorboard creaks in the hallway, and we both freeze. The sound retreats—probably Knox heading to his studio or William doing his nightly security check. But it's a reminder that we're not alone here.
"Should we—" Carina starts to pull away.
"They know," I say quietly. "They've been watching this develop since dinner."
"What do you mean?"
I trace patterns on her back, soothing. "William spent the entire meal glaring at me every time I talked to you. Knox kept making increasingly obvious excuses to leave us alone together. They both know I'm interested in you."
"And they're... okay with it?"
"Knox is. He's been giving me thumbs up behind your back all day." I pause, considering my next words. "William is... processing. He wants you too, Carina. They both do actually."
She stiffens slightly. "Travis—"
"I'm not saying that to pressure you. Just being honest." I meet her eyes. "But right now, this is about us. Not them. They can deal with their own feelings."
"Won't this affect your friendship?"
"Possibly." I won't lie to her. "But you're worth the risk."
She processes this, then surprises me by saying, "I know they're interested. I mean, I'm not blind. I just... I don't know what to do with that information."
"You don't have to do anything. Tonight is just about this, remember? You and me."
Another creak from upstairs—most likely William. He's probably noticed we're both missing from our rooms. Good. Let him wonder.
"He's going to be impossible tomorrow," Carina murmurs.
"That's tomorrow's problem." I pull her closer. "Are you okay with them knowing about this? Whatever this is?"
She considers, then nods. "I don't want to hide. I've spent too many years hiding parts of myself."
"Good." I kiss her again, deeper this time. "Because I have no intention of keeping this a secret."
"Is this okay?" I ask when my hand drifts to her hip.
She nods, then shakes her head, laughing. "I don't know. Yes? I want... God, I don't know what I want. I haven't been with anyone since Dylan, and he made sex feel like... like another chore. Another way I was failing him."
I pull back immediately. "We don't have to do anything. Carina, I'm perfectly happy just—"
She silences me with another kiss. "I know. That's why... that's why I want to. Because you're not pushing. Because you actually care about what I want." She pauses. "What do you want?"
"You," I answer honestly. "In whatever way you're comfortable with. If that's just kissing on this couch, perfect. If it's more, also perfect. If it's nothing at all—"
"Still perfect?" She's teasing now.
"Well, slightly less perfect," I admit, which makes her laugh. "But I'd respect it completely."
She considers this, then straddles my lap in one smooth movement that makes my brain short-circuit. "How about we start here and see what happens?"
"That's... yes. Good plan. Excellent plan."
She grins, and it's wicked. "You're babbling."
"You short-circuited my brain."
"Good." She kisses me again, deeper this time, and I let my hands wander her back, her sides, always over clothes, always watching for any sign of her needing to put the brakes on.
When she rocks against me, we both gasp. The friction is delicious torture, and I have to grip her hips to steady both of us.
"Carina," I breathe. "You're killing me."
"In a good way?"
"In the best way."
We make out like teenagers, all roaming hands and breathless kisses.
When I accidentally graze the side of her breast, she arches into the touch, and I nearly lose my mind.
But I keep it together, keep it to over-the-clothes touching, even when she continues to make these little sounds that test every ounce of my control.
"Travis," she pants against my neck. "I want... can we..."
"Tell me what you want."
She pulls back, face flushed and eyes dark. "I want..." She takes my hand and places it over her breast. "I want you to touch me like you mean it."
"Carina." I squeeze gently, feeling her sharp intake of breath. "You are so damn gorgeous."
I worship her through her clothes, showing her with actions what words can't fully convey.
I rub her clit in slow circles over and over again until she’s trembling. She's so responsive and when she comes apart in my lap, fully clothed but shaking with release, I nearly follow her over the edge.
"Oh my God," she breathes, collapsing against my chest. "I didn't know... I've never... not like that."
I hold her close, stroking her back as she comes down. "You're incredible."
"I didn't do anything. You did all the work."
"That was not work. That was pure pleasure." I kiss her temple. "Watching you let go, trust me enough to fall apart... Carina, that was amazing."
She's quiet for a moment, then: "What about you?"
"What about me?"
She shifts deliberately in my lap, making me hiss. "You're still..."
"I'm fine. Tonight was about you."
"Travis." She sits up to look at me. "I want to make you feel good too."
"You did. You do. Just being here with you like this—"
She kisses me to shut me up, then slides her hand between us. When she palms me through my pants, I nearly come undone.
"Carina," I groan.
"Let me," she whispers. "Please."
And God help me, I do. With her hand on my cock and her lips on my neck, whispering how good I make her feel, how safe, how desired, I fall apart embarrassingly fast.
We stay tangled together on the couch afterward, neither wanting to break the spell. I know William and Knox are somewhere in the house. I know this complicates everything. I know I should care more about the potential fallout.
But right now, with Carina warm in my arms, I can't bring myself to regret a single second.
"Thank you," she murmurs.
"For what?"
"For seeing me. And being patient with me."
I tighten my arms around her. "You’re spectacular. And you deserve that and so much more."
She yawns, and, glancing at my watch, I realize how late it's gotten. "We should probably..."
"Yeah." But neither of us moves.
"Travis? What happens now?"
I consider the question. The smart answer would be to establish boundaries, discuss parameters, figure out how this fits with our professional relationship. But I don't want to be smart right now.
"Now," I say, "we take it one day at a time. No pressure, no expectations. Just... this."
"I like this," she admits sleepily.
"Me too."
Eventually, we untangle ourselves. I walk her to her room, kiss her goodnight like a gentleman, and try not to think about how William and Knox will react. I’ll worry about that tomorrow.
Tonight, I got to hold Carina Stevens while she came apart in my arms. Tonight, she trusted me with her story and her body and her tentative hope.
Tonight was perfect.
And if I have my way, it's just the beginning.