Once I am I reach for a condom from the nightstand.

Kailyn plucks the foil square from my fingers and pushes on my chest until I sit back. Tearing it open, she rolls it on, then pulls me over her again.

I drop my face into the crook of her neck, muttering a curse as I sink inside her, satin heat surrounding me. Kailyn’s lips are at my temple, legs wrapped tight around my waist, the palm of her hand curving around the back of my neck.

I breathe through the tightness in the pit of my stomach, my body in overdrive, the sensation almost too much. This is different. It’s far more intense than just physical need.

When I feel like I’m under control again, mostly, I kiss a path from her neck to her mouth.

Then I push up enough so I can see her face. “Hi.”

She smiles, eyes soft and hazy. “Hey.”

“You feel incredible.”

“So do you.” She tips her chin up. “Kiss me, please.”

So I do. With our mouths fused I move over her, and despite wanting to take my time, to go slow and savor this, desire eventually wins out.

Gentle thrusts become more frantic as her quiet moans turn into pleas for me not to stop. I can’t kiss her anymore, too intent to watch her unravel for me. My name is a whisper on her lips as she comes. Like a domino being pushed, I let go, chasing the high of the orgasm.

When the sensations finally abate, I unhook her leg and roll to the side so I don’t crush her with my weight. We kiss for long minutes, hands still roaming each other’s bodies.

When I finally pull back, I trace the edge of her jaw with my fingertip. This isn’t like any other sex I’ve had before. I’m not sure if it’s tied up in her connection to my past, or her being involved in my present, or somewhere between the two, but I know I want to keep this.

“Was that impressive enough?” It breaks the tension, and for a moment I wish I could take it back and say something else. Something better.

Emotions flit across her face, none of them lasting long enough for me to catch and hold them. She skims my lips with her fingertips, a small smile tipping the corner of her mouth. “Top-of-the-class impressive.”

“I’ll get to see the rest of your pretty new panties, then?”

She arches a brow. “I don’t know about that.”

“But I gave you orgasms, more than one.”

“What if your performance next time isn’t as impressive?”

“I promise that was just a warm-up. Next time will be even better.”

I move to kiss her, but we both freeze at the slam of a door and the thump of footfalls coming down the hallway.

chapter sixteen

TREAD LIGHTLY

Kailyn

Panic sets in as I push on Dax’s chest. His arm tightens around my waist, the steady, quick thump of his heart vibrating against my palm. Logically, I know we should be safe because the door is locked and Emme has no idea we’re here, but the gravity of my decision hits me. What if Emme finds out?

Heavy feet tread down the stairs. I’m relieved for a moment before I realize she could be down there for a while.

“What if she doesn’t come back up right away? What if she decides to watch TV?” I whisper.

Dax smooths my hair away from my face. “She’s probably getting a snack.”

I seriously hope that’s all. I’ve never lost my head over a man like this. I can’t believe we just snuck up to his bedroom to have sex without considering the worst-case scenario, which would be getting caught by his sister. It was pretty great sex, but still, this isn’t the smartest thing I’ve ever done. It’s actually right up there with walking through a Frisbee game with my eyes closed and that time I was watching reruns of It’s My Life between classes but my earbuds weren’t in properly and everyone could hear Daxton and the female lead sharing their first kiss. “I left my phone and my purse in the living room.”

“Mine’s in my pants.” He smiles a little. “Don’t worry. We can always climb down the trellis and run around the front of the house if we need to.”

I imagine what that would look like, two adults climbing down the side of the house to hide the fact that we’ve had sex from a thirteen-year-old. His grin widens, possibly at my horrified expression. I am not a fan of heights. “It’s not a joke, Dax!”

I push on his chest again. He’s still inside me, half-hard based on how full I still am. “We should get dressed. I don’t even know how long we’ve been up here.”

Dax frowns but unlocks his arms. I roll to my back, breaking the physical connection. His body is amazing, long and lean with definition that speaks of time spent at the gym. I feel exposed as I reach across the bed for my flashy panties and pajama pants. Dax removes the condom and ties it off while I wiggle into my underwear. He presses a kiss to my shoulder before he picks up his boxers and throws his legs over the edge of the bed. I watch his incredible ass disappear into his boxer briefs, then he disappears into the bathroom to discard the spent condom.

I rush to grab my bra from the floor and slip my arms through the straps.

“Let me help.” Dax sweeps my hair over my shoulder and hooks the clasp, dropping another kiss at the base of my neck. I shiver at the tender contact, and again when he drags a single finger down my spine. He plucks my shirt from the edge of the bed and helps me into that as well, smoothing the fabric down my sides, his wide palms settled on my waist. “I would’ve liked some naked cuddle time.”

I can’t quite judge his mood, unsure if he’s trying to defuse my panic or the sudden tension between us. This isn’t some casual screw. There are consequences for our actions.

I laugh, but my anxiety comes through loud and clear in my high pitch and the way I’m unable to meet his gaze. “What if I’m not a cuddler?”

“You’ve never cuddled with me.” He turns me around and lifts me by the waist, setting me on the edge of the bed. I’m sure he can sense my worry, and I’m certain he believes it has everything to do with Emme.

Part of me realizes that the sex shouldn’t have happened, but the other part of me wants this connection because it’s so much stronger than anything I’ve ever known before. And that terrifies me because I have so much wrapped up in both of them. The stakes are high, the potential losses great, and the possible damage frighteningly emotional.

“It’s going to be fine,” Dax says gently, his fingers slipping through my hair, maybe trying to tame it.

Despite the internal command to keep my hands to myself, I trail my fingers over his chest, following the contour of muscle. “It’s a complicated situation.”

“I know.”

“We need to be careful, for Emme’s sake,” I whisper.

“I agree.”

She’s already attached to me, and I’m attached to her. I don’t even want to consider how this might compromise my career, or my role as Emme’s conservator on top of everything else. And if we don’t work out, then what? I lose him, Emme, and the one thing I’ve been working all these years for? What will I have then?

I tense at the sound of footfalls coming up the stairs. The slam of a door follows and I blow out a relieved breath. “We should go back downstairs.”

Dax nods, but he doesn’t look all that happy as he dresses quickly. Before he opens the door, he takes my face in his hands, eyes searching mine before he tips my head up and kisses me. It’s a slow tangle of tongues that makes my knees weak and my heart stutter. He pulls away on a deep inhale and caresses my bottom lip with his thumb. “Let me make sure the coast is clear.”

He unlocks the door and opens it a crack, cringing as it creaks. “I’ll WD-40 that for next time,” he whispers, then peeks down the hall. “All clear.”

My heart hammers in my chest as we tiptoe to the stairs and steal swiftly back to the living room.

I rush to the front hall and take our shoes out of the closet, then open and slam the door, maybe a little harder than I need to.

Dax leans against the doorjamb, looking ridiculously calm. I poke his shoulder and he grabs my finger, pulling me to him. “You need to relax, Kailyn.”

I exhale a deep breath. Maybe I’m overreacting, but then there’s more going on here than two consenting adults having sex. “Sorry. I think we need to plan this better in the future.” I’m talking like this is going to happen again, even though I’ve already told myself it shouldn’t.

“I agree. I’d like a sleepover where I get to see what you look like with bed head, and we can have lazy morning sex.”

I need his levity with everything going on in my head. “Pretty sure a sleepover is out of the question for the time being.” I lift my chin, eyes on the ceiling.

“We’ll figure something out.” He links our pinkies. “Come sit with me for a while before you tell me you have to go home.”