First to Fail (Unraveled #3) - Marie Johnston Page 0,33

out as he dropped the garment on the floor.

The way his gaze raked my torso… I might have to make another cosplay character. Valaria’s twin sister Salaria: sexual goddess.

With my legs splayed on either side of him while he perched on his knees, I had nothing else to do with my hands but relax them behind my head.

“I thought you were sexy as hell the first time I met you. I think I like you best with no clothes on.”

I wiggled my hips. “I still have my sweats on.”

He gave my breasts one last lingering look before hooking his fingers into my waistband. A brief thought of whether I should take a more active role crossed my mind. But the way he handled me, so carefully, like I was fragile, was too intoxicating. I liked being taken care of, even if it was for a fling.

Was that what this was?

I brushed the question off. Too much thinking about the future. Always on guard, always planning my life around what others thought. In this bedroom, it was just us and the sizzling chemistry we had.

A draft wafted over my belly as he tugged my pants down. Deftly moving off the bed, he slid them off.

Another breath puffed out of him as his gaze swept from my breasts to my bare sex down to my toes. “You weren’t wearing any underwear? I might’ve choked on my grilled cheese if I’d known that.”

I smiled. “Are you saying you would’ve gone out of your mind with lust while I was wearing a thick coat of cotton armor?”

“You make those sweats looks sexy. Don’t ever doubt that.”

I cocked my head. His sincerity floored me. My clothing had been warm and functional. Nothing like the athletic wear that showed as much as my Valaria outfit, which I enjoyed wearing, too.

He hadn’t moved since he dropped my pants. Self-consciousness was setting in.

I caught his gaze. The heat in his eyes stole my breath. He ripped his shirt off and dropped his shorts.

It was my turn to gasp. I rose on an elbow. The words “You work out” left my mouth before I could consider how inane they sounded.

The corner of his mouth kicked up. “I do.”

His broad shoulders were one of his best features—when he was dressed. But he had a tight body carved from a lifetime of taking care of himself. He might feed me pizza and grilled cheese, but he didn’t subsist on greasy food alone.

And his manhood. Thick and straining, it was as hard and defined as the rest of him. This geek was hiding an Easter egg under his clothing—Surprise! I’m really a jock.

I tracked every flex of muscle as he bent to the nightstand and withdrew a box.

Condoms.

My mind screamed Yes! but I bit my lip. He pulled out a foil packet and was setting the box back when he frowned. Straightening, he turned toward the hallway light and squinted at the box.

His shoulders slumped. “They expired last spring. Like, nine months ago.”

“What?” I sat up, but that put me at eye level with his erection. Actually, that wasn’t a bad place to be.

“Shit.” He tossed the box and the packet to the nightstand. “I’m sorry.”

I giggled. Only two responsible adults would fret over the expiration date minutes before they were going to insert the hard cartridge into the needy game station. “Not to ruin the mood, but I’m trying to think of anyone under the age of twenty who’d be deterred by an expiration date.”

His mouth quirked. “That’s how I had Jaycee.”

“Well, I’m on birth control if that’s the main concern.”

“I’ve obviously been abstinent for a while.”

“Then…” I shrugged. “Let’s use them.”

His gaze stroked my body. He leaned over and grabbed a condom, ripped it open, and rolled it on.

My belly fluttered with nerves as he crawled back on top of me. But I didn’t have time to dwell as he lowered his head and captured my mouth.

He was sweet, like the juice we’d had. I twined my arms around his neck and hugged him close. We weren’t separating for anything. No other foreplay was needed beyond seeing him naked.

I cradled him between my thighs and rolled my hips into him. Sensing my need, he positioned himself without breaking the kiss. The pressure of his broad head promised he’d fill me like I’d never experienced before.

I surged up, taking him inside. He tensed, like he was afraid to hurt me. But he felt too good to slow down now. Digging my