it. Once he left, she could freak out.
With a groan, he pushed up until he hovered over her. Then he kissed her. It was so tender and full of unexpected sweetness, her chest constricted. After, he rolled off her and onto his back. One arm flopped above his head on the pillow, and the other rested on his ridged stomach. Mak couldn’t help but risk a glance at what had been inside her seconds ago.
Spent, his cock lay against his thigh, still covered in the condom, but slick now with the evidence of her desire. The craziest thought crossed her mind and had she been braver and experienced, maybe she’d have given into it and snapped a picture of him with her phone. One to remind her of the time a man brought her to life in a brand-new way.
“Like what you see?” he asked, humor lacing his tone.
Her face heated as she jumped.
Busted. “How did you know?”
Eyes still closed, he shrugged. “I can feel those pretty blue eyes.”
“Guess you’re used to women looking at you.” Oh, my God. She nearly slapped her forehead. Had those words really left her mouth? How insensitive. There he was, basking in the afterglow of what she thought was world-changing sex, and she brought up his job as a stripper.
Smooth, Mak.
But Thunder just laughed. “True,” he said. Then he turned her way.
She watched, entranced, as he pulled the condom off, tied the end, then tossed it in the small trash can next to her bed.
“Come here,” he said, once finished. His voice thickened, sounding heavy with the need for sleep. “Much as I like those pretty eyes on me, I’d rather feel your skin on mine.” He nearly slurred the words.
At that point, Mak was nearly giddy with excitement. This night was already so far out of her realm of experience, she’d had no idea what to expect now that they’d had sex. His leaving seemed the most probable outcome, at least based on conversations she overheard when serving other single members of his club at the diner. None of them seemed keen on spending the night with a hook-up. At least that’s what she assumed when Screw had been telling a story about a time he’d “rocked the box then changed the locks.” Unfortunately for him, Jazz had also overhead, and he’d earned himself a slap to the back of his head.
Mak scooted until they were chest to chest, then inhaled his intoxicating fragrance. The cologne, aftershave, deodorant…whatever it was he used, it drew her in to the point she wanted to rub all over him like a needy cat.
Wait…she just had.
Her face heated, and she peeked up at his face. The man was out cold. Oblivious to her private smile and internal euphoria. The strong arms anchoring her to an equally strong chest were a luxury she’d never experienced in her years of marriage. Not only were her husband’s arms those of a sixty-plus-year-old man who’d never taken care of himself, but they belonged to a man who didn’t give two shits about her beyond her incubation ability and mothering skills. Lying with a man who seemed not only to want her sexually but enjoy her company was a novel experience that could easily become addicting.
She’d be a fool to let that happen, wouldn’t she? Thunder hadn’t expressed any desire for a relationship. He hadn’t taken her on a date, spoke of a future, or expressed an interest in knowing her on a deeper level.
But he had come to her house to apologize. He’d spent an evening with her siblings. He’d held Emmie while the toddler slept. Then there was the way he’d helped her at the CDMC clubhouse and stayed with her the entire time Copper interrogated her.
If it was true, what they said, and actions did speak louder than words, maybe he was interested in more than just this night. He was sleeping in her bed after all, instead of running for the hills.
Argh, and there went her head again, full of ridiculous, unobtainable fantasies.
Her eyes grew gritty, and the steady beat of his heart against her ear began to lull her into a sleepy state. Maybe, only for tonight, she could pretend this was her real life. Imagine she didn’t have hundreds of pounds of baggage, siblings to take care of, more expenses than funds, and fantasize that Thunder wanted to fall asleep this way every night and wake together each morning.
She couldn’t wait to see what he looked