“That’s just it,” I breathed, grabbing his tense arm in my shaking grasp. I slid my index finger to his wrist and pressed hard. “I do see you. I see your heart, Rhodes.” I swallowed. “I feel it.”

Rhodes winced as if my words had permanently scarred him, then his hands were in my hair and he was kissing me. “I tried to stay away from you,” he murmured against my lips before claiming them again.

“I know.”

“I can’t.”

I shook in his grasp, his kisses stirring up every emotion I had held inside for so long.

“I know.”

His lips were fervent, his body pressed against mine like if he didn’t feel me everywhere then I wasn’t real at all. Pulling back, Rhodes ran his thumb over my bottom lip, his neon eyes blazing in the darkness as he searched my own. He was looking for an answer to a question maybe I hadn’t even heard, and I hoped with every ounce of blood in my heart that he would find it.

“I don’t want to be alone tonight,” I whispered.

Rhodes lifted his backpack from his bike and pulled out his spare helmet, handing it to me as a response. In a way, that helmet said more than he ever could have with words. He had wanted me to leave with him. He’d planned on it.

“Your house or mine?”

Rhodes was quiet when we pulled into my drive. I had him park his bike around back just in case one of the neighbors decided to be nosey, and then I led him inside.

“Do you want something to drink or anything?” I asked nervously, dropping my heels by the door. My feet were dirty from chasing him, but I embraced it.

“I’m okay.”

I nodded, smoothing my skirt with my damp hands. “I can make us some food, if you want.”

Rhodes smirked, and his fierce eyes smoldered with it. “I ate earlier.”

“Oh. Okay.” I chewed my lip and he stepped a little closer.

“Are you nervous, Bug?”

I laughed, and it was a higher pitched noise than I’d ever experienced from my own mouth. I couldn’t even try to deny it after that, so I cringed. “Yes. And I don’t know why.”

That was a lie. I did know why. Rhodes was alone with me in my house and I wanted him to touch me. I wanted all of him. I just didn’t know if he would be willing to let me have him.

Rhodes chuckled, reaching out and pulling me into his chest. I wrapped my arms around him and tried to calm my breathing. Slowly, he lifted my chin and pressed his lips to mine.

He kissed me slow at first, but I pulled at his shirt, demanding more intensity. Groaning, Rhodes delivered, snaking his tongue into my mouth and gently tugging on my curls. I opened my mouth with a moan and he kissed down my neck, sucking at my collarbone before moving to pull my ear lobe into his mouth. “Take me to your room.”

My mouth collided with his again as we stumbled up the stairs, stripping off clothing as we went. Rhodes’ hands were hard on my hips as he slammed my back against the railing, breaking our kiss just long enough to make quick work of his shirt. His lips found mine again in a frenzy and he lifted me, my ankles hooking behind his waist as he took me a few more stairs. My back hit the wall next and I dropped my legs so he could pull his jeans to the floor as I unclasped my bra. We were all hands and breaths and lips, clothes landing on each step. By the time we fell into my sheets, I was completely nude and Rhodes wore nothing but his boxer briefs. Straddling him, I pushed off his chest and ran my fingers over his abdomen.

“This is the first time I’ve really seen you without a shirt on.” His abs were just as tight and defined as I’d imagined, and my fingertips lightly traced each crevice. Chills raced from where I touched him to cover his entire body and I smiled.

“I’m nothing special.”

I frowned when I realized there were faint scars that ran across his lower stomach. When I touched them, Rhodes grabbed my wrists firmly and flipped us over, thrusting between my hips and kissing me hard.

“I want you tonight, Rhodes. Please,” I pleaded, kissing the bare skin of his shoulder. I could feel his hard on through the cotton fabric of his briefs. When I moaned against his skin and bit his shoulder lightly, he hardened more.

“Jesus Christ,” he whispered, burying his face in my neck. “I don’t know how to do this. You’re not like the women I’ve had before. I want to take you slowly, gently, but I don’t know how.”

My breath quickened at his honesty. “So take me how you want to. Hard, fast, rough...” I pulled my hands from his grasp and raked my nails down his back. “I don’t want you easy.”

Rhodes groaned from deep within his chest at the contact, but shook his head, lifting it to look down at me. “That’s just it, though. I disconnect when I have sex, Bug. I’ve never… it’s never meant anything to me before.” He swallowed, his thumb tracing the edge of my jaw. “It means something tonight. And I want to feel every single moment with you.”

He kissed me again, slower this time, his lips sticking to mine each time he pulled back. When his index finger found the inside of my wrist and he pressed there gently, I sighed contently, mirroring his grip and feeling his heart, too. Mine wasn’t the only one racing.

I slipped my fingers beneath the band of his briefs and tugged them down halfway before Rhodes took control. He kicked them off, pressing himself at my entrance as he balanced on shaky arms. My breath hitched. Every nerve was at full alert. He was so close, and I’d never wanted anything more than to close the distance between us.

Quickly, Rhodes tore open the condom package he’d retrieved from his jeans when we were on the stairs. Pullling away slightly, he slid the condom over his length. He was bigger than I’d realized, even after having him strained against his shorts so many nights before, and my breath was too much to exhale only through my nose anymore. My mouth parted when he positioned himself between my thighs again, my chest tight with anticipation.

He felt the weight, too, because he kissed me softer once more before whispering, “Are you sure?”

I nodded, digging my heels into his backside to pull him nearer. His tip grazed my wet opening and we both moaned together. Rhodes sucked my lip into his mouth and then he filled me. All at once. Completely and unapologetically.

He groaned, withdrawing before rocking into me once more. It stung a little, and I held on tighter.

“Are you okay?”