Out of Character (True Colors 2)

“Yeah. I get that.” Milo held me close, his chest hairs tickling my back. “But I can still wish I’d been there for you.”

“You’re sweet.” I sagged against him. “I could stay exactly like this the rest of the night.”

“And you’re stealing all my best lines.”

“That’s the best you’ve got?” I pretended to scoff.

He turned me slightly in his embrace so he could peer into my eyes. “I think I’m falling in love with you.”

My next breath strangled in my throat, and I made a choking noise. “Okay. That’s…”

“Too much?” His cheeks took on a bright-pink stain and he sounded like he’d been running.

“No.” I stretched to give him a gentle kiss, trying to put my awe and appreciation into it because God knew I lacked the words. And courage. “Never too much.”

“Good.” Milo soundly kissed me back, putting what felt like his whole heart into it. Mine was so full I wasn’t sure I could stand it. I’d wanted to hear this. Needed it. And still this fluttery voice kept saying it wouldn’t last. He’d change his mind or take a different Jasper-less path out of his current situation. He’s just grateful, the voice added, a chill racing up my spine. He was undoubtedly waiting for me to say it back, but my worries kept coming instead.

“But this is what I meant earlier. About the future—”

“Which we are not thinking about right now.” Voice commanding, Milo pulled back to hold me by the shoulders.

“But—”

He silenced me with a kiss that was less sweet and more ravenous. It was like a campfire threatening to leap out of the fire circle, heat licking at the base of my spine, warmth spreading through all my limbs. We kissed until I was a fire hazard waiting to happen, no more thinking about the future or about Milo’s declaration or anything other than how much I needed him right that minute.

“Okay. Brain officially off-line.” I groaned as he kissed his way down my neck, more purposeful now.

“Excellent.” He leaned over the edge of my bed, fumbling for his backpack and coming up with the supplies we’d used the other night. He handed them to me before falling back against the pillows, grinning up at me.

“Wait.”

“Brain.” He danced a finger down the side of my face. “Go away.”

“No, I meant we don’t have to do it that way. If you want to change it up…” My neck heated. Felt polite, offering to switch since he still hadn’t experienced both sides, and I didn’t have my usual trepidation where bottoming was concerned. I wanted to share that with Milo, give him that first too.

“I don’t need different. I know what I like.” Grinning wickedly, he tugged me on top of him. “And what I want.”

The last of my reservations rolled away. I knew what I liked, and him wanting that too was beyond sweet and perfect. He kissed me like he was trying to inhale a piece of my soul, and the hunger in his kiss and roving hands made my whole body thrill. I met him need for need, both of us moaning and moving together until I almost forgot the plan.

But Milo hadn’t. He pulled back, breathing hard and eyes glassy. “And what I want is you. Now.”

“Bossy,” I chided even as I reached for the stuff.

“You love it.”

“Maybe.” Maybe my brain and all those insidious voices weren’t going to let me say the words, but I tried to put all my racing emotions into our next kiss. And it must have worked because his head fell back, eyes closing as he groaned.

“Hurry.”

“Slow, remember?” I wanted every time with him to be as good as the first time, never wanted to rush him even if his head was more impatient than the rest of his body.

“As long as you keep kissing me like that, you can go whatever speed you want.”

“Good answer.” Taking him at his word, I made a five-course holiday meal of kissing my way down his torso.

“Maybe not that slow—” His voice trailed off on a groan as I lightly raked my fingers against his ribs. “Hey. That tickles.”

“Serves you right for complaining.”

“Not complaining. Requesting.” He made big, pleading eyes, and I was torn between laughing and giving him everything he ever wanted.

Indulging him won out as I added slick fingers into the mix of exploring his magnificent body. I loved how responsive he was, how his movements and low moans showed me exactly what he liked.

Milo groaned as I pushed a single digit inside, still going slow. “Oh. Wow. I’m not sure how it gets better, but it does.”

“I can do even better.”

“Brag—” Milo’s whole body arched as I crooked my finger in a particularly deliberate way. “Okay. Yeah. That. Now.”

“This?” I withdrew my finger and took care of the condom in record time.