Continuation 5

My legs start to move, and I realize I'm walking toward them, unable to stop. I will accept what's coming. I reach them and stick my hand in my pocket, feeling her panties.

Ainsley's not feeling well," Brody says to me. "Could you get her home?"

"I'm fine," Ainsley says, not making eye contact with me. "It's your engagement party. Please don't worry . . ."

"Your skin is all flushed," Brody says, holding his hand up. "Are you sweating? Do you have fever?"

It's all I can do not to bust out laughing. Of course, he thinks she's sick, not that she just had sex in public. Thank God, Brody still thinks of Ainsley as a child.

"Brody's right," I say. "I'll take you home."

Skye kisses her cheek, glancing at me. "We'll check on you tomorrow."

We walk to the parking lot, managing not to touch or say a word to each other. I get her car door, feeling her tremble next to me. As soon as I'm safely inside, I reach for her hand, stroking her skin with my thumb. "Hey."

I can see her trying not to lose it. I'm sure she's never done anything like this before. Reaching up, I run my hand across her cheek. "I don't want to be something you regret."

"I don't. I couldn't," she whispers. "But that was reckless."

"I was there, too. You don't get all the credit for the incredibly hot sex."

I guess I don't, but what about the incredibly stupid, unprotected sex?"

Fuck! When she initiated things, I just assumed she had it taken care of. Normally, I use condoms, but this is Ainsley. I trust her.

"You're not on the pill?" I ask. She shakes her head.

What the hell! I'm always careful. My palms start to sweat, but no matter how freaked out I am, Ainsley's more upset. I have to fix this for her. "When's your period due?" I ask.

"A few days. A week maybe. I'd have to look at my calendar."

"It will be fine. If I've learned anything from Skye's crazy stories, it's that standing up is not a prime position for conceiving," I say, making her giggle. "You should be past your ovulation, too."

"How do you know about ovulation?" she asks.

"I went to med school."

"Animal med school," she says.

I grin. "Primates have a similar cycle to . . ."

She slaps me playfully. "You did not just compare me to a female baboon."

My fingers graze her cheek. "We'll be more careful from now on." Her cheeks heat, apparently looking forward to the from now on part, I hope.

We drive back to our building, her fingers intertwined with mine the whole time. Are you supposed to hold hands with your fuck buddy? Is that what she is? I've had fuck buddies before. A girl in vet school was my exam fuck buddy. We'd only hook up during exams. She was a good stress reliever. There've been others, too, but it's never felt like this.