Chapter 87

“Goose, it’s okay.”

“It’s not. I want this so badly. I don’t even care where. This stupid little shower room, the seediest motel, outside on the Dumpster, it doesn’t matter.”

“I was too rough.”

“No.” My fingertips touched his frown before stroking at his beard. “It’s not your fault. I guess I just…I still maybe have a bit of a problem being vulnerable beneath the full weight of a man. I trust you,” I added quickly. “And I love you.”

“I love you, too. Hey.” He moved me slightly, so the water from the nozzle wasn’t running down my face. “I love you, and if you don’t want to be under me, maybe you can be on…top of me?” He said it just like that, with the pause and the emphasis on the word top.

I smiled half-heartedly. “I don’t want us to have to choreograph every move. I don’t want you to be worried every second you’re going to trigger something. Damn it!”

“Shh. A paint by numbers is still beautiful when it’s done.”