I settle into Colt’s arms, completely at home, completely comfortable. I love how open he’s learning to be with his feelings toward me. I won’t lie that hearing him say he’s falling for me sends tingles down my spine.

I decide a little reward is in order for this cute night he planned. I turn to face him and climb into his lap while a lazily grin spreads across his lips.

“What are you doing?” he asks.

“Shh.” I lean down and press my lips to his. “You’ve been good tonight.” I place another kiss on his mouth. He smiles against my lips.

“Colt,” I groan as he moves to my neck, his hands exploring my body.

He lets out a frustrated growl, stopping his progression of kisses down my throat.

“Don’t stop,” I beg. I press my hips into his, urging him to keep going.

His breath comes fast against my neck. “I want to baby. So bad.” He pulls back. “But I can’t take this.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’re not use to going this slow.”

“It’s okay, honey.” He skims my hair back from my face, tucking it behind my ears, then leans in to kiss my forehead.

I can tell this is it, the moment is over. He pulls back from me. “No, it’s not okay.” I grab his hands, keeping him near me, though I can tell he’s desperate to get away and clear his head. Suddenly I don’t want him to. I don’t want him thinking too much about our relationship which moves in stops and starts, never progressing to the point where either of us feels satisfied. I look up and meet his gorgeous hazel eyes, framed in dark lashes. “I’m scared I’m not what you need.”

He brushes his knuckles along my cheek. “Hey, stop that.”

“No, Colt.” I let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m serious. I know I don’t stack up to all the girls in your past.”

“Hush.” He forces my chin up to meet his eyes. His look is serious. “They don’t stack up to you. Not even close. It’s you that I want.”

“I know you want to…have sex.”

He smirks, unable to deny it’s true.

“And even though my body wants that too, I’m still not ready. And I don’t want you to get frustrated by waiting for me – and at the same time, once we do it – I don’t want you to get bored with me.”

“Taylor, you are everything to me. You opened up my heart and showed me how to feel again. I want you. I want you in a way I’ve never wanted anyone. I want you – all of you to be mine. But what I told you before still stands. You will set the pace. I will never push you – well, not intentionally.” He leans down to skim his lips softly across mine. “I want you, baby, but not just the physical stuff. I want all of you. But I will wait until you’re sure. Okay, baby?”

I lean forward and press my lips to his. His mouth is soft and I let my tongue reach out and carefully lick his top lip. I feel him smile in response. My hands move to his hair, tangling the locks around my fingers and tug him even closer. He lets out a groan and my heart riots in my chest.

I pull back to meet his eyes. They are bright and gleaming with his desire for me.

“What was that for?” he asks.

“Sorry.” I look down and blush. “It makes me sorta insane when you call me baby.”

“Hm.” He lifts my chin and looks at me thoughtfully. “Good. I like that.” He leans down and kisses me chastely on the lips, careful not to rile me up again.

Colt

I drop my boxer briefs and jeans to the floor and look up at Taylor. Her eyes widen, and then squeeze closed. She’s so damn cute. And innocent. It’s making me hot.

She looks down it again and shifts on the bed. I follow her eyes and grin a little. But when I look back at her face, I see how nervous she is. She swallows down a lump in her throat.

“What’s wrong?” I look down at myself and then back up at her. “You don’t like my body?” I tease.

She shakes her head, her eyes darting to mine. “No. I love your body, too much. It’s just that… that,” she looks down again, “is…um, bigger than I was expecting.”

I want to puff my chest out and strut around the room. My girl just told me I was big. I love hearing that shit. But then I see that she’s genuinely scared. Crap. I place my hands on the bed on either side of her and lean in. “I won’t hurt you. I promise.” I press a kiss to her forehead. “You’ll set the pace. And if you don’t want to have sex – then we won’t.” I rub my nose along her jaw, hoping to get her to loosen up. “Okay, baby?”

She nods and I can tell she’s smiling.

Good girl. “Now, you have far too many clothes still on.”

She lets out a giggle and pulls me down on top of her.

I place my hand over her heart and feel it thumping wildly. I love knowing I do that to her. Just me. I never would have thought having a girlfriend had so many perks. But Taylor’s showing me things I never realized I was missing. I work my hand under her shirt, caressing the soft curve of her stomach, but avoiding her hips where she’s ticklish, knowing she’ll swat me if I tickle her right now. I push her shirt up, and she squirms on the bed, helping me. “Can this come off?” I murmur against her mouth, not wanting to break the kiss even to talk. She nods.

I sit up with her, and quickly strip her of her shirt. My fingers hesitant for a second at the back clasp of her bra, then she nods again and I unhook it and toss it on the floor with my clothes.

I can tell she’s nervous being undressed around me, but I want her know how beautiful she is. I stop kissing her, and hold her face carefully a few inches from mine. “You’re amazing.” She looks down, blushing. “I love how soft you are.” I trail my fingers along her upper arms. “And I love the way you smell.” I press my nose and mouth to her neck, tasting as I go. “I want to kiss every part of you,” I say against her neck. She lets out a soft moan at my words. “And I can. Because you are mine.” She smiles up at me, relaxing just a bit. “So beautiful,” I murmur against her lips.

She crushes her mouth to mine, kissing me intensely. Our tongues meld together in pure heat and energy. She’s breathing hard and pinned underneath me. The contact of her skin against mine is heaven. She wraps her legs around my waist, drawing me even closer and groans when our hips meet and grind together. I find the button of her jeans and undo it. “Can these come off?”

She blinks up at me, hesitating as she considers it.

“I need to be closer to you, baby.”

She smiles at my words and nods, too eagerly. I take a break from kissing her for just a second, and remove her jeans. I leave her panties on. Those really need to stay on if I’m serious about her setting the pace. Even though I feel like I’m about to explode.

She wraps her legs around me again, and her bare legs skim against my back, coupled with the very little fabric now separating us nearly pushes me over the edge.

Taylor

I’m dressed in just my panties, happily grinding against Colt, getting lost in his kisses, his caresses. I wrap my legs around him and he grips my hips, lifting me and pulling me closer. He lets out a groan. “Fuck, Taylor.”

His voice makes my insides go all molten. Despite loving that well placed swear word, I swat his chest, just to tease him. “Don’t curse.”

He groans kisses me again.

I know he said that I’d set the pace, but I feel anything but in control right now. My heart is pounding painfully in my chest. I don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on.

And that scares me. I don’t want to mess up what Colt and I have. Though I’m not still worried he’ll get bored of me after we have sex, it does still lurk somewhere in the back of my mind.

“Colt.” I push his shoulders back. “Colt, stop.”

He looks up at me with pain and confusion. He looks alarmed at the idea of having to stop. I feel bad. But not bad enough to make me do something I’m not ready to do.