Delayed by Nathan Kingsly (best manga ereader txt) 📕

at a sharp angle; even with the overhang, neither of us come out untouched.

Shielding my face, I grab our bags from the popped trunk. The cabby did not bother to help, and I regret giving him a tip.

Reaching the front desk, Emma is there getting the room keys. My free hand grasps the back of her neck, my thumb traps a raindrop coming from the edge of her hairline behind her ear, and I rub it away. She shivers, and her grip on the counter turns white. “Um-yes, it's the two of us.” She bites her lip. “So, can we get two keys?”

“Of course, Ms.-”

“Has anyone entered the room today?” I interrupt.

The clerk looks perplexed. “Of course not, sir.”

“Can you check?” After a long second, his eyes go to the computer again.

“No one has been in this particular room since 11:30 this morning, and it was the cleaning department.” He looks up.

“Thank you,” I say, He nods, and I watch as he encodes two cards, then a third in case we lose one.

“What was that about?” she asks as we start our ascent to find our room. I can feel her eyes burning into the side of my face.

“Nothing wrong with being safe.” I do my best to shrug non committedly.

She gives me a look that I see in the corner of my eye. “Safe? From what, dust bunnies and crumbs?” Her brothers did their job keeping her safe if she believes those are the worst things that can wait for you in a dark room.

Her hand slides against my forearm, and I pause on the steps as her fingers tangle with mine. Her smile is bright and innocent, her touch as warm as her smile. With her hand in mine, I can almost forget my ever-present weariness of my surroundings.

However, even with the front desk attendant's assurance, and Emma’s teasing, I still ask her to stay by the door as I check. When I know it’s safe, I pull her inside.

The door to the hotel room barely clicks shut before I hike her up my body and press her against it. Where the rain touched her, her clothes cling, cold and wet, but my fingers feel the heat of her underneath.

She moans even before our mouths touch, and it makes me pause. There's something in the intensity of the way she looks; wild eyes searching, heaving breath sweet in my face. She's uncharted territory, not yet proven to be safe. However, my desire outweighs the instincts that have ruled me for so long. I want to know how she sounds, feels under my palms, and know the taste of her on my tongue.

“I never do this.” A flush creeps across her cheeks.

I lean my forehead against hers. “Neither do I,” I assure her.

“I’m not just saying that." She shakes her head, and I pull back. “I’m that girl that needs a title before she does this step. But I’ve had a shit week, and you’re looking like a good decision. The person that called you earlier, she’s not your girlfriend is she?”

I shake my head, “I’m unattached.” That reminds me I have a voicemail to listen to. After … .

Her shoulders relax. “I am too.”

Ever since I saw her on that rail, something piqued my interest. That interest undefined; she’s everything opposite to what I like, at least what I thought I did because I find I’m unable to resist her. The way she’s looking between my eyes and mouth, I’d say she’s unable to either.

She meets me in our kiss, my tongue finding hers, and I thought I was beyond feeling excited flutters.

One of my hands wander up her body and finds the underside of her breast. My thumb searches for the hard bead of her nipple, and I smile against her lips as she lets out a whimper.

“Let me show you how much of a good decision I am.”

At some point in my statement, her hand finds its way down and cups my bulge.

“Shit.” I hiss through my teeth. Her fingers grip me harder, and I’m surprised I have a neuron to fire that's not screaming to get her naked. “I don’t have a condom. This wasn’t exactly on my agenda today.” With what's going on outside, I doubt a drugstore is open to grab one or several.

“Oh.” Her hands move to my shoulders, “Have you been careful in the past?”

“Careful, meaning, I’ve never not used a condom, then the answer is, yes.”

“Me either, and I’m on birth control.”

“Are you saying…”

“That I want you, yes.”

“Then, it’s time to move,” I say, and she bobs her head in agreement. Before we move away from the door, I deadbolt it and set the chain, all while Emma smiles, shaking her head.

“You know you need to scan a card to get in here, right?” She taunts. “The bolt and chain seem like overkill.”

“I want to be the only one to see you naked. No reason to take chances.” She giggles at my response, and I wish it were the only reason I needed it.

We land on the bed, me hovering above her. Her legs are still wrapped around my middle when she grabs my shirt. I fall straight into the kiss that’s even more frenzied than our first. When we come up for air, there’s something different about her gaze; it’s no longer searching but unmasked with sexual intent, enough to tighten my balls.

“Fuck woman, if you look at me like that, I won’t give you what you deserve.” I haven’t been with a woman in a long time, and I want the chance to get acquainted.

“What do I deserve?” She bites her bottom lip. Leaning down, I lick it and then pull it in my own mouth, gently sucking. Her fingers dig into my shoulders on a gasp.

When I pull back, I answer, “Everything. Everything, I can convince you to take.”

“I plan on getting as many versions of that as I can. You need to earn