Page 38 of My Ex-Military Biker

"Like what?"

"Like you're thinking about doing it again."

"I am thinking about doing it again."

"I'm too sore."

"I know. Not thinking about right now. Thinking about later."

She makes a sound. "Later I might be able to move again."

"Good. Need you to be able to move."

"Why?"

"Because later I'm putting my mouth on you like I said I would. And you're going to need to be able to spread those legs."

Her breath catches. "You can't just say things like that."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm trying to be practical and have a normal morning and you saying things like that makes that difficult."

"Good."

I stand up and she watches me move across the room. I'm naked, don't care, it's my house and she's already seen everything anyway.

Pull on boxers and jeans. She's still watching.

"What?" I ask.

"Nothing. Just... looking."

"You can look all you want."

"Good to know."

I walk back to the bed. Sit on the edge. Put my hand on her face. "You need anything right now?"

"Water. Maybe coffee. Probably a shower."

"I'll start coffee. You can shower after."

"Okay."

I start to stand and she catches my hand. "Tate?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For stopping. On the road. For bringing me here. For asking what I wanted. For waiting when I wasn't ready. For not waiting when I was. For all of it."

I look at her. Lying in my bed. Covered in marks I put there. Looking at me like I'm something that matters.

"You don't need to thank me for any of that," I say.