Page 51 of Offside

I put it back in the drawer.

"Her explanation belongs to her," I said. "Whatever it is, it's not the answer I was looking for."

I closed the drawer.

"I loved her." I turned around and looked at him. "I was also younger, and she had power over my work. We both made choices that hurt me."

Bishop nodded; he stayed where he was. "Can I hold you?"

"Yes." I stepped close and took his hands. I placed them at my waist, keeping his right hand low. "Here."

His left hand settled against my side. I could have stayed there for a while, letting him hold me, but I wanted his mouth too. I slid a hand up the back of his neck and kissed him.

His hands warm at my waist, exactly where I'd put them.

Marguerite's letter was back in the closed drawer. When I took Bishop's hand and led him down the hall, I wasn't continuing Marguerite's story. I was choosing.

In the bedroom, Bishop stopped beside the bed. "Tell me," he said.

"I want you to top me."

"Tonight?" His eyes darkened.

"That's what I want."

"Are you sure?" Bishop asked.

"I'm not certain about Denver. I'm not certain what Marguerite would say if I opened that letter. But I am certain I want your cock inside me tonight."

He let out a loud breath. "All right."

I took off my own clothes. He watched without hiding it. When I was naked, I reached for the hem of his shirt and stopped.

"Can I?"

"Yeah. Left side first."

He managed the right sleeve himself after I lifted the shirt over his head. The support stayed in place until he removed it and set it beside his clothes. He arranged a pillow where he wanted it and rolled the shoulder once within his own comfortable range.

"This works," he said before I could ask.

I opened the bedside drawer, which held condoms and lube.

"Prepared," he teased.

"I had a week."

He laughed. I put my left hand behind his neck and kissed the sound out of him.

We went down onto the bed together. He kept his weight off the right arm. I lay on my back and pulled him over me, his body broad enough to block the light.

"Where do you want my hands?" he asked.

I brought both to my waist again. "Here first."

"And then?" Bishop asked.

He kissed my mouth, then my jaw. His stubble dragged over my throat. One hand moved from my waist to my chest.