“Falyn?” Thomas said in an authoritative voice.

“I heard you,” I said, unappreciative of the order. “C’mon, Taylor, let’s go.”

Thomas passed us, and I guided Taylor up the never-ending staircase and into our room. He leaned on me to kick off his shoes and then peel off his socks.

“Gross. I think I just need to throw that pair away. They’re so sweaty that they probably weigh five pounds apiece.”

“Yep,” I said, “there’s that honesty I love so much.”

Taylor looked up at me, something sparking in his eyes, but he looked away, attempting to unbutton his shirt.

“Here, let me help,” I said.

He didn’t make eye contact while I undressed him, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of me while I took off my own clothes. I knelt down in front of him, but he stepped back.

I let my hands slap down to my thighs. “What is going on with you?”

“Nothing,” he said, pulling me up to stand. He walked backward, leading me toward the bed.

“Does it have something to do with what Thomas said?”

He shook his head. “No.”

I leaned in to kiss him, sliding my hands around his backside. The bed was just behind him, and with one small push, Taylor was lying on his back on the mattress.

I crawled on top of him, and his hands found their way to my hips. He groaned as I sucked on his bottom lip, and his erection formed beneath me as I kissed him.

“Oh my God, this is all I thought about last week,” he said.

I sat up. “Not this week?”

“You told me to think about not having kids this week, to really think about it, so I did.”

I lowered myself until my breasts were pressed against his warm chest. My mouth made a trail of kisses along his jawline to his earlobe, gently nibbling at the soft skin before pulling away with the slightest suction.

He moaned, grabbing my jaw with both hands, forcing my mouth back to his. I positioned myself over him, but he released me and grabbed my hips, holding me at bay.

“Baby,” he said, panting.

I waited, trying to predict what he might say.

“I love you.”

“I love you, too,” I said, bending down for another kiss.

He sat up, and at the same time, he pushed me so that I was sitting as far away from him as possible while still being on his lap. He swallowed.

“Taylor, what the hell is going on?”

He blew out a controlled breath, his thoughts swimming in the pint of whiskey he’d consumed since dinner. “We should go to sleep.”

“What? Why?” I asked, my voice an octave higher.

“Because I need to sleep this off. I shouldn’t have had so much to drink.”

I shook my head, confused.