I nodded, let my body sink into the mattress, and whispered, “Keep going.”

Blake’s breath hitched slightly, just enough for me to notice, before he dipped his head and pressed his lips to the slope of my throat. My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging lightly, and he groaned softly, the sound vibrating against my collarbone.

And then, suddenly, he stiffened.

“I don’t have condoms,” he said, lips still pressed to my neck.

Reaching for my nightstand, I yanked open the drawer, fingers closing around the small foil package hidden inside.

Blake pulled back slightly, his expression shifting to something disbelieving, surprised, maybe even impressed.

I bit back a laugh. “From Tiffany,” I explained quickly, amused at the way his eyebrows shot up.

He blinked at me. “She just…what, handed you a condom?”

“She said,” I mimicked Tiffany’s voice as best I could, “‘You and Blake are inevitable, so when it happens, don’t be dumb.’”

Blake made a strangled sound. “I hate her,” he muttered, taking the condom from my fingers.

“No, you don’t.”

“No, I don’t,” he admitted with a laugh, shaking his head. “Remind me to thank her later.”

Then his lips were on me again, tracing a slow, deliberate path down my neck and lingering over the spot where my pulse beat the hardest. His fingers curled at the hem of my hoodie, hesitating. I lifted my arms in silent permission. He peeled it off slowly, his eyes never leaving mine, as if he was waiting for me to change my mind, but I didn’t. I wouldn’t.

“You trust me, right?” he asked, reaching up to tuck a loose strand of hair behind my ear.

I tilted my chin, looked him in the eyes, and said, “Yes, I do.”

Something in his face softened, like those words had settled inside his chest and made it easier to breathe. His fingers skimmed over my bare stomach, and I swallowed hard as his palm flattened against my ribs, just beneath my bra, his thumb brushing soft, teasing strokes over my skin.

He kissed me again, deeper this time, and as he did, his fingers found the clasp of my bra, lingering for a moment before undoing it with a quiet snap. He slid the straps down my arms, his breath quickening as he took in the sight of me beneath him.

For a long moment, he just looked. His gaze swept over me, warm and full of something so intense it made my stomach tighten. His fingers twitched at his sides, like he couldn’t decide where to touch me first.

Then, his thumbs brushed over my ribs again, then higher, his mouth following the path his hands had made, pressing slow, open-mouthed kisses against my collarbone.