So I came fast and got to glory in the feel, moving with him, pushing my hands back to grasp his hips and feel the power of them flexing as he kept ramming into me, mewing then gasping at each stroke until he came too.

He buried himself deep and dropped his forehead to my shoulder.

“Okay,” I panted, still not in control of my breathing. “If that’s the official going steady ceremony, tomorrow I’m expecting a promise ring. But warning, I’m breaking up with you tomorrow night so we can make up and decide to go steady again.”

Joker wrapped his arms around me, shoved his face in my neck, and still connected to me, burst out laughing, his amusement rocking through me in a way it became part of me and that was in a way I’d never forget.

Aaron had never done that. Aaron and I had never, ever had a moment like that. That simple. That remarkable. That memorable. That beautiful.

Joker’s laughter reduced to chuckles and he kissed my neck.

“To do list tomorrow, promise ring and stock up on condoms,” he muttered.

“I approve of this list,” I told him.

I could feel, actually feel, him smile against my skin.

I slid my hands along his arms and held him to me.

We stayed like that, naked, intimate, connected, and I wanted to shout my joy that he wanted that at the same time giving it to me.

So only when the time was right did he slide out gently, turn me in his arms, settle me back in bed, and kiss my temple before he pulled the covers up and said, “Be right back.”

“Okay, sweetie.”

That bought me a brief kiss on the lips before he did just what he said.

He was in bed beside me, gathering me close when he asked, “You want your panties?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Pure Joker, he twisted, reached to the floor and got them for me.

I pulled them on under the covers.

“Nightshirt?” he asked.

“It’s under the pillow.”

“Butterfly, just sayin’, you got a great body and that thing does nothin’ for it.”

“Well, it wouldn’t, it’s my preggers nightie.”

“It’s gotta go.”

I blinked through the dark as he again folded me in his arms.

“Travis isn’t in your belly, Carrie. You’re a mom, but you’re also a beautiful woman with a beautiful body and a man in her bed who appreciates both. Lose it.”

“I, well…” I mentally inventoried my drawers and wondered if my pre-baby nighties would look good. I hadn’t tried them. Not one. They were cute and some were cute/sexy so I had no reason to try them.

Until now.

“Okay,” I finished.

“Now, you good with just panties?”

I felt his hard body tight against mine, his arms pulling me mostly on him, and I rested against his chest as I pressed my arms to his sides and my cheek to his shoulder.

“Yeah,” I murmured. “I’m good with just panties.”