The water switches off, and I blink out of my reverie. I get up to grab a towel. She is momentarily surprised to see me, then smiles warmly up to me, eyes soft, her expression open. I’m not sure any man or woman has seen this side of her. Well, outside of Solana and Georgie at least.

“Hey,” she says as I drape the towel over her shoulders. She sets her wet hands on my shoulders to balance on tiptoe and plants a kiss on my mouth.

That’s another thing. I kissed her. And I find myself kissing her again now. I don’t kiss women. Ever. I fuck them. We both get what we want out of it, and I leave. But Mercedes? Kissing is an intimacy I need like air when it comes to her. And if I'm not careful, she will destroy me.

Would it be some comfort to her to know this? I doubt it.

“Mercedes.” I break our kiss.

She looks confused, a little hurt. But then she grins as her hand finds my erection, and with a groan, I drag her off.

“No.”

“Really?” She raises her eyebrows.

I secure the towel around her and walk out of the bathroom to get her coffee and the small bag. She is wringing water from her long hair when I reenter.

“Coffee.”

“That was thoughtful of you,” she says, her eyes moving to the paper bag. Her hair tumbles down her back when she releases it to take the mug. “I’m thinking black tonight, by the way. What do you think?”

“Tonight?”

“Vivien’s cocktail party.” She rolls her eyes. “She’s turning twenty-six.”

“Oh. That’s right. I’m sure you’ll look lovely in anything you choose.”

She gives me a look, then glances at the bag. “What’s that?”

I take the pill out. There are more inside, but I set the bag on the counter as she looks at the plain packaging. Raul picked it up for me at a pharmacy out of town.

She raises her eyebrows, gaze wary now.

“Morning after pill. I wasn’t careful with you.”

It takes her a very long minute to drag her gaze to mine. Even then, she doesn’t speak right away. She searches my eyes for something I can’t give her.

“There are a few more in the bag. One should be enough, but to be safe…” I trail off.

“Oh. Okay, thanks, I guess.” She takes the pill and sets it on the counter.

“Don’t you want to take it?”

She forces a smile. “Are you going to watch me to be sure I do?”

“Mercedes, I came inside you. Multiple times.”

“I know how it works, Judge. But I also know my cycle, and you don’t have to worry.” She shifts her gaze slightly as she says it, and suddenly, I am worried.

“Take the pill.”