She exhaled in a little cry of inarticulate air and pushed up onto her toes, kissing him hard and fast with no plan at all. It meant so much to be wanted so completely, even when her hands were more unpracticed and clumsy than sensual.

LJ’s palms cupped her waist and slid around the small of her back, thumbs rubbing slow and steady.

His shirt came all the way open under her urgent tugs. She dropped to stand flat-footed and watch as she pushed the fabric up and over the muscles of his shoulders. Her hand was starkly pale, fingers trembling as she traced a path down the ripples of his abs to the button on his jeans. Her throat pinched closed as she took hold of the fastening with both hands. Somehow, she felt if she could be naked next to him, it would soothe the sprinting fear. As close as they were right now, something in her was still screaming that he might leave and once he was gone, there were no guarantees she’d ever hear his voice again.

And even as wanting him wrung her mouth dry, she knew there was a good chance that pulling down his zipper would throw her into an attack she had no chance of stopping.

“You scared?” LJ’s hands covered hers where they had been frozen on his button for three long breaths. His thumb tucked inside the curl of her bloodless fingers, fitting just right into the hollow at the center of her palm. “Most girls are,” he said conversationally. “‘LJ, it’s so big and hard,’” he added in a southern falsetto. “‘Ain’t no earthly way it’s gonna fit in there. Couldn’t you make it a little smaller now?’”

She choked on the laugh that caught her by surprise, lifting her head to find his eyes warm and his smirk a little crooked. “Aren’t you ever serious? I’m trying to seduce you here.”

“Oh, I’m plenty serious. And you’re plenty seducing me.” His smile deepened. “Weren’t we just talking about how scary big you made my dick?” His thumb stayed cuddled inside her palm as he took his other hand and gave his fly a sharp pat. “Behave yourself, now. Don’t frighten the lady off.”

Her gaze wavered on his, her giggle fading away too fast. “I want to,” she said. “But I also don’t want to have a stupid panic attack right now.”

He winked. “If you do, I promise we can make out when you’re done.”

She burst out laughing again. “LJ, you’re shameless.”

“Horny,” he corrected. “‘Horny’ is the word you’re looking for, darlin’. Here, we’ll do it together. You want the high road or the low road?”