Compounding Traumas (Artemis University Book 6), стр. 39

“Tell anyone, and I’ll castrate you, bear,” I threatened, not having the energy to put any real malice in my voice.

“All of your secrets are locked away in my tat.”

It was hard not to laugh. He included my inclination to snuggle in the super powerful mind locking tattoo? Oh, that was too fucking funny.

“I’m hanging her robe on the doorknob,” Izzy hollered to us. “We’re going to get food. Zack brought the first round to fuel her up. See ya in a bit.”

“Thanks, Izzy,” I called back to let her know I was okay.

“It’s cool. I totally abused his Portal Chow account to order tons and check out even more on his unlocked phone. I’ll fill you in later.” She paused. “No more sex or I’ll clip your balls, bear.”

We waited several moments until we were sure she was gone, but I wasn’t really sure what to say. I realized Lucca wasn’t waiting, but dying of laughter, his face in my hair covering the sound. He threw back his head and let it out, gasping for air as he hugged me to him.

“What did she find on there that was so good?” I teased, losing my mirth when he flinched. “What?”

“Um, I figured she checked my browsing history on there or used other apps I had to spoil you, which I would want.”

“But?” I pushed when he didn’t continue.

“I figured she’d snitch that any porn I’ve watched has a redhead in it. For a while.”

“That’s not why you flinched.”

“Um, no.” He cleared his throat when I pulled away. “I remembered what else was saved on my phone. From before I even met you.”

Ahhh, we were back to what he’d said earlier that implied there were lots of women in his past. “Let’s finish in here and get me food so I can think clearly and not simply beat you up.”

“Yes, dear,” he drawled, snatching away the soap when I tried for it. He made quick work of finishing both of us before I could argue. Plus, it felt too good. Fine, I didn’t really want him to wash me when we might have a problem, but I was seriously tired.

A couple of minutes later, I was sitting on my bed in the short bathrobe I had gotten to keep from the photo shoot, and he had my towel wrapped around his waist. Izzy started us off with a few Five Guys burgers and fries. I had always thought they were overpriced hype… Until I’d tried them, and then I was a convert and the extra money was worth it.

“All I can think about is having you again,” he muttered as I took a huge bite. He cleared his throat as I raised an eyebrow at him. “Is it just me? I mean, it was amazing for you too, right?”

I let him stew on that as I took my time and chewed, even taking another bite before wiping my mouth and answering. “It was good.”

“Good?” he coughed, staring at me, half like he was about to shake me until I admitted it was more than that, and the other half of him dying to show me how amazing it was again.

I shrugged and went back to my burger, taking my time to respond. “You made certain promises of how things would be that helped make me cave. However, you didn’t mention that your idea of fucking was at least four times, and with such vigor that I couldn’t even enj—finish the last time.”

I had started to say “enjoy,” but his face looked crushed at the idea I hadn’t. Yes, we did need to discuss this, and I did it this way to keep the conversation light, not to hurt him. No, I didn’t really expect him to seriously do that every time before any round of sex… But I also couldn’t always have sex like that. It had been way, way too much, and I needed to know it was like a first-time mate thing.

“I will gladly pay my debt, kitten,” he chuckled, leaning in and wiping something off my lip. “And yes, every time. And I know what you’re dancing around. Yes, bears do like to have sex like that, and yes, I will—at times—be that vigorous, maybe even worse now and again. It won’t be the norm though. I lost all fucking control for a few different reasons.”

I nodded, letting that sink in a few minutes. “Because we’re mates.”

“Yes, but also what I said about you running from me, my bear seeing you not being fair with me. Also, the serious danger you’re in and concerns of us being mates that could make things not work out.” He licked his lips as he stared over my body. “And lastly, because you just felt so godsdamn good, kitten. I didn’t know sex could be like that. You made me completely lose my head.”

I gave a happy hum, but then narrowed my eyes at him. “Before you lay the groundwork for the next time you maybe get laid, let’s discuss all the women you’ve had before.”

He frowned. “You aren’t—I wasn’t a virgin. You weren’t either.”

“I figured, but we’ve not discussed it,” I clarified. “You make the fifth man I’ve slept with though.” He winced and I nodded. “I get the feeling that number isn’t the same for you.” Technically, my number might be six, as Darby and I had started having sex when he’d almost drained me, but well… I chose not to count it.

It was my fucking body and choice. People could stuff it if they didn’t agree.

“Um, no, my number is higher. Much.” He cleared his throat and squirmed, looking almost adorable, no matter how big he was.

“Hmm, how much bigger? And when did