Free Experimenting With Ed by Katie Allen Page A

her face in both hands, he let his lips cling to hers. When he pulled back she gave him a shaky smile.
    “Best way to shut me up?”
    The corner of his mouth twitched. “No. I like hearing you talk. Just…wanted to kiss you.” His stroked his thumbs across her cheeks.
    The tears were rising again. Claire fought them back. “Can I sleep with you?” She flushed. Her question sounded so pathetically needy.
    Ed didn’t seem to mind but lifted her off the counter and carried her out the kitchen, flicking off the light as he went. He brought her through the house and up the stairs to a bedroom dimly illuminated by the city lights.
    As he sat her on the bed, she looked up at him. “I hate to ask for one more thing, but can I borrow a t-shirt to sleep in?”
    “‘Course.” He pulled a shirt from one of the drawers in the dresser and brought it over to her. “Socks too. To protect your feet.”
    This’ll be a sexy look. “Thanks,” she told him and pulled on the socks. “Where’s your bathroom?” As she slid toward the edge of the bed, Ed moved as if to pick her up again.
    Claire shook her head. “Thanks, caveman, but I can make it on my own. Bathroom?”
    He frowned at her but she just waited, giving him her own lifted-eyebrow look. Finally, he jerked his head toward the hallway. “First door on the right.”
    “Thanks.” As she stood up, he hovered, as if preparing to catch her if she fell over. Although it hurt to stand, Claire kept her face expressionless, worried he’d snatch her off her feet if she showed any sign of pain.
    Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t completely hide her limp as she walked toward the door.
    “Let me—” he started to say but she gave him a look over her shoulder.
    “No. I’m fine.”
    “But—”
    “Zip it.” She pointed a warning finger at him.
    His mouth twitched. “Zip it?”
    “Exactly.” Claire turned down the hall. Away from Ed’s watchful eye, she let her face contort into the pained grimace she’d been holding back since she first stood up. She also quit trying to hide her limp. Shuffling into the bathroom, Claire swung the door shut and sat down on the closed toilet seat with a relieved exhale.
    “Okay?” Ed called through the door and she rolled her eyes.
    “Fine!” she yelled back.
    He was quiet but she knew he was out there, waiting. With a sigh, she forced her tired body to stand up. She probably only had a few minutes before he started knocking on the door.
    * * * * *
    When she yanked open the door a short time later, Claire expected to find Ed lurking outside. To her surprise, the hall was empty. She made her slow, painful way back to the bedroom.
    Ed was leaning next to the window, staring out. He looked over when she came in but didn’t move.
    “Sorry I’m being so cranky,” she told him, easing onto the bed, utterly relieved to sit. “Thanks for the t-shirt.” She smoothed the cotton fabric over her knees. The shirt hung on her, swamping her form. “It’s a little small but…” Claire gave him a tentative smile.
    Although he didn’t smile back, he crossed the room to stand in front of her. “I don’t mean to be so…” Letting the sentence trail off as his gaze shifted away, he shrugged.
    “Hover-y?” she filled in, pulling back the covers and climbing beneath them.
    “I guess.” He frowned. “Is that even a word?”
    She shrugged. Nestled beneath the covers with her head on a fluffy pillow, she didn’t really care whether it was or not. Ed was still standing next to the bed.
    “Aren’t you going to sleep?” she asked. Her eyelids felt weighted and she struggled to keep them open as she waited for an answer.
    He nodded, his hands going to the button on his pants. The zipper sounded loud in the hush of the bedroom. Despite her exhaustion, Claire fought to stay awake. She didn’t want to miss Ed taking his pants off.
    It was worth the effort. The fabric pooled around his ankles and he stepped clear of them. His boxer