Page 81 of Moving Forward

I smile. Or at least I hope that’s what the muscles in my face are doing.

“Pretty sure I like you in every way possible.” He tightens his arms around me, and his forearm brushes my bare breast. The connection sends my brain back to reality. I’m naked. In his bed. Holy crap. I sit up suddenly, grabbing at the blankets. “Woah, this is not mellow, Peaches.”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “Sorry.”

“S’okay,” he tells me. He sits up as well. “Freak out. If I want to be in your life, I need to learn to master the freakouts along with the mellowness.”

“Sorry,” I repeat.

“Stop saying that. You don’t need to be sorry.” He pulls me into his lap, wrapping his arms around my midsection, setting his chin on my shoulder. “This is new. It’s okay to be nervous and awkward and have a knee-jerk reaction.”

“You’re not freaking out,” I point out.

“That’s because I’m a guy. We don’t freak out about the sexual stuff. Trust me, I’ve freaked out more times than I’m willing to admit since you entered my life. The first time I saw you . . . that was a freakout moment for me. I went from wanting to be nonexistent to wanting to be so ingrained in your life I can’t ever be removed. That’s a big leap—a leap I nearly fell on my ass a few times trying to make.” He pauses and brushes my hair away from my face. “Do you know what’s got you upset?”

I have a feeling he thinks it’s because of Ethan. But that’s impossible when Cain is monopolizing all my thoughts and feelings. Thinking about anything but him when we’re together is impossible. “It’s weird.”

“Tell me. I’ll never judge you—not after the way I’ve handled things through the years.”

I run my finger over the scars on his arm. The little white branches of scarred skin contrast drastically with the angry, raw skin where he’s been hurting himself. Without thinking, I press a soft kiss on a scar. He stiffens, then runs his hand over mine. I wish he’d realize I’ll take him in any form: broken, scarred, or perfect.

“It’s just that I’m . . . I’m naked. And that’s really, really awkward. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m shy. This is pushing my comfort zone,” I admit.

“You don’t need to be shy with me. But if at any time you feel that way, let me know and I’ll tell you just how much I love you naked. You’re breathtaking, Max.”

“You’re really not freaking out?”

“No. And you don’t need to either.”

It’s harder than it sounds. “Okay,” I say softly.

Cain presses a kiss against my temple. “We don’t have to go over to Grams’s tonight if you don’t want to.”

I give him a not-so-reassuring smile. I adore his Grams already, but she’s an intimidating woman. “I want to.”

“Really? ‘Cause I’m not so sure I do. Staying right here with you naked in my arms is a hell of a lot more appealing.”

“I want her to like me.”

“She already likes you. The woman thinks you’re some sort of saint.” He sighs and throws his head backward. “Fine, but we aren’t staying long. And if she says anything more about our sex life or kids, I blame you.”

“Thank you,” I grin.

“You also have to spend the night here again. I’d like you all to myself from now on. I don’t think I can handle dropping you off at the Millers' and not getting to fall asleep with you.”

“Okay.” Lord knows I probably have the walk to shame to look forward to when I go back. Ellie is going to make this into a huge, highly advertised ordeal I’ll no doubt hear about from now until the end of time. “I have to pick up some clothes though.”

“That’s doable,” he concedes. “I’ll drop you off and pick you up.”

I’m glad he’s on the same page. I don’t need to be taking my new boyfriend into my former fiancé’s parents’ house after a night out. That would be rude to them and to Ethan’s memory.

“Guess it wouldn’t be appropriate for you to spend all of your time here naked. Shame.”

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Forget walk of shame. This is way worse. Try walk of utter humiliation.

I thought maybe I could sneak into the Millers’ house without anyone noticing, but of course I’m wrong. That would be way too easy.

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