Page 60 of Never Say Never

"Dad, we're ready," Nyra said.

I met York's dark gaze. It was focused intently on me. Again, he looked at me like he wasn't sure who I was. Each time he did, it hurt more than the last.

"Change of plans. No movie?" I asked.

He snapped out of it and moved toward us. Reaching for the meat tray, I made sure to keep it just outside of his reach. York was determined to do everything himself when he was so obviously injured.

"The girls wanted to swim. We have a pool and it's heated. Figure we could do some barbecuing. It's surprisingly nice outside."

It was nearly winter but a random hot day wasn't unheard of in New York. Tomorrow it was bound to snow, but today felt more like spring.

"Paul, are you going to swim too?" Nyra asked.

"Dad can't ‘cause of his arm," Navy pointed out.

"Girls, I'm sure Paul doesn't want to."

I stared at York. Did he not want me here? No, I'm not ready.

"I didn't bring my trunks, but?—"

"Dad has some," Navy supplied.

I met York's gaze just as both girls turned around to plead with him. They were practically masters at it now.

"Okay,” he relented. “Give us a second. I don't want you two in the pool unsupervised."

"Yay, okay, Daddy," the girls said in unison. They rushed over to the living room, giggling with excitement.

I watched them with warmth flooding my chest.

"Paul, this way," York called out. He looked at the meat tray in my hands. "Put that there."

I listened, leaving the tray in the kitchen, and followed behind him. I drank in every inch of York, his broad shoulders and tight ass. When was the last time I'd seen him naked? It felt like forever, and I was desperate for another taste. We entered his room. York went for the dresser on the far left. I'd been in his room before. Dawn's pictures were on every wall, some of them all together looking like the perfect family. I wished I could have met her. She'd probably tell me things about York that he kept behind a wall. Things I didn't know about him yet.

"Here some are," York said.

I looked away from a picture of Dawn holding the girls in her arms. They couldn't be more than two in the photo. I moved toward York, taking the trunks from him. For a split second, our hands touched. Electricity danced up my arm from the point of contact, as if pulling me closer to him. I moved in, grabbing him how I wanted to since everything happened.

"Paul, I?—"

No, I didn't want to hear what he said. Panic clawed its way up my chest, and it only made me want to cling to him tighter. I brought our lips together in a kiss that was filled with desire, desperation, and something I wasn't sure I was ready to look too deeply into. Our mouths were connected, and for a short second, it felt like York was going to ignore the burning connection between us. I swiped my tongue over the seam of his lips needing entry. His beard scratched against my face, driving me insane.

Seconds ticked by, adding to the growing pressure in my gut. I held him tighter, not sure what I should do. York slowly opened his mouth, and granted me entrance. I took it for what it was. My brain shut off as I tasted him and relished in his moans. He was just as weak as I was to this thing between us. I greedily swallowed every sound that tried to pass his lips. They were all mine. If I could, I'd keep York all to myself.

"Paul," his desperate groan mirrored my own.

"God, I need you, York." I peppered kisses down his throat. My hands wandered over his body, touching every inch of him as if to commit it to memory. "I don't want this to stop."

York's fingers tangled in my hair. His blunt nails scraped against my scalp, adding more sensations to my already overly sensitive body. "Paul, wait."

"Can't."

If I can just have him, I don't need anything else. Not even to be a Vitale again.

I pulled at his shirt but stopped short when the sound of two distinctive sets of feet headed our way. Stopping just in time, we pulled apart as the girls bounced into the room none the wiser. My control was at its limit, but I still held back. York cleared his throat, looking guilty.

One more minute and I knew he would have given in.

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