Page 36 of The Path To Us

I dump the pizza box in the recycle bin in the garage and come back inside. I’m about to turn off the kitchen lights when the container of oatmeal fudge bars catches my eye. I’d forgotten all about them. I grab a napkin and pick out two squares of chocolatey goodness. These things are so addicting I could eat the entire container by myself. Taking only two is displaying quite a bit of self-control, to be quite honest.

I take a bite and moan. “Holy crap.”

They taste a little different than usual but in a really good way. I finish the first bar and turn off the lights in the kitchen.

“Beau?” I holler.

“In here! Just brushing my teeth,” he replies from the bathroom.

“Okay!”

Since it seems he’s getting ready for bed, I decide to do the same. But not before I eat the other chewy bar.

I get into my pajamas and wash my face, brush my teeth, use the toilet, and stop in my tracks when I see Beau standing in my bedroom, sans shirt.

“Thought I’d come say goodnight.”

I nod. “Good night.”

He licks his lips and allows his eyes to trail the length of my legs. I’m not naked but the way he’s looking at me right this second, I might as well be. Something between us is shifting, the relationship we once held is different than it was. When his eyes meet mine, desire radiates. Or maybe that’s my own.

Holy shit. My bedroom isn’t small, but with Beau’s large frame stealing so much space, it feels tiny. I swallow hard and take a step closer.

He does, too, and when we’re directly in front of each other, he slowly lifts his hands, gripping my upper arms.

“Addy,” he whispers, looking down at me. It’s his turn to swallow hard and I know that he can see the swell of my breasts from where he’s standing. I wonder if he can see the hardness of my nipples, too.

I stare at him, because I can’t tear my eyes away from his bare chest or the look in his eyes.

“You’re so beautiful, Addy. Have I ever told you that?”

I shake my head but it’s a lie. He has told me that before. Just not in the way I think he means right now.

“I should have.”

My tongue begins to tingle and my head feels fuzzy. I try to take a deep breath to calm my racing heart but I can’t. Then my tongue begins swelling inside my mouth making it impossible to speak, much less breathe easily.

“Say something,” he begs.

But I can’t.

I can’t speak.

And it’s not because I’m struck speechless because of being around him while both of us are half naked.

No.

It’s because I’m having some sort of allergic reaction and not only is my tongue swelling but I can’t catch a breath.

I gasp and gasp again.

Nothing helps, though.

“Addy?”

I shake my head and bend over, trying to take in a deep breath, but it’s useless. I’ve only experienced this one other time and it was terrifying to say the least. I can’t breathe no matter what I do.

“Addy!” he shouts, eyes fearful and voice high and worried.

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