Page 138 of After All This Time

He turns, pulling me flush against his chest and wrapping his arms around me like I'm something he needs to protect. His lips brush my hair, hovering there with such tenderness that it makes my heart ache.

"Thank you, Firefly."

"God, since when did you become so needy?" I tease, looking up to catch that smile that always ruins me.

He pushes me back gently, laughing. "I've always been needy. And if you make any jokes about mommy issues, I'm taking your ass next time."

I laugh so hard I have to grab the edge of the island to steady myself, and Tobias watches with that fucking smirk that somehow makes me fall harder.

"Grab a couple of plates," he says, turning back to the stove. "This is ready."

Still giggling, I hold the plates while he portions out the eggs.

We settle on the couch with our feast, our thighs pressed together like even the smallest distance would be too much. This need to be close, even when we’re just sitting here sharing food, is instinctual.

The first bite of eggs hits my tongue—perfectly scrambled with mushrooms, cheese, and just enough chili flakes—and I let out a moan.

"Holy shit, this is incredible."

Tobias quirks an eyebrow, fork hovering near his mouth. "So, hypothetically… this or sex?"

"Oh, that's easy." I take another bite, letting the flavors linger. "I'd give up sex for food this good."

"Are you fucking with me?" The disbelief in his voice makes me chuckle.

"Let me finish." I hold up my hand, trying not to laugh at how adorably offended he looks. "I'd give up sex for this, yeah. But not sex with you. Nothing I've ever had in my mouth comes close to what you do to me."

His eyes darken, and there it is—that look that makes me feel like I'm the only woman in the world. "I don't know whether I'm turned on or pissed off thinking about you ever having anyone or anything else between those lips that wasn't my cock or my tongue."

"Don't forget your fingers."

The heat in his stare burns through me, and I know we're both caught in the same memories. Every time he's made me taste us together—marking me, owning me, making damn sure I never forget who I belong to. It's his thing—this primal, possessive need to brand us both from the inside out.

"You're killing me here," he mutters, dragging his hand down his face.

As the laughter dies down, my thoughts shift, and I set my fork down. "Can we talk about what happened this morning? With my mom."

Tobias freezes mid-bite, and I watch the careful way he lowers his fork. "Sure."

"She didn't say a word to me about us being together. Not directly, anyway."

"That doesn't surprise me."

"She was being weird. I knew something was up, but she didn't mention us. Not really."

"What did she say?"

"That it's not healthy how dependent we are on each other." I roll my eyes, leaning back against the couch. "Which? Sure, I get it. We've always been close. But we don't spendtime together because we need to. We do it because we want to. I just assumed she didn't get that. I didn't realize it was because she knows things between us have changed."

"I didn't even tell her anything had happened between us. I just said that sometimes we share a bed—like we've done a million times before. ButI also told her that I'm falling for you."

The words hit me hard, and I swallow the last bit of food hard, my throat tightening. Tobias leans forward, grabbing both our plates and placing them on the coffee table, giving me a moment to process.

"You said that?"

"It's the truth."He leans forward, curling a strand of my hair around his finger. "There are things Iwanttosay toyou,butI can'tright now."

"Why not?"

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