Page 77 of Say You Will

“Emotional and sensory overload. I lack the vocabulary to do it justice.”

Smiling, I lean into him, my forehead resting on the hard plane of his chest, as he wraps me tightly against him once more.

“I like this. You. In my arms,” he says.

“I do too.”

We lay together for long minutes as Henry trails his fingers up and down my back. Neither of us falls asleep, despite the lateness of the hour.

“I’m not ready for today to be over,” I say.

Henry pauses his motion. “There’s a clear sky tonight. We’d have a good view from the roof.”

twenty-four

Henry

The Night We Met | Lord Huron

“I’ll be right back.Put on something warm and comfortable.” I kiss her forehead.

She nods, and I slip from the bed, heading for our connecting door. The moment it shuts behind me, I jump and punch the air. “Yes! Fucking yes!” The words are a shout in the form of a whisper.

I collapse against the door, leaning my head back harder than I intended with an audiblethunkand laugh in utter relief.

Two orgasms. Two. Fucking. Orgasms.Each.

When I’d imagined what making love would feel like, I’d assumed it would be similar to a soapy fist in the shower. I was so naive. The things I’d studied about giving a woman pleasure were just as lacking. It was the difference between looking at an architect’s schematics and stepping into a home. I’ll be more prepared for the sensory and emotional deluge next time, and we’re only getting better together from here.

I try to imagine having that experience with anyone else, and my entire being rejects it. Who besides Franki would I allow to touch me like that? OnlyeverFranki.

A knock sounds from the other side of the door. “Is everything okay?”

I straighten and call back with a smile filling my entire body. “No problems. Just give me a minute, and I’ll be right there.”

I do a quick security check-in and find no issues. As expected, Louis won’t be creating any problems. His injuries are being treated as the result of the car accident we concocted as cover. If he were stupid enough to talk, there’s no evidence and a number of “witnesses” who will be happy to provide alibis. If it ever even got to that point.

We have, after all, provided any number of college scholarships for three generations of local law enforcement, built a pediatric annex for the hospital, and donate generously to the community. More significantly, we’ve avoided harm to innocents, and we have friends.

In other words, we’ve established goodwill—something Grandmother didn’t understand when she controlled Bronwyn’s trust fund.

I clean up so I can get back to Franki in record time, throw on flannel drawstring pants and a long-sleeved T-shirt, and gather a couple items for Franki. Leaving them on the end of my bed, I return to find Franki closing the buttons on her pink pajama top. I take over the small task for her, because even though wejust finished touching each other, I want more. I want all the closeness we’re capable of. When I’ve finished and covered her feet with a pair of fluffy socks, I lead her back to my room. “My windows are larger and easier for an adult to climb through.”

When we get within reach of the items I left on my bed, I collect them for her. First, I open the lid and pass her a bottle of water. “Drink that. Your body needs it.”

She accepts the water, taking a sip and smiling as I stretch a black beanie hat over her light brown and caramel hair.

“It’s getting chilly,” I explain.

After I drape a thick red blanket over her shoulders, I turn off the bedroom light and lead her to the window.

Once I’ve opened it, I duck through to the slight incline of the black asphalt-shingled porch roof. Smiling like I’m still a kid who thinks his parents don’t have a clue he’s sneaking onto porch roofs to look at the stars, I prop my hands on the sill and poke my head back into the room.

“Why does that smile make me feel like we’re being naughty?” she asks.

“You can be as naughty with me as you like, my darling.”

“I love that you call me that.”

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