Page 71 of Pocketful of Shame

"Nothinghappened with Chris," I filled in, knowing exactly where his mind had taken him. "Nothing. I promise."

"Because he was gay?"

"Because I don’t spread my feelings around," I corrected, reciting his earlier words.

Sketch stared hard at me for a solid minute, his eyes full of torment and hunger… and excitement? Finally, after what felt like forever, he shook his head and a full body shudder racked through his impressive build. "Thank you."

"For what?" I whispered.

"For still loving me." His eyes were heated and locked on mine, pupils dilated as his breathing grew ragged. "Hell, for doing it in the first place. I know it ain't easy."

"It's the easiest thing I've ever done," I replied. He flinched like the words pained him. "You told me if I wanted to be your friend then I couldn’t kiss you again and I didn’t listen." Trembling, I reached a hand between us and fisted his once-again rock-hard dick. "Because I don’t wanna be your friend again, Holden.

"No?" he said thickly, rocking into my touch.

"No," I breathed, keeping my eyes locked on his as I slowly rubbed the head of his shaft against my pussy. With my free hand, I reached up and traced my thumb over the curve of his cheekbone before letting my fingers drift to the nape of his neck. "I wanna be your girl."

"Fixing us ain't gonna be easy, Ro." His voice was thick with emotion as he spoke. "We've got scar-tissue, baby. Lots of it."

"I know," I agreed shakily, still teasing both of us with his dick. "But I'm willing if you are?"

"I love you," he replied hoarsely. "I know that much, and I ain't stopping anytime soon."

"So…"

"So, if we're doing this again, then there's no getting off the ride. If we're in, there's no going back. Watching you leave me was the hardest thing I have ever done. Loving you from a distance damn near killed me. I ain't doing that shit twice."

My heart leapt with excitement. "Agreed."

"I'm deadly serious," Sketch said. "I ain't fucking around here, Ro. If we do this, it's a permanent thing. You're gonna love me and I'm gonna love you right back. I'll be your best friend and you'll be mine. We're gonna stick together through hail, rain, or snow. I'm gonna keep you safe and you're gonna give me nothing but the truth from here on out. We're gonna get all the hating out of our hearts and figure out a way to heal and make this work." He exhaled a shaky breath. "Is all of that really what you want? And be damn sure before you answer, because once you're in, there ain't gonna be no quitting option."

"I'm sure," I whispered.

"Yeah?"

I nodded. "I'm in."

"And you're sure you want this?" he asked, rolling his hips and nudging me with his erection. "You can say no. I won't mind –"

"I want this with you," I hurried to tell him. "I'm sure."

His eyes blazed with heat. "Then ask me for a truth."

"Huh?"

Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to my lips. "Just do it."

Shivering, I nodded. "Give me a truth, Sketch."

"I've only kissed two people in my entire life," he confessed, lips tracing the curve of my jaw, as he reached a hand between us and gently brushed mine out of the way to fist his shaft. "And they're both inside this room."

"Wh-what?"

"I'm a virgin, Ro," he whispered, trembling as he positioned himself at my entrance, his thick, hard cock nudging my slit. Almost instinctively, he reached for my thigh and hooked it around him. "There's been nobody else before or since you."

"Not even –"

"Nobody," he confirmed huskily as he slowly entered me. "I love you."

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