Page 52 of Willow Vale

“Travis—”

“No, not yet,” he said against my cheek before placing a kiss there, then nipped at my jaw. I gasped at the sensations he was reawakening in me, lighting my skin on fire with a desire for him that I couldn’t ignore anymore, once-buried memories of him rushing to the surface. It felt too good. Too important not to give into this moment with him. He left open-mouthed kisses down the column of my neck before he murmured, “You starved me for four years, Delilah. And now that I’ve finally gotten a taste of you, I’m just getting started.”

A dull ache started between my thighs, making me lose what little control I had when it came to him. My legs came around his hips, needing him closer, and he groaned as if this was the best thing that could have happened to him.

I seconded that sentiment.

My hand fisted his shirt, ready to pull him back up to my lips when suddenly we heard the door fling open.

“Whoa!” The sound of Finn’s voice whooping made me nearly jump out of my skin. My eyes widened, and Travisshifted so that his broad back shielded me completely from view. “Ever heard of getting a room, you two?”

“We were in a room. Get out.” He blew out a harsh breath of frustration. His annoyance only grew when Wren’s voice joined Finn’s. Adding to my humiliation.

“Is she in there? Why are you making that face—ohhhh.I see.” Wren sounded a little too happy. I chanced a peek over Travis’s arm and spotted the twins standing in the doorway, both sporting grins as they looked to one another.

“Oh my god.” I tried to shimmy off the counter, but Travis wouldn’t budge. I’d take that as a good thing because the face he was currently making was murderous as he leveled his siblings with a glare.

Wren continued. “I was just coming in to see Lila. Desi told me she was in here, but I see you already found her. Please hide any bits that may be hanging out, I’d like to not have to wash my eyes out today.”

“Wren,” Travis practically barked over his shoulder.

“Right, sorry. Uh, have fun. Make sure to disinfect the counters if you…you know.”

“What she meant to say was use protection and lock the door this time!” Finn grunted in pain, and I imagined Wren punching him in the gut before the door was slammed shut behind them. Their laughter echoing down the hall.

I covered my flushed face with my hands, muffling my laugh.

“They’re dead to me.” Travis blew out a breath, still keeping me caged in against the counter. It took him a few seconds but eventually he chuckled despite his terse words when he noticed I was giggling to myself, resting my head against his chest.

“I can never look them in the eyes again.”

“They won’t mention it, don’t worry. They like to make jokes, but they like you.”

I smiled. “They still like me, after all these years?”

Travis rolled his eyes, but he was smiling too. “I think they like you more than they like me.”

“That’s not that impressive then.” He poked my side and I laughed. My hands smoothed over his now wrinkled shirt from where I’d gripped it earlier.

I wanted him to know that kissing him wasn’t just some fleeting, impulsive thing between us. I wanted more, I just wasn’t sure what that meant for us.

Before I could say anything however, he kissed me one last time. Then he said, “You finally admitted it.”

“What?”

“That you haven’t stopped thinking about us.”

If only he knew just how long he’d been on my mind in the past four years. Throughout mywhole life.I wasn’t sure if I’d ever be able to tell him.

Because how do you tell someone that they became an irreplaceable piece of your heart? That they left behind a unique imprint that only they could fill with their very existence. Were there even words to describe such a thing?

Probably not.

CHAPTER 20

Lila

From the momentmy eyes opened the next morning, there was an awful throbbing in my head.

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