Page 96 of Breaking Point

“Want coffee?”

Her answering smile is soft, lazy. “I’ll grab it. Good morning, Wardens,” she waves.

I stand, grabbing Dad’s coffee mug. “Need a top off?” I ask. He shakes his head at my cop-out, but Liv is already following me inside.

I lift the steaming pot of coffee, forcing myself to focus on refilling Dad’s mug. I retrieve another mug for her, leaving enough room for her dollop of cream. She happily accepts, and I have the uncontrollable urge to kiss her.

“Today’s the final day,” she offers, stirring her coffee with a spoon.

“Just a few more hours,” I nod, and when she gazes up at me again, I can't fight off the urge any longer. I set everything else aside, trapping her against the counter with my arms. “Can I kiss you?”

She opens her mouth, surprise flickering across her features. For a moment, I think she’ll say no. She’ll retreat justlike she did yesterday. But she sets her coffee aside, a small smile lighting her face. “Didn’t think you were one for morning breath.”

It’s close enough to ayesthat my hands drag into her hair, tilting her mouth to mine. This kiss is urgent and gentle and demanding and soft, and it’s crazy to me that one kiss can be all of these things, but kissing Olivia Hughes is everything.

Somehow, it’s not enough.

I feel the slightest intake of her breath as she grips my shirt and tug me closer, kissing me like she doesn’t want this to end either.

But she draws back, resting her head against mine. “I don’t think we can run from this anymore. As much as I love kissing you.”

She’s referring to the moment we’ve both been putting off for a week now.

“I have a wedding next Friday,” she starts. “I have to talk with Dad again eventually. We still don’t know who’s leaving the notes. And… and this.”

This.

“We have to talk about this,” she continues with a small smile. “Because you can’t keep torturing me the way you have.”

My hands tug at her hair gently. “Torturing you?” I tease, but I know exactly what she means. I can’t look at her without giving away every depraved, wicked thing I want to do to her.

“I know, Princess. We can’t,” I say, and I remember the first time I said those words.

I meant them. I trusted myself enough to listen then. Now, I don’t trust myself with anything when it comes to her. I press my lips to hers again, kissing her softly and pulling away before I lose my nerve.

“When we get back…”

I still don’t have a clue what happens when we get back...

“We’ll figure this out.”

For a few moments, we stand just like that. Foreheads still touching, my hands still tangled in her hair. Sharing the same breath.

She nods, finally opening her eyes as I press one final kiss across her mouth. One more moment is all we allow ourselves before we break apart.

She reaches for her coffee mug. And before I can do something else I’ll regret, we step outside.

Chapter Forty-Three

Olivia

“Bake it at 425 Degrees for 15 minutes and then add the berries on top.”

Theresa sets the dish in my awaiting hands, and I can’t help that when she looks at me, I feel close to breaking into tears.

She made me a cobbler- because that’s just the kind of person she is. And I love her for it, but it only makes my throat burn as we stand in the kitchen, my bags by the door, with Crew waiting just outside.

We’re leaving. Even though home is one of the last places I want to be right now.

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