Page 104 of The Upgrade

“Intense good, right?” Just want to make sure. “Not like a root canal with no Novocain.”

“Ouch.” Logan lumbers away, giving us a moment. “I fucking loved it,” he calls from the bathroom. “So good I can’t feel my toes.”

With Logan gone now, it’s just Eve and me. I look in her eyes, needing to say it again. I don’t want her thinking I blurted it out in the heat of the moment. “I love you, Eve. I know it’s too soon, and we can still take things slowly, but I needed to say how I feel.”

“I know.” She grins and kisses the tip of my nose. “I love that about you. And I loveyou, Dr. Kit Christopher Topher Johnathan Plier.”

God. “This is what it’s meant to feel like.” I don’t mean to say that out loud, but the second I do, it seems right. “Being in love when nothing feels forced.”

Eve smiles. “I know what you mean.”

How did I never get this before?Thisis how it’s meant to feel. This bone-deep certainty I belong with someone. It’s what I’ve been chasing without even knowing it.

“We don’t need to rush anything.” I’m reassuring us both, acknowledging a need to tread cautiously. “I don’t know why it seems like we’ve known each other way longer than we have.”

“Maybe that’s why it doesn’t feel weird to say it right now.” She smiles as my hand strokes her back. “I’m sure about you, Kit.”

“I’m sure aboutyou, Eve.”

We’re kissing again when Logan comes back from the bathroom. He’s keeping some distance as he pulls on his pants and his shirt. “I’m gonna give you guys the floor.” He bends down to kiss Eve’s cheek. “You’re amazing.”

“Thank you, Logan.” She catches his hand and smiles. “It was everything I hoped it would be.”

“Good.” He gives me a wink. “Hang on to her, buddy. You got a good one.”

“Will do.”

He punches my shoulder, then heads out the door with the soft click of a latch. Eve bites her lip.

“I hope that wasn’t rude. Not inviting him to stay?”

“The Eve I met two weeks ago would have already gotten dressed and set out a picnic lunch.” Grinning, I place a kiss on her forehead. “I love that you’re prioritizing your own pleasure.”

“And yours.” She smiles back and squeezes my arm. “I can’t believe it. We love each other, huh?”

“I’m afraid so.”

Her eyes go wide and she gasps. “Oh no!”

“What?”

She scrambles for the nightstand, kneeing my chest as she flounders. “I have to call Camille. I can’t keep lying to her like this. I respect your privacy, Kit, but we need to come clean about us.”

“Eve—”

“I’m such an asshole.” Her pretty face pinches with guilt as she fumbles with her phone. “I can’t keep this from her anymore. She’s my best friend and?—”

“Eve, stop.” Grabbing the phone from her hand, I set it down on the pillow between us. “Camille knows.”

She blinks. “Knows what?”

“Everything. I told her last night about the job. About coming here, spending time with you.” I rest a hand on her lush, rounded hip. “I told her I was falling in love with you.”

Her mouth falls open and she stares. “You’re kidding me.”

“Nope.” I tuck a stray wisp of hair behind her ear. “I told her about the study and how hard I’ve fallen for the woman she loves like a sister.”

There’s a crackle of static from the phone, then my sister’s voice shouting and muffled. “Please tell me you two are official.”

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