Page 151 of Give Me Love

Bryce and I can’t get enough of each other. We spent the night under the stars in his barn house while he made love to me, slow and earth-shattering. The wordsI loveyouthreaten to come out every time he does that, but they never do from either of us.

He’s almost got me convinced to move in with him. I’ve already got a key, so I’m not sure why I haven’t made the leap. I guess the fact I moved in so quickly with Mark has me taking things extra slowly. Plus, it drives Bryce crazy, and I like doing that.

Claire and I decided to move out of our apartment. The cops say there’s no sign of Cain. They believe he skipped town, but we don’t feel safe knowing he got in God knows how many times. We’ve already found a new place, and it’s even closer to Bryce’s and only two blocks from Austin’s shop.

So, with that going on and the shop construction, I haven’t found the time to tell Bryce what I walked in on three weeks ago.

Mary promised it was a one-time thing. She swore she was just having a really bad day and said she would go back to attending her meetings every week. She even let me search her room after I flushed the stuff. I found no sign of any other drugs, but I’m not a drug user so I really didn’t know where to look.

Construction started back up on the shop so I’ve thrown myself into that and moving, and I’ve done everything in my power to keep the incident with Mary out of my mind and away from my lips.

It hasn’t been easy. In fact, it’s been killing me.

I’ve almost told Bryce a thousand times, but then I think what good would that do? Bryce is already expecting it, and he would throw her out. Jace has actually been nice to her, and Lou has even been visiting again. I can’t be responsible for messing all of that up. I can’t let the boys’ new relationship with her be ruined because she had a moment of weakness.

Can I?

Remember that metaphorical storm I mentioned? Yeah, well, this is where it all starts.

_____________

I take a sip from my beer, looking over the plans for the new shop, as I feel arms wrap around my waist and lips kiss the side of my neck.

“You’re always working,” he says.

“So are you,” I throw back, turning in his arms so I can look at him. His eyes never leave mine, and we say what our mouths won’t before he kisses me.

It’s filled with promise.

It makes me want more.

Always more with this man.

He picks me up and sets me down on the table. His hands roam up my sides and he grabs my breasts as our tongues twist and taste.

“Move in with me,” he murmurs, slightly pulling away. I squeeze his hips with my thighs, wanting our clothes off and him inside me. “We can do this every day. We can wake up like this.”

I shake my head.

“Is it because of Mom?” he asks. “We can move in here permanently. She can have the apartment or whatever you want.”

“It’s not because of her,” I say. “I like your mom, and I love that you two are getting to know each other. I just don’t want to rush things. Everything is going so well.”

“It can be better. We can have it all. I want it all.”

I can’t help the smile that shows on my lips. I sigh and give him a small peck. “Let me think about it, okay?”

He groans and rubs a hand over his head. “I want an answer soon.”

I roll my eyes. “Still demanding and bossy as ever.”

“You wouldn’t have me any other way.”

“No. No, I wouldn’t. It’s why…” I stop myself and swallow.

His face goes serious, and I bite my lip.

“Why what?” he asks.

---