Page 113 of True North

She wriggles over the seat and presses against me, and I drink her in, wrapping her in my hold so she has no way out. I want in, coaxing her with my tongue. She relents, melting into me a little further.

Out of breath and rock-hard, I force space between us.

Every inch of my body tingles with her this close.

We have talked about it, going all the way. God knows I’m willing.

Lou sets the pace in our relationship. Always has; hopefully, she always will.

With a shake of my head, I remind myself why I’m here.

“Ride with me a while?” I ask.

“Sure, Harry.” She smiles and turns on the seat, buckling in.

I throw an arm over the back of the seat and push the old truck into reverse. Backward we roll until I spin the wheel and send her forward. Lou is quiet as we drive from the high school parking lot and through town. When I pull over at the lake, she still hasn’t uttered a word, which is unusual for my Louisa. I suck in a breathe and shift the truck into park.

“Alright, spit it out, Lou.”

She glances at the roof of the truck, her hands twisting her skirt through her fine fingers. Not helping my raging hard-on any as her chest rises and plummets, sending those perfect damn tits moving to the rhythm of my thundering heart.

She finally looks at me. “You haven’t asked me.”

Her face twists a little, and I can tell she’s tryin’ her best to hold it together.

I know what she’s talking about. Prom.

It’s two weeks away, and I still haven’t had the balls to ask her.

Waitin’ for some other guy to ask. Maybe I want to see if she turns him down, confirming this firestorm we have between us. Maybe I want her to choose someone else for that night, so I don’t have to go through with my plan.

I’ll be honest, I’m terrified.

I can’t lose her.

“You want me to take you, Lou?” I say, softly, brows lowered as I run a hand over my jaw.

She huffs an incredulous laugh, eyes tightening. “Of course I do.” Shaking her head, she unbuckles and pushes out the door. It slams a second later.

Dammit.

Opening my door, I slide from my seat and round the truck to the grill where she is leaning, arms folded, gaze set far in the distance. I step into her space and rub her arms. “I should have asked by now, I know. I’m sorry.”

Her attention stays on the horizon, but her chin wobbles.

Fuck.

“Sometimes”—she shifts on her feet—“I think you don’t understand how little it takes for you to tear me to pieces.”

My gut sinks. My chest caves in on my heart as the beats slow. I fold her into me. That one line from her ripped a hole right through me. We are too much. Not enough. Live wires dancing in the lightning storm, barely missing each other as we dance in our own sparks.

I sink my mouth to her forehead, planting a kiss where I can show her how much I love her. “You and me... We’re fire, darlin’. Smoldering some days, raging others. I’m so done for, it scares the hell out of me. The thought of you not in my life, however that could happen, feels like drownin’.”

With a sniffle, she lifts her head, and those green eyes I adore flood with the same fire I just spoke about. “I’d drown with you any day, Harry Rawlins.”

I chuckle, dotting another kiss to her forehead, and haul her into me, unwilling to ever let her go. “Good to know, Louisa May. Good to know.”

I let my gaze wander down the street. Main Street is busy tonight. The tavern is bustling with a crowd, as is the community hall. Must be some function going on. The truck door creaks open, and I startle. Louisa chuckles. “Been here a while, my love?”

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