Page 40 of Because of Them

“What are you writing?” Grabbing the paper he sits up.

“Another to-do list to add to the pile,” I say, trying to take it from him. “There’s so much to do and I’m running out of time.”

Michael leans away from me, until the list is out of my reach. He scoffs as he reads through my messy handwriting.

“I don’t think you need to worry about all this right now Audrey.”

A heavy ball of stress hangs in my lungs, fighting against each breath I take.

“Michael, it’s not a joke. These are all things Idohave to worry about. I won’t just have one baby crawling around, I’ll have two. Plus Maisie. I need to make sure the house is safe so that when I’m inevitably in the other room with twin A I’ll knowtwin B won’t end up electrocuting himself or choking on a pen lid.”

Reaching forward, he places the list on the coffee table and grabs my feet, pivoting me until my legs are across his lap. I squirm, fighting against the intimacy of our position. But it’s comfortable, and he trails his fingers along my calves with just the right amount of gentle pressure until I’m falling back to rest my head on the arm of the couch.

“I know it’s serious, but we have time. You’re not due for another four months, and aren’t babies immobile for like six months? I promise I will get all of this done.”

I push my legs against his lap, the ball of stress growing until it presses against my stomach. A curse flies out of my mouth with my exhale.

“When though, Michael? I can’t expect you to give up every RDO and weekend helping me sort my shit.”

“What if I want to?”

He tries to still my legs, holding my feet and pressing his fingers against my soles. The tightness spreading through my body eases, but comes flooding back when I look up at him.

His cheeks are red, and he turns away from my gaze before I can read the look in his eyes. Stretching his hands above his head, he pulls his hair together, tying it into a messy bun at the nape of his neck.

“You don’t.”

“I do. Believe it or not, Audrey, Iwantto spend time with you. When you told me about the baby … babies … I promised I would be there. That I would help in every way that I can. I meant it then and I mean it now. And believe it or not, I like spending time with you. A lot.”

He shifts, until my legs are no longer in his lap but pinned between his knees. My breath catches as he lowers his body over mine. Heat pools, everywhere, at the memory of him leaningover me. At how our bodies danced, at how he made me see stars, over and over again, every time we were together.

Fun.I have to remember.

“There’s something here, Audrey. Maybe it started out as something casual. But it’s not like that now. It’s so much more.”

His voice is guttural, sending the heat swirling through me right between my legs.

“You just think that,” I choke out, my own voice husky and breathless.

“I don’t, Audrey, Iknowit.”

He crashes our lips together. I hesitate, torn between what my head says, my heart thinks, my body wants. I want the fun. I want the release. I want to believe his words. My head screams that it’s just hormones and he doesn’t really mean it, but I ignore it.

I kiss him back, twisting my arms between us until I can clasp his face between my hands. He groans, pressing himself into me. His erection rubbing against my clit through the fabric of our pants. I run my tongue along his lips, and when he opens his mouth, I do the same, until our kiss becomes a frenzy of exploration and passion. He nips at my lower lip and a wave of pleasure rushes through my veins.

“Fun,” I whisper, mostly to remind myself.

Michael growls in response, pulling away from the kiss to look down at me. “No, more.”

With one hand still holding his body weight, he brings a hand down to skate up my shirt, pausing below my bra. I arch my back, urging him to touch me.

He brushes a thumb across my swollen nipple, his tender touch sending fire through me. But then he stops. He pulls me up until we are both sitting, panting shared breaths.

I bite my lip, scrunching my nose when he pulls back from our embrace.

“Fuck,” he mutters. Sucking in a long breath he pulls my hands into his.

“I want so much more than some casual release with you, Audrey. For the first time ever, I wantmore.I want it all. I want to show you that first. Before we …” he trails off, but his unspoken words ring in my ears.

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