Page 58 of Before We Fell

“Well, yeah, I like it, but I think it’s more important you do. It’s your home.”

Yeah, but I wanted her to spend a lot of time here with me. With us…eventually, if this moved forward like I wanted it to. Like I’d fight for.

“I do like it, but more importantly, I want Riley to like it.” I scanned the blank walls and frowned. “I have a lot of her stuff, I saved everything from their house and put it in storage. I’ve been waiting to get some of it out so she can have her things back.”

More family photos, some side tables and even a few blankets that I knew my sister loved were still put away in my third bedroom until I had finished the house. I just hadn’t had time to get started yet.

“Like glitter pens?”

“What?”

She laughed. “That day, when she drew the picture I called you about? She said she lost her glitter pens in the move.”

She missedpens?“And she remembered that?”

“Learn now, Noah. Glitter and girls pretty much go hand in hand.”

“Right.” I scratched them on my next shopping list. The closest Target was in Laurence, thirty minutes away, but if that was what Riley missed, I’d take her there on our next Wednesday night out and she could buy every damn arts and craft item her little heart desired. “So, lunch? Anything sound good?”

“Do you have any hotdogs to grill?”

It was probably the last thing I’d expected her to ask for. Fortunately, Riley loved mac and cheese with cut up hotdogs so I had hotdogs on hand in bulk supply. “Yeah. I can do that.”

“Great. You get the grill started and I’ll help myself to your cupboards, see what else you have to eat.”

“Just going to take over, aren’t you?”

She shrugged, and that bottom lip went between her teeth like she was embarrassed. “I’m not really used to being waited on. I pretty much grew up taking care of myself.”

Right. With her shitty family and the brother she’d mentioned.

“Mi casa es su casa.” I waved my hand in the air, gesturing toward the cupboards and pantry. I couldn’t care less if she made anything other than hotdogs. We chatted about nothing important while the grill warmed up. She whipped up a side salad and cut up some fruit. It was warm enough that I cleaned off the patio table and we sat outside, sipping iced tea she went to her house to get, eating lunch, and hours later after we’d cleaned up the kitchen, I gave her a quick tour of my house until I had her exactly where I wanted.

In my bed.

Beneath me.

“Shit,” I groaned. Her legs were spread and the promise of her, the warmth from her sex was obvious through the thin fabric of her shorts.

“Please,” she whispered. Fingertips dug into my hips, pressing me against her.

“No,” I groaned, pushed up to my knees and straightening my arms.

Had I seriously been the one to keep stopping this? Jesus. There was something seriously wrong with me to turn down a girl rubbing herself against me, my cock hard and needy.

“What?”

“I know.” I pressed my hand to her cheek. “I have to get Riley soon. My parents have plans for dinner and the first time I have you, I don’t want it to be rushed.”

“Oh.” She frowned, pushing hair off her forehead. “That’s sweet, I guess.”

Laughing softly, I brushed my lips over hers. “I didn’t mean to get that carried away, but I did want the memory of us making out in my bed tonight when I climb into it later.”

She flashed me a jaunty look. “Maybe I want that in my bed.”

I climbed off of her, laughing, shaking my head. Grabbing her hand, I pulled her with me until we were on our feet. “If you want me to walk you home, I’m happy to oblige that.”

“I can wait another day if you have to get Riley.”

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