Page 96 of The Plan

I lean closer to him, and for reassurance, I ask, “How much?” A smirk grows on his face. He keeps his eyes on my lips and then licks his.

“I just showed you how much I love you. Three times, actually.” God, his voice alone drives me insane. I feel a pool of warmth between my legs and squeeze them together. He notices how hot and bothered he made me and his smirk grows into a smile. “Take these off and get back in bed.”

“Uh uh.” I laugh softly and move his hand from my ass. “I want to make it to our last college party, and you're making us late.”

“Me?” I nod and take a step away from him. “You didn’t seem to be complaining ten minutes ago when my tongue was—”

“Finish getting dressed.”

He smirks down at me, but I quickly turn, and I pick up the Tampa Bay Rays jersey my mom gave me from the floor and throw it on top of my bathing suit. It hangs low enough, but I throw on some shorts either way.

When I notice Sire wince from the corner of my eye, I turn to face him. “How’s your arm?” I glance down at the cast he needs to keep it in until his upcoming surgery.

I still can’t believe he injured himself in the last game of his college career. There weresomany sponsors there for him, but I think they were impressed he finished the game, although I told him not to.

“It’s fine.” He sort of shrugs, but it’s clear he’s in pain.

“Do you still want to spend the summer with me in Maryland?” I smile at the idea alone.

At graduation last week, it was announced that I got into the new sports medicine program at John Hopkins. They even offered me a summer internship, and I didn’t want to leave Sire while he was injured, but he said he’d come with me.

“Of course I do.” He doesn’t miss a beat as he replies and leans forward to kiss me. “I’m going to book my flight today.” I smile up at him, and my chest tightens at the way he looks at me.

“Did you tell your family?” I know they talked about him moving in with his parents or Lisette after the surgery for more support because he can’t really take anything for the pain, and he’s definitely going to want to.

“Yeah, Lisette’s on my ass about it, but that’s nothing new.” I smile at the mention of her, but it quickly fades at the thought ofwhyshe’s on his ass, and Sire, of course, notices. “What are you thinking about, my love?”

I let out a sigh and stand a bit straighter. “Why don’t you want to take any medication after the surgery?”

He can, of course, take Ibuprofen or Tylenol, but after something like surgery, stronger meds like narcotics are usuallyprescribed. While he is obviously addicted to narcotics, he can take some after his surgery because his pain still matters.

Sire lets out a sigh and kisses me softly. When he pulls away, he rubs my hand as he answers. “It’s not like I don’t think I can take whatever they prescribe me andnotabuse it.” He shakes his head at whatever he just thought of. “When I was abusing drugs, I was at the lowest point in my life, Vidia.”

“I don’t ever want to be in a headspace like that ever again.” He searches my eyes like I’m capable of keeping him sober and he’s desperate for me to do so. I give his hand a reassuring squeeze as he goes on.

“I don’t want those meds in my reach. I trust myself now, but when I’m alone with my thoughts and when the pain is unbearable, I don’t know how desperate I’ll get.” He lets out a soft sigh as he goes on. “When I found out I was getting adopted, I flushed every damn pill I had with Lis by my side and swore to myself I wouldn’t relapse if the Hales took me in for good.”

“I can’t go back on that promise. I’d be betraying not only myself but my siblings.” I give him a nod and pull him in for a hug.

“You’re a lot stronger than you think, Sire, and I have faith you won’t relapse.” I pull away so he can see me as I continue. “I know you want to spend the summer with me, and I also want you to, but I really think you’re going to need your family and their—”

“I’ll have you.” I go still before my head snaps up to him. I look between his eyes as he watches me. “Right?”

“Yeah, of course you will.”

“So I’ll be fine.” He says it with so much certainty. Like I’m all he needs and will ever need to be okay. I’m sure that's not healthy, but it sure does feel good to be needed by someone. Craved almost with the way he looks at me.

“What took you two solong?”

Sire and I share a look, then turn back to Hazel and shrug. She doesn’t question us further and hands me a cup. Since I drove here, I don’t grab it, but Sire does instead.

He’s been drinking a lot more since he injured his arm like Lis said he would, but I don’t mention anything and let him drink because he keeps saying he’s fine and isn’t substituting drugs for alcohol. Besides, we’re at a party.

“Sage!”

I turn at the sound of August’s voice and his eyes are on his sister, who’s letting his teammate touch her ass.

When August turns, I can see how pissed he looks as he calls out to Sire. “Tell your sister something.”

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