Page 40 of Moonshine Lullabies

“That’s okay,” he said. “Someday, I’ll earn that trust and when I do, I hope to never break it.”

I stared at us for a little while and finally said, “You mean that, don’t you?”

He smiled at me and said, “Every word.”

“You look tired,” I murmured, changing the subject, and he let me.

“Very. I’m lookin’ forward to a good night’s sleep.”

“Me too,” I said.

“Why don’t you go on an’ get settled. I’ll be in as soon as I brush my teeth.”

I nodded and slipped from his light grasp and out into the hall, past my boy’s closed bedroom door, his music playin’, and around into my own. My bedside lamp glowed, a warm golden light spilling across the neatly made bed that was suddenly callin’ my name.

I hadn’t slept none too good myself the night before. I had a feeling we wouldn’t get any readin’ done tonight.

I got into bed and he came and joined me not a minute later after I got myself settled. He slid between the sheets on his side of the bed, pulling his tee off over his head and his socks off his feet, putting them on the bottom corner of the covers to rest like a sleeping cat.

“Shut that light out and c’mere,” he said, and I smiled and did just that, cuddling into his side, his arms around me, and laying my head on his chest. He circled me with his arms and pulled the blankets up over us, sighing into the dark in contentment.

I rubbed my face to take care of a random itch and settled.

“Talk to me, baby,” he whispered into the dark.

“About what?” I asked.

“About why you feel the way you do, lookin’ in the mirror like that.”

I sighed. I didn’t want to, but I knew he expected something so I said, “I don’t want to…”

“Okay. Can you tell me why?”

I thought about it, trying to decide whether I should or not, then finally relented.

“I’m afraid if I did, you wouldn’t want me anymore,” I said.

He let out a slow and measured breath and held me tighter.

“I somehow doubt that very much,” he said. His hand came up and pressed my head to his chest, his fingers tangling gently in my hair as he turned his head toward me and pressed a kiss to the top of my hair.

Problem was, I couldn’t be so sure, and I wasn’t ready for this to end. So why risk it?

* * *

Because I was looking forwardto my time alone with Collier on Friday night, I figured that the next morning, afternoon, and evening would drag. In fact, it was quite the opposite. It was a whirlwind of activity, from breakfast, to fixin’ up dinner in the slow cooker, to getting out the door to get to work on time, all the way through the workday. I was so busy, the day positively flew by and with every hour that ticked by, I was equal parts excited and nervous.

Dinner was good, dishes were a breeze thanks to the liner things I bought for the crock pot. Before too long, I was being hugged by an excited teenager and he was out the door, hopping into Liz, Bertrand’s mamma’s, minivan to go off with his friend. I waved from the front door and sealed it up, locking it tight at both the knob and the deadbolt.

Almost immediately, Collier’s arms were sliding around my waist, his nose buried behind my ear as he breathed me in and cuddled me back against himself. I leaned back, reaching up and cupping the side of his neck and jaw with my hand as I offered up my lips.

He kissed me eagerly and held me close, and it was nice. Wonderful. Sweet and slow despite how we both practically vibrated with how eager we were to take this further.

“Come to the bedroom with me,” he whispered against my lips. I couldn’t help myself but simply nod and turn in the circle of his arms, raising my lips to silently beg he kiss me again, and for real this time – the positions of our bodies facing one another much more conducive to it.

He made a sound like I was irresistible and held me close, his hands gentle where they held me at my lower back and caressed the side of my neck, which gave me chills radiating all down my side.

His lips were warm and soft against my own, his hands strong and firm but gentle where he held me. I couldn’t help myself but step closer into him, plastering my body along the front of his, needing him as close as possible in the moment.

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