Page 120 of Play Dirty

“What can I do?” I ask, approaching the bed.

“Hold me?”

“Anytime.” I stretch out beside her, and she curls into her favorite position against my chest.

“I missed you so much,” she whispers.

“I missed you too.”

“Do you want to talk now?” she asks after a moment.

“I want to do whatever you want to do.”

“Anything?”

“Anything.”

“Will you…make love to me?”

Her voice is tentative, like what she’s asking is some kind of hardship.

“Why do you sound so unsure?” I ask gently.

“Because you heard a lot of…ugliness about me today.”

I sigh, shaking my head. “You know what? Get undressed.”

“What?” She looks startled but I sit up and start unbuttoning my dress shirt. Then I make a hurry up motion with my hands. “Come on. This is a conversation we’re going to have naked.”

“O-okay.” She slides off the bed and then looks over her shoulder. “I need you to unzip me.”

I move behind her and tug the zipper down so that she can shrug out of the modest long-sleeved dress she’s wearing. She unsnaps her bra as I take off my slacks and boxers and then she drags her panties down her legs.

I make quick work of my socks and we’re finally naked.

Together.

I reach for her, reveling in the warmth of her body against mine.

“Are you okay?” I ask softly. “I mean, beyond the obvious trial stress.”

“Now that I’m with you? Yes.”

“Do you love me, Stevie?”

“So much.” She blinks back tears. “I couldn’t bear the thought that you might lose custody because of me.”

“I lost custody because most judges won’t take custody away from a mother without evidence of some kind of abuse.”

“Yes, but Brenna was making trouble for you because of me—I had to do what was best for you. And the kids.”

“What’s best for us…isyou.”

She gives me a faint smile, though I’m not sure she believes me.

Not yet anyway.

“Now tell me how much you paid Brenna.”

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