Page 66 of Almost Always

Forcing himself to break the kiss, he pressed his hands to the fridge on either side of her and breathed heavily. Her head fell back against the surface and she smirked at him.

“Look at what you’ve started,” she said.

“I have no regrets, even if I can’t hide how that made me feel.”

Her eyes dropped to the front of his pants and he grunted as he adjusted himself.

“I love that I do that to you.”

“You’ve always done this to me, Hero.Always.”

She stretched up for another kiss and he grasped her jaw, holding her in place as he sank into her. She pulled away just as it was getting deep and grabbed the food from the oven to set it on the counter. He thought about his long list of work, groceries he needed to buy and how much laundry was still waiting for him, anything to distract from how hard he was because of her.

While he ate his delicious pancake breakfast, Cal and Daisy hovered nearby and whispered conspiratorially. Every so often, they’d glance at him and share a laugh. This was exactly why he had no issues with his son knowing that they were together. Then again, they hadjustkissed so maybe he was getting ahead of himself with their relationship status. Either way, seeing them like this was everything. Especially when their conversation ended with a complicated handshake that neither of them could follow.

“Why don’t you go get ready, I’ll keep your dad company.”

“Don’t take too long, Daddy. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us!” Cal announced before rushing off, Boots hot on his heels.

“Yeah, Daddy, don’t take too long.”

“Fuck’s sake, Daisy,” he groaned.

She grinned, climbing onto the counter. “Don’t like it, hotshot?”

“I like everything you want to call me. But that?Thatwill send me to an early grave.”

She snorted, brushing her foot against his thigh. “That would defeat the purpose entirely.”

“Exactly. Now, you gonna share the plan with me?”

“Have you ever lived a day without knowing everything?”

He put the last bit of his breakfast into his mouth and slid the plate to the side. “Always been the one making the plans.”

“Then I’m really happy to be showing you what spontaneity feels like,” she said, scooting over so she was directly in front of him, her bare feet resting on the stool between his thighs.

“Do I get any hints?”

“Comfortable clothing,” she whispered, then slid into his lap. There was a brief moment of imbalance before he grabbed the edge of the counter and steadied them. She grinned and settled, their hips aligned perfectly. “Maybe something that might also protect watchful eyes from how you’re feeling.”

He grabbed her hips to stop any and all movements, narrowing his eyes as the corner of her mouth tipped up into a smile.

“I think I underestimated how dangerous you can be,” he said, thumbs sliding under the sweatshirt to tease the soft skin at her waist.

“That’s because you still think I’m the girl who lived next door.”

“What was wrong with the girl next door? I was in love with her.”

They froze and her eyes widened slightly, but he didn’t take the words back. They were different people now and it wasn’t like he was hiding that from her anyway.

She cupped his jaw, thumb tracing his bottom lip and said, “I was in love with the boy next door too.”

He surged forward and captured her mouth with his, finding his balance by stretching out one foot and grabbing the counter with a hand. She moaned against his mouth, her hands on his face as they devoured each other. Tongues fought for control and whenshegrowled, he relented. Until the sound of Boots’s nails on the floor broke all contact.

“A challenge,” she whispered, sliding off his lap. He nodded even though he was worried this would backfire on him. “See who can go the longest without grabbing the other person for the rest of the day.”

“We know I’m going to lose. I can’t stop touching you.”

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