Page 124 of Keeping the Score

“Something you said also made me realize I had to talk to you.”

“What did I say?”

“When the guys were throwing the baby shower for me, you said I shouldn’t be so inflexible that I miss out on something great. And you… are something great.”

She looks into my eyes, and I let it all show. My love. My devotion. My need for her. “Thank you. You are something great, too.”

“When my parents were here, I told them I don’t want to disappoint them, after all they did for me.”

She nods, fingering the collar of my shirt.

“And Mom said I shouldn’t feel like that. She said they did everything they did because they love me. Not because they ever expected anything from me in return. And now I understand that. Because I would do anything for Tilly. Because I love her.”

“Yeah. I know. I feel the same.”

“You were ready to let her go, so she could have her mom.” That fucking killed me. I wished she didn’t have to make that sacrifice. And then… she didn’t. But it was hard to deal with.

“Yeah. I didn’t have a choice, though. I had no claim on her at all. I just… love her and I only wanted her to be happy and have everything she needs. Even though it hurt.” She takes a breath. “I don’t know how I ended up feeling like this about her.”

“Well, like Willa said… how could you not?”

Her eyes turn shiny. “Exactly.”

I bend my head and kiss her again. Softly. Tenderly. With a promise. “My mom knew I was falling for you before I even did.”

“She did?”

“Yeah. She noticed that I said, ‘When Willa first left Tilly withus,’ and she said, ‘Youarean us. You just haven’t accepted it yet.’”

“Your mom is a little, uh…”

“Wacky?” My lips quirk.

She rolls her lips in on a smile. “But she’s wise. I like her.”

“Yeah. She can be. She likes you, too.”

She lets that smile free and it’s gorgeous.

“I love you.”

A smile trembles on her lips. “I love you, too.”

I lean in to kiss her, gentle brushes of my mouth on hers, then deeper kisses, licking inside, stroking and sucking. Heat builds as our hands move over each other. The kisses get hotter, consuming, long and deep. Excitement and desire coil inside me, my cock thickening. My blood is fire and I’m desperate for more… more… “Let’s move to my room,” I murmur.

“Mmmm.”

And just as we both stand, a cry comes from the baby monitor.

We freeze in place. My body is pulsing with need. We look at each other.

“Jesus,” I groan, grabbing my throbbing erection through my jeans. “Now? I could cry.”

“Me too.” She bites her lip on a smile. “Um… rain check?”

“Oh, fuck yeah.” I kiss her hard one last time. “Be ready. I’m gonna strip you naked, lick your pussy until you scream, and then fuck your brains out.”

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