Page 61 of Burn It Down

“So, his brother is okay?” Janelle asks me over a video call as I sit on my couch, sipping wine and thinking about the long, long day I just had. I wanted to go into that house with Elijah and Kade so badly. I wanted to make sure they were really okay, but I couldn’t do it.

I’m a chicken.

I’m pretty sure his sister caught on immediately about our relationship and couldn’t have cared less—well, that’s not true. She seemed quite thrilled by the fact that we were together, but still.

Going into that house would have been a really big step.

“Yeah. He’s going to be okay. Bumps and scrapes mostly. It could have been a lot worse.”

“So why are you at your place and not with Kade?”

I broke down and told Janelle pretty much everything. I’d like to blame the wine, but I’ve only had a few sips. She wasn’t surprised at all. Said she actually saw it in our eyes at pickup or something. She knew something had shifted.

I didn’t ask her why she didn’t call me out on it because I already know. I put these walls up to protect myself, andhonestly, Janelle has always been really respectful of them. “I don’t know. It felt too real.”

“Bullshit.” My eyes widen, shocked she’s calling me out so aggressively now. She doesn’t flinch though. “You’re scared, and that’s okay, but you were there with him all day. And his son. From what it sounds like, everyone in his family knows about you two.”

“Not Elijah.”

She frowns, her mouth in a firm line. “Well, that’s understandable. He’s young, and he probably needs to be eased into it. But the kid likely already knows something is up. You can be there to comfort his father and him.”

I really, really want to be.

She snorts a laugh. “Good lord, you’re head over heels for both of them already, huh?”

I nod sadly. “I think so.”

She shakes her head. “Listen to me, Spence. You deserve happiness. I know you’re afraid of the school finding out, but I think you’ll find more people have your back than you realize. And you know for damn sure I do and always will.”

I smile at her. “Thank you.” Because there’s really nothing else to say, and when she starts to ask for details—knowing damn well it makes me blush—I hang up with her and then kick back on my couch.

I’m almost drifting off when there’s a knock at my door. I lunge off the couch, with absolutely no finesse whatsoever, and make my way to the door, jerking it open. I’m thrilled to see Kade and wrap my arms around him.

“You’re here.”

“I am,” he says, wrapping his arms around me too. I look back and see his car, noting it’s empty, so he’s alone.

“Where’s Elijah?”

“Tori said she could watch him tonight.” His eyes meet mine. “All night.”

I swallow hard at that implication, excitement spreading through me. I yank him into my house and fuse our mouths together. “Are you okay with that?” I ask, unzipping his coat and pushing it off him.

I guess I missed him—okay, I know I did.

“Yeah. I know Elijah is in good hands.” He lifts my shirt up and over my head, his lips trailing along my neck and down my throat. I groan at the sensation, having missed his mouth. I swear it feels like we’ve been apart for months without being able to touch and kiss, instead of days.

“I know we probably need to talk...” he says, lifting his shirt up and off. My eyes roam over his firm, tanned flesh, and I shake my head.

“Talk later.”

He chuckles, and we kiss again, taking our time as we strip and make our way to my room. I need him desperately. So badly, I don’t let him prep me. I just grab the lube and turn away from him, climbing onto the bed on all fours—totally naked. I grab the lube and squirt some on my fingers, quickly pushing some into my hole as I toss the lube bottle in his direction, hoping he gets the point.

Thankfully, he does. I hear the lube bottle click open and then snap shut, followed by the squelching sound of him stroking his cock with it and then him climbing onto the bed behind me.

I’m probably nowhere near prepped enough, but I don’t care. I remove my fingers and then brace myself on the bed, wiggling my ass at him in what I hope is an enticing move.

“You ready, baby?” His gruff tone is enough to make me tremble as one of his hands moves to grip my hip and hold me in place, while the other guides his slicked cockhead to my opening.

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