Page 134 of Fourth Point Of Contact

“Why is it made of wood?”

“Oh!” I rushed around the furniture and pressed the button underneath it. “Because it’s also weapons storage.” I grinned as I punched in the code and the box opened, revealing itself.

“Damn,” he muttered, fascinated with the box. He inspected every inch of it, taking a good five minutes to look it over before he shut the case and moved on.

My gaze flicked to his mom’s. Was that a good damn or a bad damn? She shrugged and pointed to the living room where Patrick was sliding his hand over the new chair I’d picked for him.

“You know I have a perfectly good chair.”

“It’s old and lumpy. I thought you could use a new one.”

My heart hammered in my chest as he moved around to the front and handed his crutches to me before sinking into the chair with a sigh.

“Hell,” he grumbled, kicking up the footrest. “Oh, yeah. I could sleep in this thing.”

I released the breath I’d been holding, grateful he liked it since it was the most expensive purchase.

“So, is that everything?”

“Uh…pretty much.” I was still missing one thing, but he liked everything else. The last one could wait.

“So, what are we doing for dinner?”

His mom scurried away, and he snagged my hand, tugging me around to the front of his chair. With a swift jerk, I was pulled into his lap and he nuzzled my cheek. “Fucking perfect.”

“The decorations?”

“You.”

I melted in his arms, turning to press my lips to his, but got more than I bargained for when he slid his hand into my hair and tugged me tight against him, kissing me hard. I gasped at the intensity of the kiss, how his tongue stroked mine in ademanding way that let me know exactly what he had in store for me tonight.

Electricity sizzled between us, lighting up my body and crackling like fireworks. The other noises in the house faded until it was just the two of us. Nothing else existed when I was in his arms, and I was positive he felt the same way. I could see it in the intensity shining in his eyes, in the firm set of his jaw as he cupped my cheek before devouring me.

His knuckles skimmed my waist, heating my skin like he always did. Everything in me stilled, telling me how right this was, how perfect things could be if only I gave in and opened myself to the possibility of more. But would he? Could he offer me more than what was already between us? Or would I leave in a few days and never see him again?

I knew now that I could never remain friends with him when my heart was pleading for him to take a chance on me. Yes, I was fresh out of a relationship, but I knew now that nothing with James ever felt like this. Not even close. What I had with Patrick was so real and utterly right. And if he said he could never be with me, I would walk out of his life and do everything possible to mend my broken heart.

But it would never be the same.

The buzzing in my head died down as I pulled back from him. Bruised lips would remind me of this for days to come, twisting my insides as I warred with the overwhelming feelings rushing through me. His bright blue eyes met mine, speaking their own language. I searched for any sign of what he wanted, pleading with him to choose.

Stay or go?

Stay or go?

Stay…

Go.

“Piper?” his mother called out, tearing me from his intense gaze.

“Yeah?”

“I was thinking of making my famous casserole tonight. Would you like to help?”

His hand squeezed my leg, sliding up further to the apex of my thighs. Yes, I desperately wanted that, but I also needed distance and a cooling-down period. I pushed off his lap and smiled at her. “I’d love to.”

His hand tugged at mine just once as I walked away from him and headed into the kitchen. Until I knew what he wanted, I needed to keep some kind of wall between us. My heart couldn’t take another crushing blow.

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