Page 38 of Unveiled Wishes

“The naming ones.” Op looked at him like he was crazy.

“You’re trying to give her a road name?” my brother interjected into the conversation.

“He must have made amends somehow,” Op said to my brother, pointing at Tyler, then at me, and back again. “You better get used to it because somehow, she’s going to stay.”

Eric sighed, and his face crinkled like he was thinking about all the possibilities. “As long as I don’t have to see or hear anything, I am good.”

“Until he knocks her up, and you realize how that kid came into the world.” Op continued, pointing at Eric, “Every time you look at it, you’re going to wonder which position did the trick.”

“Fuck,” Eric said, finishing his beer and setting the bottle down on the table next to him.

“Yup, it’s bedtime.” Tyler sat me up gently so that he could stand. He offered me his hand.

“See? Bet you’re thinking about it now,” Op directed at Eric, still pointing.

“God, I am going to need bleach.” Eric rubbed at his eyes.

“Or a woman of your own,” Tyler directed at him, steering me towards the hallway.

Passing Aunt E’s room, I could hear the TV on. She’d said goodnight to everyone earlier and headed straight to bed, claiming the evening had been too exciting for her. I liked Aunt E, and she’d taken me under her broken wing like one of her nieces.

“Sometimes, Thunder watches TV with her,” I whispered to Tyler.

“I am not surprised,” he replied with a knowing smile. “Can I watch TV with you?”

I pinched his side playfully, making him flinch and laugh. It probably hurt me more than it did him. “They’re cute together.”

“Don’t encourage the matchmakers,” Tyler said, shaking his head. “They already know, but they give Aunt E her space. If I was her, when she’s fully healed, I’d still pretend not to listen to them.”

“Sometimes, I hear her TV on in the middle of the night. It makes me want to go check on her, but I am not sure if she’s watching it or just using it as background noise. I would hopeshe would call out if she needed something, but I just mostly mind my own business.”

“Better safe than sorry.” He opened the door to my room, letting me walk in first. I wasn’t even a few steps into the room before he had me pinned against the closed door. “Worry about your own love life.”

“Why? It’s getting better by the second.” I wrapped my hands around his waist and tucked them underneath his shirt. Letting my fingertips graze his bare skin, he leaned over me, his elbows against the door near my head.

“I am sorry, Em. I didn’t see any other way to make it work, and I didn’t want you stuck with me. Please forgive me. I only said those things because I knew they would hit hard, and I was livid at the situation. I was going to end up losing the one bright spot in my life.” His stare burned into mine, the longing clear in his gaze.

“I read the rough drafts. They hurt more than the original letter, but I understand it all now. I wouldn’t have then, even if you’d tried.” I gently pulled him closer, pressing his forehead to mine. “We’re going to have to compromise because I don’t want to be without you. If there’s a chance I am going to lose you one day, then I want to live now. I don’t want to waste time over miscommunication.”

“Tomorrow.” He kissed me. “Tonight, I just want to be with you. The rest of it can wait.”

I pulled my hands from his shirt and ran them up the front of his chest to his shoulders. My hands glided over his biceps, down the muscles of his forearms, until I reached his wrists. I tugged gently until he lowered them to his sides, forcing him to stand straight. I traced my path over, never letting my eyes stray from his. Reaching again for his shoulders, I slid his club cut down his arms until I held it in my hand. There was a hook near the bedroom door, and I turned around to hang it there.

He wrapped his arms around my front and pulled me back against him, whispering in my ear, “You’re absolutely beautiful, and sometimes I have a hard time looking at you. It reminds me of what I lost, and now I want to hold on tight and never let go.” His fingers danced over my hip. “I don’t want to rush you, but all I'm hearing is that you’re mine. If this isn’t what you want, you need to tell me, and I’ll back off. It’ll be hard, but I’ll do it for you.”

“No,” I said simply.

“Last chance,” he whispered directly into my ear.

“I am yours,” I said, with conviction.

He said nothing as his beard tickled my neck. As he slid the strap of my blouse aside, I felt his tongue lick a path from behind my ear, down my neck, and over my shoulder.

“Your skin is soft,” he whispered, pushing the other strap off and licking the same path on the other side. “The zipper in the back is convenient. Something to think about when you buy new clothes.”

“Why? Are you going to rip them off of me?” This was one of my favorite shirts. If that was one of his kinks, I’d buy clothes I didn’t care about.

“Not this one. This is hot, but one day.” He sucked on the back of my neck and then licked the area, cooling it down.

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