Page 83 of Just This Once

She does, eyes heavy lidded and glazed with lust.

We stay connected like this, physically and emotionally. I can feel her heart beat, see the things I wish she’d say out loud in her eyes. This isn’t just sex; it’s makinglove.

There is no denying what we have anymore.

And with every stroke, I pray that she’ll open herself up to me. Allow herself to be loved. Love me in return.

My own orgasm builds, tingling in my limbs, a delicious burn in my lower back and balls. Because I know she likes it, I spit on my fingers then reach between us to find her clit. In no time at all, she comes again, her body clenching around mine, her nails digging into my back. I follow her over the peak and collapse on top of her, muscles spent, my heart in my throat.

The only thing that stops me from declaring myself is the shadow of the confrontation with her ex-husband still hanging over our heads. The first time I tell Taryn I love her, I want her to know it’s the truth and not something forced or fake to make her feel better.

I roll onto my side, and we lie together for a long time, her head on my bicep, my fingers stroking her side. We don’t speak because we don’t need to, but I know I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure Taryn knows that she’s loved, that she’s cherished, that she’s mine.

Forever.

Chapter 26

Taryn

Iwake up to my phone buzzing on the nightstand. Dante’s arm is draped over me, his breath steady and rhythmic. After everything that happened yesterday with the kids and Craig and then the earth-shattering sex, it was a long time before I was able to find my balance again, so Dante and I stayed up until the middle of the night watchingI Love Lucyin bed.

Then we spent the morning talking and laughing and playing with Frankie and Tortellini. We made pancakes and did laundry together before falling back into my bed with clean sheets to take a nap. A glance at my phone screen tells me we’ve only been sleeping for about thirty minutes.

I sit up to answer Maddie’s call. “Hey, honey. Everything okay?”

Her voice is low and rushed on the other end. “No. Can you come pick us up?”

I tense. “What’s wrong?”

“Dad and Jake are fighting. Jake said… He said Dad was shitty, and now Dad’s mad. He said if Jake doesn’t need him for anything, he can leave, and good luck paying for college.”

“Sit tight. I’m on my way.” I don’t think. I move on instinct. To go get my kids.

Dante stirs, propping himself up on his elbow. “What’s going on?”

I hastily shove my feet into shoes. “Craig and Jake had an argument. I need pick up the kids.”

The sheet pools around his waist when he sits up, his chest bare because he can’t ever sleep with clothes on. “Want me to come with you?”

“No.”

He stands in only his underwear, reaching for his pants on the floor. “I think maybe I should, just in case.”

“No, it’ll only make everything worse. I can handle myself.”

He watches as I run my fingers through my hair and throw on a hoodie over my shirt, and I know he doesn’t like that I’m going alone, but having Dante there with Craig might escalate the situation. I can’t risk it.

Eventually, he nods in understanding and kisses my cheek. “Call me if you need anything.”

The fifteen-minute drive to Craig’s house is a blur of anger and anxiety, and when I pull up to the curb, I immediately spy Jake sitting on the front steps. It’s freezing out, and he’s only in a hoodie and sweats.

I step out of my car, slamming the door behind me. Jake peers up at me, his eyes red-rimmed. “Mom?—”

“Where’s your father?”

“Inside.”

“Go in the car and get warm. I left the keys in there.”

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