Page 60 of Under Pink Skies

“I always assumed Kam was the one who made you go,” I said.

“First, no one makes me do anything,” he said, pointing an accusing finger jokingly in my direction. “Kam also knew that part of the power of therapy is choosing to be there. If I signed up to go, it would be more impactful, because I made that choice for myself. He encouraged me, but never forced me. He’s good like that.”

I spent another moment just looking at this man who had once been the center of my world. Who had once promised to give me the world, if only he could find a way to do it.

“Another truth?”

“Greedy,” he said, still smiling.

“I realized something,” I said, and slid off the bar stool, taking one small step, then another in his direction.

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah,” I said, unable to stop myself from grinning as I rounded the island to face him. “I realized I loved you then, in the best way I knew how. You did the same.”

Connor said nothing and kept his hands where they gripped the edge of the counter, but he inclined his head in my direction.

“But now, I want more.”

I reached for his hand, and Connor’s breath hitched in his chest at the touch.

“I want to know things, Connor. All the things you’ve kept buried. I want us to be all in together. No more secrets, no more hiding. What we have between us is real. It’s survived plenty of beatings. I want to do it justice by doing things the right way.”

Connor released his grip on the counter, fully facing me as he searched my face. He lifted his hand to stroke my cheek with the back of his fingers, and I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling as I gazed back at him.

“I would really, really like to kiss you, Abbie Collins. May I?”

My heart thundered in my chest, and I let out a small sigh as he leaned his head down, allowing my eyes to close as I reached for his shoulders.

Connor pressed his lips to mine, and the world melted away at the soft warmth, the rightness of it all.

How many years spent waiting for this moment? This moment where my world was no longer off kilter, where I wasn’t anyone’s caretaker, and could focus solely on this kiss, the feeling of Connor’s strong arms around my waist, the press of my chest against his, the hard lines of his body holding me steady in place.

Connor tilted his head to deepen the kiss, and on instinct, I reached up on my tiptoes to follow him. The movement shocked him enough that Connor’s back hit the counter, forcing him to spread his legs out to steady himself.

I devoured the low, greedy sound that escaped him, raking my hands through the short strands of his hair. I’d expected a slow buildup of heat, but Connor was a wildfire, razing my world like a storm. It had always been like that between the two of us. Connor was biting his lip hard enough to draw blood, and his need only fueled my own.

“My room?” I panted, pulling back only long enough to see the desire in his eyes.

Connor’s grip on my arms tightened.

“Let’s go to thecouch,“ he said, stealing another small kiss from me before continuing. “And let’s talk. Cuddle. We already agreed.”

I was vibrating with butterflies and an excitement I hadn’t felt in years.

“If the next words out of your mouth are something about how we should get to know each other, I’m going to smack you.”

“You said you want to do things the right way. This is us doing things the right way.”

Connor’s smile was blinding as he took my hand in his, tugging me towards the couch.

His fingers interlaced with mine, full of promise.

Chapter 23

Connor

Ifheavenexisted,itwould look like this.

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