Page 77 of Return to Us
Amelia looks to me. “Did you help Jessica with her bad dream?”
I want to laugh, but I don’t. “I think so.”
“Maybe Jessica should sleep in my room, and you can chase the monsters away for her at night.”
My sweet kid has no idea what I want to do to Jessica at night.
I change the conversation, thinking of anything other than Jessica, a bed, kissing, or breathing as I keep a pillow very strategically placed.
“Why don’t you head downstairs and see what I left on the counter,” I suggest.
Amelia’s eyes pop wide. “Did you bring me a present?”
“Uncle Alex sent something for you from Savannah, but there’s also something you may want to eat.”
“Donuts?”
I grin. “You will have to go find out.”
There’s nothing this kid loves more than donuts, and I thank God I had the forethought to get them. She’s gone in the blink of an eye, leaving Jessica and I alone.
I reach out, wrapping my hand around her wrist and pulling her back up onto the bed. A soft laugh escapes her before the moment shifts. I need to kiss her, to know that what we shared wasn’t nothing.
“Tonight, I’m sending her to my sister’s and then I am going to make love to you,” I tell her.
Her finger slips against my lips. “Is that so?”
I raise one brow, challenging her to rebuke me. “Is that a no?”
“What about Amelia? About all the reasons we have?” she asks.
What Oliver said about which one being worth more is ringing in my head. I’ll lose her again, but isn’t loving her again, no matter the time I get, worth it? Looking at her, there’s no question anymore.
“This is between us. I know it’s not forever, so we have to be careful.”
“We don’t have to tell anyone,” she agrees.
“This is just for us. We’ll take what we can, and no one will ever know.”
She watches me, looking for something, and then nods. “Okay. Tonight.”
My lips touch hers, and I can’t remember the last time I looked forward to the night.
* * *
“You owe me,” I tell Stella as she moves around her loft, putting things away.
“My debts are all paid up to you, dear brother. I can’t take her tonight because I’m busy avoiding your father.”
Yeah, sure, he’s my father.
“Stella, I swear to God, I ask you for nothing, but I’m asking now.”
“You ask me for shit all the time,” she points out.
I was banking on her helping me. She always helps, especially when it comes to Melia. Of course, the one time I decide to throw caution to the wind and let my dick decide the direction, this happens.
“Okay, but you bailed on her the other night.”
