Page 66 of Never Really Mine
Beau
You got it.
I should stop getting so excited every time I see his face on my screen, should stop the butterflies I get every time I see his face, and avoid the inevitable hurt, but I don’t. With a sigh, I lock my computer, vowing to finish the edits tomorrow morning, and head out of my studio, waving at Josie in her shop next door as I leave.
Beau arrives to my house around the same time that I do, and after a shower and a fresh set of clothes, we decide on one of the our favorite places in town, a classic bar and grill..
“I thought now would be a good time to iron out some details,” Beau says. He’s sitting across from me in the small booth, a glass of ice water in front of him. The waitress has just left to put in our orders: a cheeseburger for me and a BLT for Beau.
“What kind of details?” I ask.
He takes a deep breath. “I don’t want you to get defensive about it, but… space. We’re going to need more of it.”
I sigh, a slight irritation blooming. He’s just trying to help and be proactive, and yet, I can’t stop the feeling. “I like my house, Beau.”
“I know you do, but we’re going to be bringing two babies home now. Not just one. It’s barely big enough for two adults, let alone two adults and two infants who require a ton of stuff.”
I take a sip of my water. Deep down, I know he’s right, but my house is one thing that I can control. My life is changingdrastically right now, between a not-really relationship with my best friend and being pregnant with his twins.If I don’t have the place I feel most comfortable, then what do I have?
“I know I’ve been staying with you, but I wanted to formally ask you.” Beau pauses, as if waiting for some sort of reaction. I don’t speak or react, so he continues. “Are you comfortable with me moving in and putting my house on the market? It doesn’t make sense for me to have my place and live with you and the babies.”
“Yes,” I say without a second thought. I might not know what will happen between us, but I know that I don’t want to do this without him. “Put your house on the market.”
The smile that breaks out on his face is reminiscent of the smile he gave when I told him I was starting my own photography business. Proud, excited, and so much life in his eyes.
“I’ll get a storage unit and really downsize, but I do think we should talk further about a bigger house.” Beau reaches across the table and I rest my hand in his, squeezing softly.
“One step at a time. Okay? I’m not saying no, I just… I need time to acclimate.”
He nods and a flicker of heat passes between us. I find my mind straying to the feeling of his mouth on my breasts, tongue caressing over my nipples as he eased the discomfort of taking my piercings out. My cheeks inadvertently heat at the memory, and I can tell that Beau must be having a similar thought cross his mind.
The waitress arrives with our food a few minutes later, startling us as she sets the baskets down on the table. We rush to pull apart and I lean back against the leather of the booth. I scrub my hands up and down my thighs, my hunger overtaking the moment.
When we getin the car after dinner, the atmosphere is quiet. We haven’t talked much more outside of selling his house, but there’s been a continued, undeniable tension between us, albeit not a bad kind.
Beau reaches across the console, taking my hand in his. He squeezes three times, and my heart flutters. That low heat starts to simmer low in my belly, and I think of my earlier conversation with Dr. Ness. She basically told me to enjoy myself and to listen to my body.
However, what my body wants is Beau. I know I shouldn’t want him. I should be keeping a distance after my slip up a few weeks ago, but apparently, my mind and body are on two completely different train tracks.
Beau runs his thumb over the back of my hand, talking about things we still might need before the babies arrive. I’m not paying much attention though, too focused on the way my clit is practically pulsing. I can’t stop thinking about the way his thumb felt brushing over my sensitive nipples instead of my hand. Or the way he will gently caress my cheek with the same thumb.
My heart thrums in my chest, my body aching with the need to be touched by him. I must be completely lost to my own senses, because we’re pulling into my driveway a moment later.
“What are your plans for the rest of the night? Want me to give you that foot massage?” Beau asks with a small waggle of his brows. He turns off the car, letting go of my hand. A shiver rolls up my arm at the loss of his warmth and I shift in my seat, squeezing my thighs together.
I look at my phone, checking the time. It’s just past seven, but pitch black outside, no thanks to it being the dead of winter. “Rain check? I might go to bed early. It’s been a busy day. What about you?”
Beau nods. “That’s fine. I need to catch up on a show so Andrew can finally talk to me about it without spoiling, but then I won’t be far behind you.” He opens his car door, and the frigid winter air seeps into the once warm car. I brace myself before opening my own door. The air is like a near literal bucket of ice water dumped over my head. It cools my heated body, but only momentarily, because Beau is striding up to stand beside me.
Beau has slept in my bed since that night a few weeks ago, and while I love it, it hasn’t exactly given me much time to take care of things myself.
He reaches out, pulling me in close, his arm around my shoulders. “Come on, let’s get you in where it’s warm, butterfly.”
I let him lead me inside, allowing myself the freedom to sink into the embrace. The snow crunches under my feet, giving away just how cold it is, and thankfully, we’re inside quickly.
Beau helps me slide my jacket off, hanging it on a hook on the wall. I rest my hand over my belly as I kick off my snow-covered boots. I wobble slightly as I’m taking one off. Beau reaches out, clasping his fingers around my upper arm. “Don’t want you falling,” he murmurs.
When I look up, his brown eyes are dark, hair falling into his face.
