Page 51 of Forbidden Confessions: Vol. 2
“She’s interested.” But does she feel more than sexual curiosity?
“Well, if you’re secretly dating, I’d hope so.”
“We’re not. My job has been to protect her…and I fell. I wasn’t kidding when I said I haven’t touched her.”
“Shit.” Rand lets out a deep breath. “You know what? It doesn’t matter. Same deal, bro. She’s either worth the risk or she’s not. And only you can decide.”
I don’t have to think; I already know. “She is.”
Rand laughs. “That’s the funny thing in this family. Once we know, we know. And we commit fast. Look at Mom and Dad. Hell, look at me.”
And maybe, if I play this right, I’ll follow in their footsteps. “Yeah.”
“If you’re sure, then don’t waste your time with me; go talk to her. Tell her how you feel. Convince her you’re the one for her. Then sit her dad down, lay out your cards. Be prepared for anything. And let the chips fall.”
He’s right. “Thanks. I gotta go.”
“I want to meet this girl.”
If I can—somehow—convince her to spend her life with me? “You got it.”
Smiling, I hang up and jog down the hall to Vanessa. She’s worth whatever I have to go through. Yeah, her dad will come after me, but I’ll handle Douglas. Not sure how yet, but I will.
Just as soon as Vanessa and I have talked. And I’ve made love to her.
God, I fucking need her.
And once I have her, I’ll never let go. She’ll be mine in every single way.
But when I round the corner into her bedroom so I can get started on all that, I find her lying in the bed she remade, all curled up with her comforter, one slender shoulder bisected by a thin white strap peeking out.
She’s fast asleep.
I let out a frustrated sigh. Looks like I’ll be waiting until tomorrow.
Fuck.
Pausing in her doorway, I watch her chest rise and fall. Tomorrow, everything changes. Tomorrow, I stop pretending I’m not dying to claim her.
For tonight, I mess with the alarm on her little cottage until I’m able to set it, then undress down to my boxers, climb into bed behind her, and pull her soft warmth against my body. This is way closer to her than I dared to think I’d be tonight.
She fits against me perfectly, like she was made for me. Mine to protect. Mine to claim.
Mine.
7
Vanessa
* * *
Something wet and rough drags its way up my forehead. Then again across my nose. I groan and peel one eye open. I find myself looking into curious blue eyes.
“Kitty Pie,” I croak.
She needs to go back to sleep. Doesn’t she know it’s Saturday?
I send the clock a side-eyed glance. Definitely too early to be awake. The sun isn’t even up. But Kitty Pie doesn’t care about my beauty rest. She jumps onto my hip, then walks up my side to sit on my shoulder and purr in my ear. And since she’s cleaned one part of my face, she moves in to start another.
