Page 44 of Mine to Love
“You’ll be happy to know that I told him hiding out at my place wasn’t the manly thing to do and that he should come home. He’s contemplating that right now.”
“Thank you.” She nodded. “And I am sorry about canceling our date. I too was looking forward to it.”
“We’ll do it the next night you’re free. Actually, Steve and my mom are having his niece and family over this weekend. We could go over with Gabriel for the introduction, and if all goes well, we could bug out and have our date.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Are you trying to fix up my little brother?”
“I’m not. But I can’t speak for my mother.” Miles laughed. “She meddles like that.”
“Oh my God. That’s the last thing I need.”
“Autistic adults can date. Have romances.” He pulled out his cell and waved it. “I googled it and there’s lots of information about it.”
“Trust me. I’ve read them, but there has always been some question about where Gabriel lands on the spectrum. He’s so smart. He functions well that way. But he’s like a toddler in other ways.”
“Don’t get mad, and I’m by no means an expert, but could some of that be because of his life circumstances?”
She nodded. “I’ve had that conversation with counselors. So, you’re not speaking out of your ass. Our life wasn’t easy. Gabriel struggled early on because our parents refused to get him the help he needed. Once they left, I felt like I was constantly playing catch up. When Charlie came into my life, Gabriel was doing really well and Charlie wasn’t the prick he is now right off the bat. But Gabriel has regressed and that’s on me.”
“Don’t do that to yourself.” Miles leaned closer, brushing his lips over her mouth in a sweet, tender kiss.
The rattle of floorboards under her feet made her jerk.
She looked up.
Gabriel stood on the fourth step.
“Sorry to interrupt,” he said. “I decided to come home. But that doesn’t mean anything. I’m still mad. I don’t know who to believe or what to think. I’m going to bed.” He marched past them and opened the door, glancing over his shoulder. “You can resume the kissing.” He disappeared into the house.
Miles chuckled.
“That’s not funny.”
He cleared his throat. “Come on, it’s a little funny and I’m down for some of that.”
“You’re impossible.”
He traced her jawline with his finger. “I’ll leave if you want me to. Just say the words.”
She said nothing.
Seconds later her tongue was wrapped with his in a tango. A warmth spread across her skin as she gripped his shoulders, digging her fingernails into his hard muscles.
He lifted her off the chair, tugging her to his lap.
She should protest. She should end the kiss. But all she could do was deepen it because she needed what Miles had to offer.
His hands wrapped around her body, pressing her chest firmly against his, finding every inch of her exposed skin.
No one had ever kissed her with such passion and tenderness before. It was a combination of wild abandon and sweet love.
Miles was a contradiction. He was this gentle man. A man who had all the right words. He knew exactly what to say at the right moments. But he was also reserved with his emotions. And while he had a confident swagger, underneath all that, there was a hint of insecurity.
Trinity had shared some of where that had come from, and it made understanding him a little better.
But Liberty still didn’t get it.
He cupped the back of her neck, massaging gently, then let his hand roll down the front of her chest, cupping her breast, pinching her taut nipple through her flimsy T-shirt.
