Page 71 of Dearly Unbeloved
It’s tender—soft, and slow, and completely out of my comfort zone. Sierra has a habit of breaking me into pieces and rebuilding me brick by brick, over and over, every time just a little better, a little stronger. And this time, as she tips me over, shattering me into a thousand fractured shards, I feel myself scattering far and wide.
Sierra rolls her hips and catches my lips in a messy kiss as she comes. I swallow down her moans and cries, coming right alongside her when she pinches my clit between two fingers.
We’re both fighting for air when we pull apart, my chest burning. Sierra sits up, pulling her fingers out from between us.
“Fuck,” she murmurs, barely above a whisper, as she sees how wet they are. She brings them to her mouth and sighs happily, closing her eyes as she licks them off.
It should be filthy—the sight of her straddling my thigh, licking my wetness from her fingers, but it just makes my heart ache.
When she’s finished, she collapses onto the bed beside me. As if by instinct, we both roll onto our sides until we’re facing each other. Sierra’s eyes are half-closed, her cheeks scarlet. I trace the length of the snake tattoo up herbody, dragging my finger up her chest, neck, and tucking her hair behind her ear.
“You’re so beautiful.” I don’t mean to say it, but I don’t regret it. The words pop into my head every time I look at her, and I don’t say it enough.
Sierra covers my hand with hers, pressing it against her flaming cheek. “You’ve made me feel so beautiful.”
Made. Past tense. I look up toward the headboard, blinking and swallowing back the tears that threaten my eyes. This is not the time.
“Will you sleep in here tonight?” Sierra asks, and the “yes” leaves my mouth before she’s even finished speaking. Why the hell does this all feel so much like goodbye?
It’s masochistic, and later, I’m going to have to find a way to deal with the consequences, but I’m powerless to say no to her. Sierra has no idea how much power she has here.
34
SIERRA
Mexican food and a bath tonight? - R
P.S. If I get you a journal, will you stop writing your quiz answers on my stuff?
The number staring at me from my laptop screen is… staggering. I cross my arms and frown at my bank balance as my heart sinks into my stomach. For the past couple of years, anytime I thought about finally getting my inheritance so I could help Kyo start a family, I imagined being elated. Whatever I’m feeling right now, it’s not that.
I snap a picture of my screen and send it off to Kyo.
Grandma and grandpa came through!!! You three are going to be the best parents!!!
A second after the message sends, my phone lights up with a video call. I hook my phone grip over my laptopscreen—probably bad for my laptop, but I hate holding my phone up for calls—and accept the call.
Kyo’s face fills my screen, his initial smile dropping as soon as he sees me. “Whoa. What’s this face, SiSi?” He circles the camera with his finger. “I thought this was going to be a celebratory call, but that’s not the face of someone who’s practically a millionaire.”
“You’re rounding up pretty generously,” I point out, and he rolls his eyes. “But this is a celebratory call. I’m so happy for you guys! You’re going to be a dad, and I’m going to be Aunt Sierra!” Not to Jazz and Liam’s baby, and that hurts like hell, but I’ll be the best aunt I can be to Kyo’s.
“Sierra. Come on. Talk to me. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong!” My voice is too high, too squeaky, and Kyo sees right through me. I rub my face, sitting back in the spinny office chair. “I am happy for you, I promise. It’s just that this means I have a lot to figure out over the next week. Rose will get her promotion, and we’ll have to figure out the logistics of the divorce, telling people. And I have to find a new place, then deal with moving.” Iama millennial, which means I spend a lot of time scrolling through real estate websites and dreaming. I’ve seen a ton of nice apartments lately, but I can’t picture living in any of them.
Kyo hums. “That is a lot to figure out, I guess. There’s also the little matter of you being in love with your wife, of course.”
“What?” I hold up my hands. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Me? In love with Rose? I… Um… Like… No. Just no.”
Kyo raises his brows. “Damn. That was very convincing. However… I think the time to tiptoe around it is over. No one believed you two actually loved each other at first.”
“Yes, they did! Everyone believed us.” Things might have started a little rocky, but even Rose has become a pro at faking it lately.
“No, they didn’t. Maybe the people who don’t really know you, like your colleagues. And maybe Rose’s parents, since they seem to be inclined to believe the worst about her, but everyone else? Not a chance.”
“That can’t be true. Why would no one say anything?”
Kyo shrugs. “I mean, our family all figured out pretty fast why you’d done it. And as for the Michaelson-Cannon family—from what you’ve told me, they all started out in relationships that ‘weren’t real,’ so they were probably just waiting for you to fall for each other. I don’t know what’s in the water with them, but between you and me, I fully expect Xan and his best friend will get together at some point in the next couple of years.”
