Page 113 of Forecheck
“Of course.”
“Then we have to act like it. Make these decisionstogether.”
“I—” I wanted to argue, but Berkley narrowed her eyes, and I wisely shut my mouth. “Okay, baby,” I said at last. “I’ll be better. I promise. Some habits are just hard to break.”
Her gaze softened. “I know. I’m just asking that you try. For me. Okay?”
“Anything you want, Berk. It’s yours.”
“That’s all I want,” she said. “A compromise. One, I’ll remind you, I asked for before and you ignored.”
“Never again,” I promised her.
“Then you’re forgiven.”
“You didn’t call.”
Her smile tipped down at the corners. “I’m not proud of it, but I wanted to make you sweat.”
“You definitely did.”
For untold moments, we stood there, five feet apart, simply studying each other.
At last, Berkley spoke.
“I’m sorry I overreacted.”
“You’resorry? I’m the one who should be getting on my knees and begging for forgiveness. You didn’t overreact, andI’msorry I hurt you.”
“Well, since I’ve already forgiven you, that would be dumb. Although…if you wanted to get on your knees for a different reason, I wouldn’t be opposed.”
My blood heated at the invitation in those words, and every baser instinct within me screamed at me to take her now.
But not before she gave me the go ahead.
“Can I…” I started, trailing off and hoping she got the message as my eyes raked across her body.
“God, please.”
I sagged and closed the distance between us. My mouth was on hers the second she stepped into my arms.
“I love you,” I whispered against her lips.
“I love you, too.”
I blazed a path of kisses over her cheek and jaw, down the column of her neck, pausing at her pulse. “You know…there’s one good thing about fighting,” I said, nipping at her skin.
“And what’s that?” she asked, her voice already that breathy whisper I loved so much.
I pulled away to look at her, lips twisting in a wicked grin as I swept her off her feet.
“Making up.”
“I like the way you think, Jean,” she said with a laugh as she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck, pressing that warm, perfect mouth against my throat.
“I like the way you call me by my last name.”
I want it to be yours one day.
