Page 386 of One More Kiss

“I, um… I told work I wasn’t feeling well and that I needed to leave.”

My eyes burst open wide with shock. “You did?”

A wry chuckle. “Yeah. I’ve never done that before. Ever, I don’t think.”

My heart starts to pound.

“I’m going to go check inventory,” Rebecca cuts in, throwing me a look I can’t entirely read. “In the back.” She walks past me, touching my shoulder. “But I’m here if you need me and not here if you don’t.”

I give her a grateful nod and a weak smile.

The door to the storage room shuts behind her and then it’s just me and Silas, the air thick and tense. In a flash, he crosses the room, his hands diving into my hair and then his mouth is on mine. He kisses me for what feels like hours. Alternating between deep, passion-filled draws and sweet, light, loving pecks.

His forehead presses to mine and he says, “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. What I said today came out wrong. It came out all wrong. When I said I don’t want to do this anymore, I meant all this hiding. All this sneaking around. I didn’t mean I wanted to stop being with you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you. Since the moment I saw you in that bar, Delaney, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about you.”

“Silas—”

A sharp breath. “I’m in love with you. I should have told you earlier today and I’m sorry I let you walk away. It’s not what I want. I love you.”

My eyes slam closed as a tremor shakes me.

“I think I always have. I tried to ignore it. I tried to pretend it was just scratching an itch or that this feeling would go away or that eventually you’d grow hateful of what I was asking of you or bored with me. But after what happened today, I feel sick.”

My eyes flash open and I draw back an inch, trying to hide the sting of his words. The fear of where he’s going with this. “Sick? Why?”

“I didn’t explain myself the way I had wanted to. Because while sneaking around is fun and exciting, I need more from you. I need everything. You’re too good for me to fuck in the back seat of my car because that’s the only way I can have you. Quick and dirty and full of guilt. I want to bring you home and have Knox spend time with you. Have him see you as mine. I want the three of us to hang out and go to the movies and out for pizza. I want you to spend the night in my bed, wrapped up in my arms, and then I want to make you both breakfast in the morning. I want to take you on real dates and introduce you as my girlfriend. I have to tell Liam about us. But before I do that, before I risk that, I need to know you’re right there with me.”

God, it’s as if he was just reading my mind. Only I was positive this would never happen.

I swallow hard, my mouth dry. “I want that too. All of it.”

His tense expression softens, his eyes searching mine. “You do?”

“Yes. More than anything. I love you too.”

“Thank Christ.” His mouth hits mine again, his lips all over me. “Can you come home with me? I know you’re at work, but—”

“Yes! She can!” Rebecca screams out from the back room.

A laugh flees my lungs. “You weren’t supposed to be listening.”

“Uh-huh. You were going to tell me everything anyway. Now go. Get out of here.”

Silas grins with a small, bemused chuckle. “Thank you,” he shouts back.

“Just don’t hurt her.”

“Promise.”

I quickly go and snatch my things, opening up the door that Rebecca is pressed against and giving her a quick hug. “Thank you,” I mumble into her, and then I’m taking Silas’s hand and we’re heading for his car.

“Knox will be getting home in a bit. I realize I’m throwing my kid on you, but—”

“I love Knox, Silas. You’re not throwing him on me. I was sad that I wouldn’t get to see him anymore when Liam and I broke up.”

“You know what being with me means though?”

I cock an eyebrow. “No. No idea,” I deadpan.

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