Page 11 of Sugar Lips

“I’m going to watch it over and over again,” she says, and Elizabeth laughs.

There’s something off in Elizabeth’s laugh, though. I can tell that something’s bothering her. And later, when the two of us are alone in her apartment, she finally confronts me about what’s on her mind.

“You screwed up on purpose,” she says, staring at me with folded arms.

“What?” I say, frowning.

“I could tell what you did. With the blood. You screwed up your diorama so that I would win.”

I swallow. Shit. “I’m sorry, Elizabeth.”

“I can’t believe you did that. And I can’t believe you kept it from me this whole time.”

“I’m really sorry,” I say. “I only did it because I wanted to make sure you won. You never know how judges are going to react. But I hate that I went about it like that. And that I hid it from you. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, Elizabeth. I love you.”

Her eyes go wide. “You love me?”

“This wasn’t how I wanted to tell you,” I say. “But yes. I do.”

“I love you, too,” she says, and comes toward me. Our kiss is full of tenderness.

“You know,” I say, “now that we’ve watched the show…I honestly think you would have won even if I hadn’t done that. Yours was better than mine even before all that stupid blood.”

“You’re just saying that.”

“I’m not, Elizabeth. I swear to God, I’m not.” I give her another kiss. “Do you forgive me?”

She sighs and smiles. “I guess so.”

“Youguess so? That’s all I get?”

“I think you need to make it up to me, Jackson.”

“I agree,” I say. And I kiss her again, this time pulling her toward the bed. As I pull her clothes off, I kiss each smooth, warm curve of her body. Soon, she’s laying back on the bed with her legs spread open, breathing high and hard as I work my tongue between her legs. I don’t let up until she’s crying out with pleasure—and then, after it’s over, I make her come again.

“Oh my God,” she gasps as she catches her breath. “How are you so good at that?”

“I’m good at other things, too, you know,” I say, and move up to kiss her breasts. She laughs and pulls off my shirt. I undo my zipper, kick my pants off, and grab a condom from her bedside table.

“I love you, Jackson,” she says.

“I love you so much, Elizabeth,” I say, and we lose ourselves in each other.

Chapter Seven

Elizabeth

4 Years Later

“Are you excited to stay with grandma for a few nights?” I say, turning around in the passenger seat to look at our son.

Jamie nods and grins. “Uh huh.”

“Don’t eat too much candy, okay, buddy?” says Jackson.

“Grandma has candy?”

“Oh, um…no,” says Jackson, grimacing. “Forget I said that.”

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