“Because I should have pushed. I should have pursued you more.” He lifted my chin. “This isn’t just on you, Tate. If I’d asked questions instead of fuckin’ shuttin’ down, we could have avoided most of this. If I’d picked up on fuckin’ prom... Jesus, you were so clear!”
“I think you’re giving me a little too much credit.”
“My stubbornness rivals yours, baby, so I’m pretty sure I could have pushed you enough to tell me the truth. Look how quickly you folded when I pressed you after seeing you for the first time.”
“To be fair, I was really tired.”
He smiled, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “I’m sorry I didn’t fight for you.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t make you,” I said, sliding my hands around his waist.
“I forgive you if you forgive me.”
“There’s nothing to forgive.” I dropped my face into his chest. “This is all on me.”
“I love you, Tate. From this second on, no secrets, no lies, no fear.”
I raised my chin and met his eyes. “I love you too. No secrets, no lies, you got it. I will try very hard not to be afraid, but I’m kind of a natural scaredy cat.”
“We’ll work on that part.”
I smiled. “Okay.”
“You in this with me? All the way? Forever?” he asked as he stroked my cheek.
“Forever?”
“Forever, Tate. Not fuckin’ around anymore.”
I slid my hands up his chest. “You really think you can put up with me for forever?”
“I wouldn’t be here if I couldn’t.” His hands moved to the hem of my T-shirt and brushed the waistband of my jeans. “What about you?”
“Oh, I’ve never been able to put up with me,” I retorted, and he grinned again. I wove my fingers into his hair at the nape of his neck. “I’m all in, Flash. Forever.”
His mouth covered mine as his hand slipped under my shirt and cupped my breast. I let out a quiet moan as his thumb brushed over my nipple and he took full advantage of my open mouth. His tongue thrust inside, meeting mine, and deepening the kiss.
He broke our connection briefly to remove my shirt, then went back to the assault on my mouth as he unhooked my bra. My hands moved to his Henley, lifting it up to his chest where he broke our kiss again to pull it over his head, and I dropped my bra to the floor.
“Jesus,” he hissed, cupping my breasts, and sliding his thumbs over my nipples. “Even better than I imagined.”
I smiled, running a finger over his giant Dogs of Fire tattoo. “This is new.”
“Not really. I got it when I patched in, a few years ago now.”
“Right. Of course.” I kissed the top of the flames. “I love it.”
He smiled. “Thanks, baby.”
“Can we get naked now?”
“That’s what we’re doing.”
I huffed. “Are we? Because it’s taking a really long time.”
Flash chuckled. “I may be called Flash by everyone who knows me, but I think it fits you better than me.”
“Apparently, you know me.”
