“I lied to protect you,” I said, finally letting myself feel the words, letting them carry the weight they had been holding inside me. “I thought if you didn’t know about the blockers, itwould be easier. But I was wrong. It wasn’t easier. It hurt you. And it’s killing me knowing I did that.”
Her eyes softened, but the worry didn’t leave her shoulders. “Theo…”
“I don’t expect forgiveness,” I said, ignoring the shot of pain in my shoulder as I twisted to face her fully. “I don’t even know if I deserve it. I just… I want you to see all of me. The stubborn, broken, selfish parts too. I want you to know the truth, even if it scares me.”
Her knuckles went white around the mug. “I’m listening,” she said finally. The words were simple, but it was all the invitation I needed.
“I’ve been pretending for too long,” I said, my truth falling like boulders. “Pretending I was okay, pretending I didn’t feel fear, or pain. Pretending… I wasn’t afraid of losing you. I’ve been lying to everyone. But not anymore. Not to you. Not to myself. I love you. I have for a long time. I just… I didn’t have the courage to say it because I was scared I’d ruin everything. But I can’t hide it anymore. I can’t lie anymore.”
Her lips parted slightly, eyes glimmering. “You love me? I lied to you too. For the same reasons, but it happened. The world has gone to shit, I’m a disciplinary hearing away from losing my job, and you… you love me?”
I nodded, a slow smile creeping onto my lips. “Yeah, well, you love me too, so there.”
Her eyebrows shot up and a light, sparkling laugh fluttered out of her. “Is that so?”
“That it is, Hopper. I don’t care what you say. I know the truth.”
“Theo…” She didn’t finish, but she didn’t need to. I could feel her leaning into me even before she moved.
I crossed the remaining space, mugs forgotten on the table, and took her hands in mine. “I’m done playing hide and seek with the most important things in my life. I want us, Reese. I want you. I’ve waited too long to admit it, and I can’t wait any longer. I won’t.”
“I… I love you too,” she said, voice trembling. “I just… I don’t think I’m good for you.”
I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat almost choking me. Relief, longing, fear, and joy tangled together. I cupped her face, feeling the heat of her skin, the tremor in her body. “Let me be the judge of that.”
The moment broke, a tidal wave of emotion, and I pressed my lips to hers. Urgent at first, desperate, releasing months of suppressed feelings. She kissed back with equal intensity, her hands pressing into my back, pulling me closer, grounding me in the reality we’d both just decided was ours. No more lies or secrets. Just us.
When we pulled apart, we were both breathing hard, eyes locked. My hands lingered on her waist, her fingers brushing over my chest.
“I want you at the game,” I murmured.
“Wasn’t planning on missing it,” she said, certainty threading through her words.
I let a shiver of exhaustion roll through me, shoulder aching but manageable because of the anchor she was. The mugs on the table sat forgotten, cooling in the dim afternoon light. Outside, the city moved on, indifferent. But inside, the space between us was electric with all the confessions, all the pain, all the love we’d finally acknowledged. I pressed her to me again, slower this time, letting the kiss carry everything—the regrets, the longing, the raw truth.
We found each other in the darkest place, and somehow it had brought us to this. To the truest form of connection I’d ever had.
“I want you,” I said against her lips. “I need you, Reese.”
She blinked up at me, her chest rising and falling with her heavy breaths. A flash of concern clouded her gaze, but I caught it, cupping her face in both my hands.
“I can handle being with the woman I love.”
The worry melted beneath an easy smile, and Reese leaned in to trail warm kisses up my neck. “Take off your clothes.”
The twinge in my shoulder didn’t hold me back as I stood up and peeled the layers off me. My cock sprung free, fully hard and flushed with arousal.I let out a shuddering exhale as cool air met my overheated skin.
Reese was on the edge of her seat, her gaze drinking me in, fingers resting lightly against my hip. She bent down to press a kiss just below my navel.
My entire body tensed at the contact, my hands coming up to cradle her head. My fingers threaded gently through her hair as she looked up at me from her new position, her face level with my exposed erection.
“Your turn,” I said, my voice thick with desire.
Something flipped inside me with the way she tore her clothes off, discarding them on the living room floor. First her shirt, and her breasts bounced free. No bra. Stiff, pink nipples teasing me. Then her pants and underwear. My cock twitched dangerously in my hand. Her cheeks were already flushed, and now she looked at me with such unabated hunger in her eyes.
I got back on the couch and captured her jaw in my hand, pulling her closer to me, my lips almost touching hers before I paused. Reese looked at me with wide eyes.
“Let me show you what my tongue can do,” I murmured, then pressed my lips against hers.
