“Not here,” I rasp.
But I can’t help the niggle forming in the back of my mind.
Because five years ago, they managed to get through every single roadblock I put in place.
Because even the nuclear option had resulted in?—
Fuck.
I stumble back a step.
“Brooks.” Her hand settles on my chest.
I shake my head, step back again. “Not here. I need to call Pascal, make sure that?—”
“Brooks.”
“—he’s taking the proper?—”
Her arms come around me and before I can pull away, her body comes flush to mine and she hugs me.Hard.
“Shh,” she whispers. “Just…breathe. We’re here. We’re safe. We’re together.”
And she’s been through hell.
“How can I possibly fix what I did—whattheydid?”
Her arms band tighter, her forehead falling to my chest. She exhales and the warmth of her breath settles over me. “There’s nothing for you to fix.”
“Baby—”
She leans back. “There’snothingfor you to fix.”
“Bullshit.”
“Does this mean you’re going to brood instead of kiss me?”
I blink.
“Because I like all of your kisses, and earlier you reminded me exactly how much.” Her lips tick up. “But I wasn’t lying when I said I wanted another of your pin-me-in-place-and-fuck-my-mouth-with-your-tongue kisses.”
I blink again.
“Though I’d also take a kiss-me-senseless-because-you’re-so-intense-you-can’t-help-it or a slow-sip-me-up-until-my-bones-turn-to-goo.” She shrugs and I can’t help it.
Even with all the shit that’s happened, that’s hanging over us, she still reaches a part of me that no one else ever has.
“You are so fucking beautiful,” I whisper.
“You’ve told me that already.” A lilting laugh. “And I’m not buying it.” She tugs at the ends of her hair—which, admittedly—is a little rough around the edges. “Especially with this hack job.”
“You’d be beautiful even if you were bald.”
“And you’re still too charming for your own good.”
Something inside me untwists and a memory drifts to the front of my mind. “I seem to remember a certain someone who wouldn’t give me the time of day when we first met.”
“Well, okay, you were less than charmingthatday.”
