“In which case, this is the bit where I should probably admit that no one ever bothered to…”
“To what?”
“You know.”
He chuckles against my shoulder, the vibration tingling across my skin. “You will definitely have to be more specific than that.”
“No one’s ever bothered topleasureme with their tongue before.”
“Fools. Out of every delicacy in the world, your pussy is the number one dish I’d like to eat.”
A shiver of pleasure rolls along my body. If we weren’t already on the bed, I’d have to sit because my legs tremble too much to stand.
“But speaking of eating…” he drawls. “Would anyone else in the room fancy a snack?”
My stomach immediately grumbles.
“I’ll take that as a yes.” He slides off the bed, then touches my shoulder. “Do you want anything specific or am I okay to pick for you?”
The offer ignites a ferocious wave of emotion inside me. That once again he listened and adjusted. Like all these things I’ve never experienced with any other person is just like breathing to him, he course-corrects and falls into the right patterns so naturally.
But I’ve seen him struggle with his friendships. I understand this behaviour only occurs when he’s with me.
Because I’m special to him.
I’ve fought the idea because there are so many things telling me this is wrong, this won’t ever work, but for the first time Ijust let myself believe it can. That he’s different with me because we’re something better together, more than the sum of our parts. Our strange, broken parts.
Even with his father’s disapproval looming like a loaded weapon, we’ll still find a way.
And I grab his hand, tugging him close enough to kiss, holding him in place with my hand, every sense stuffed to the brim with enjoyment. “I love you.”
His arms grip me tighter, squeezing until I can’t breathe, until my ribs creak and groan, straining to adjust to his force.
Then his hand cups my face, he stares into my eyes, and he kisses me. Not like before, not with a hunger that needs to be filled, but with a gentle wonder. The muscles of his face clench, I think he’s about to speak, then he grips my hand and clears his throat.
“I’ll get that snack.”
He didn’t say it back but I’m happy that his appreciation is genuine. We don’t need to reach the same milestones at the same time. “Thank you.”
I watch him walk from the room, eyes enjoying every inch of his stride from the broad shoulders to the sculpted arse to the way his eyes dance with mischief when he turns back to see me watching. The easy smile that graces his face is worth a thousand wordy poems.
My phone buzzes and I pull it from my bra, frowning when I see Ant’s number. “I thought you weren’t allowed phone calls until the end of your stay?”
“Hey, sis. Nice greeting.”
Distress chokes my voice for a second, the hand holding the phone turns clammy. He’s calling and he shouldn’t be. I try to force away the disappointment until I know for sure, but I fear the worst. “What’s going on?”
“You’re askingmethat? I got home and the door’s open, there’s shit all over the bathroom floor, and half our stuff’s missing. Where the fuck are you?”
“At Maddox’s place.” I shake my head, trying to piece together the information. “What are you doing home?” I scold. “You’re meant to be down in Dunedin for another fortnight.”
“Yeah, well. Change of plans.”
The disappointment swells larger. I bite my cheek to hold back a flood of tears. “Are you using again?”
“What? No! I’m fucking worried is all. Maddox told me—” The phone is muffled and there’s a long silence before he comes back on the call. “Your friend said some shit that really concerned me. I’ve been trying to get back to you from the moment they woke me after sedation, but the damned place is more of a prison than a treatment facility.” I can practically hear him biting his lip, a bad habit we both share. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Better than fine. I’m…”In loveis what I was going to say, but it’s not the right time. He’s not in the right mood.
