“Can you ever forgive me?”
“I already have,” he automatically replies.
My mouth hangs open in shock, and he chuckles. “You should see the look on your face.” All humor fades, and his expression turns serious. “I was in New York today, and on the way home on the plane, instead of studying, like I should’ve been doing, all I could think about was you, and I came to some realizations of my own.”
I assume being in New York has something to do with Whitney, and I wonder where things are with the situation. But I don’t ask him. Not yet. Not until we’ve aired everything else we need to air. “What realizations?” I ask.
“I think I was being unfair to you.”
“You weren’t. Not at all. You—”
He clamps his hand over my mouth, pinning me with a cautionary look that raises all the tiny hairs on my arms in delicious anticipation. “Let me finish. Unless you want me to put you over my lap and spank that naughty ass.” I arch a brow, and he chuckles. “You’d like that.”
I squirm on his lap, my panties instantly damp. “So fucking much, but we need to finish talking.”
“As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” he continues, warning me with his eyes to keep my mouth shut, “I had you on a pedestal because you are so perfect to me, but I forgot that even perfection has flaws, and I can’t expect you to be strong in every situation, nor should I want you to. Because your vulnerability is beautiful to me too, and I only ever want you to be yourself.”
“What exactly are you saying?”
“That it’s okay. I understand, and we always lash out at those we are the closest to. Doesn’t make it right, but it happens.” He sighs, and his tongue darts out, licking his delectable bottom lip, and I can’t believe I’m jealous of his tongue.
Geez, I’ve got it bad.
“I have pulled my fair share of shit over the years, and my parents have always forgiven me. I’d be a lame-ass pitiful excuse of a boyfriend if I didn’t forgive you. Especially when you’ve come here and laid your heart on the line.” He winds his hands in my hair, tilting my face up. “And especially when I fucking missed you so bad.”
“You did?” Hope soars in my chest.
“I did, baby.” He rubs his nose against mine. “It was shocking. I turned into this pathetic heartsick bastard who could barely drag his ass off this couch. Don’t tell my brothers, but I think I was actually worse than them when they were going through crap with their girls.”
I giggle, and for the first time in almost two weeks, my chest feels lighter. “Will we be okay?”
“Do you promise not to push me away again? Because I’m bound to fuck up or other shit will get thrown at us, and I need to know you’re with me, baby. That you won’t run away at the first sign of trouble. I need to trust that what we feel for each other is more than something casual that can be discarded easily when the going gets tough.”
“I promise I’m in this for the long haul, Kent.” I pause to draw a breath. Now is the time to ask it. “What is happening with Whitney? Is the baby yours?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head, and his relieved smile tells me everything I need to know. “Thank fuck.”
The weight on my chest leaves, but anger simmers in my veins. “That conniving bitch lied to you.” I’m seething for him and for me.
“She did, but she’s out of my life for good now. You won’t have to worry about seeing her ever again.”
“And you won’t have to worry about me failing you ever again. I made a mistake, but it’s one I won’t make again because I need you as much as you need me. More than that, I want you in my life because you brighten up my entire world, and I’m sick of living in the dark.”
He brushes his lips against mine, too fast for me to latch on. When he eases back, he’s smirking. “That was really fucking cheesy, and I’m not sure what it says about me, but I fucking love it.”
I roll my eyes, repositioning myself so I’m straddling him. “We both know you love a bit of cheese.” I nip at his earlobe, rejoicing when I feel him hardening underneath me. “And I wouldn’t want you any other way.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Presley
I’m not sure who moves first, or maybe we both move at the same time, but our lips collide in an earth-shattering kiss I feel from the top of my head to the tips of my toes. Pressing my body against his, I grind my hips against his erection as we devour one another in a mad frenzy of lips, tongues, and teeth. Kent licks the inside of my mouth, and the most primitive groan escapes my throat. Every part of my body is humming with raw desire, and I clutch at him, grabbing fistfuls of his hair as I rock against him, desperate and needy.
“Kent,” I rasp into his mouth. “I need you.”
I drive my hips into his, and he hisses as my jeans-clad cunt presses into his hard cock.
“What exactly do you need, Presley baby?” His hands glide under my shirt, and his fingers move lightning fast, cupping my breasts through my lacy bra.
