“Yes. I had a check a while back. So… if you want to?”
“Fuck yes, baby.” He lowers his body back down onto mine, positioning himself between my parted legs. He pauses, caressing a hand over my cheek, his eyes exploring my face from under heavy lids. “I can’t believe you’re mine, Cat.”
Then he pushes inside me. And—God—it feels better thananything. Every atom in my body is electric, pulsing with pleasure and heat, like it’s the dawn of time and everything has just exploded into life.
But it’s more than the physical sensation. It’shim.It’s his heart, and the way he makes me feel safe and happy. The way he makes me feel like everything will always be okay, now.
30
“Oh my God,” Alex says, staring at me in awe. “I love your dress!”
“Thanks.” I smile, handing over the bottle of wine I’m holding. Myles talked me into wearing one of my own designs to Alex and Michael’s engagement party, and I’m glad. Every time I put on one of my dresses, I feel part of my heart stitch itself back together. Just like every time he kisses me.
Tonight, it’s a yellow polka-dot dress in my usual fifties style, fitted through the waist and flaring out to my knees. Myles hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I put it on, but that’s okay—he’s in his shirt again, sleeves rolled to the elbows and collar open, looking like sex on a stick. We’re actually a littlelateto the party, if you know what I mean.
“Hello again, Myles.” Alex’s lips curve as her gaze swivels between us.
“Hey.” He grins, handing her a bunch of flowers he brought. How sweet is that?
“Oh! Thank you.” She takes the flowers, stepping aside. I wander past her and she catches my eye, mouthing, “Keep him.”
Delight fills my chest, beaming out of me like sunshine. Maybe I will keep him.
As we enter the living room I spot Geoff, hovering beside our upstairs neighbor, Agnes. Ever since Alex introduced them last year, they’ve become very close. Geoff says she’s like the grandmother he never had, and frequently visits her for tea or to take her books and groceries. It’s really sweet, actually.
He spots me across the room and gives me a little wave. A grin streaks across his face when he sees my giddy expression.
God, I’ve become one ofthem.
“Honey,” Alex calls into the kitchen, “Cat and Myles are here.”
Michael wanders into the living room with a smile. “Hey, Cat.”
“Hey. Congratulations, by the way,” I say, taking in his handsome form. He’s over six feet and pretty built, with dark hair, a short beard, and deep brown eyes that twinkle when he laughs. He’s older than her—she’s thirty and he’s in his early forties, with a son—but you’d never know it by how smitten they are together. They bonded over their love of writing, but I’m quite sure Alex initially fell for him because, well,look.
He turns to Myles, extending a hand. “Michael Hawkins.”
“Myles Ellis. Thanks for having me.”
“Of course. It’s nice to finally meet you. Alex has told me a lot about you.”
Myles’s eyebrows climb his forehead. He glances at Alex, but she buries her face in the flowers.
“These are gorgeous, thank you. I’ll just put them in some water.” She disappears into the kitchen, followed by Michael, fetching drinks.
I have to muffle a laugh when I see Geoff weaving across the room with an eager expression. He’s loving this. “Hello, you two.”
“Hey, Geoff. You remember”—I emphasize the word for Geoff’s benefit— “myboyfriend, Myles?”
By some holy miracle, Geoff responds with nothing more than a grin and a nod. Alex must have told him.
“Hi, Geoff.” Myles takes Geoff’s hand in a hearty handshake. “Good to see you again.”
“It’sverygood to see you.” Geoff’s eyes glitter as he looks between the two of us. He opens his mouth to say something—something I’m sure will only make me want to smack him—but Michael appears with drinks and he’s forced to zip it.
I snicker as I take a sip of wine. I’m going to get the third degree later, that’s for sure.
Alex drags Geoff away, and Myles and I stand with our drinks, enjoying the buzz of music and conversation around us. Well, that’s what I’m pretending to do—but mostly I’m just gazing at him and counting the minutes until we can be in bed again.
