I laughed as I pulled him in for a kiss, licking at his tongue to taste myself in his mouth. The two of us together, like I always wanted it to be. Like it alwayswouldbe, from here on out.
That idea was going to take some getting used to.
There was a bruise blooming on Ward’s neck when I pulled back, and I ran my thumb over it as a surge of warmth rolled through me, a possessive little voice in the back of my head growlingmine.
He was mine. Finally mine.
“Sorry about this,” I said.
I wasn’t sorry, though.
“You aren’t sorry at all,” Ward said, because he knew me, and I wasn’t subtle either.
“I made you come like a fire hydrant being hit by an eighteen-wheeler and you want me to be sincerely sorry about it?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.
“No.” Ward shook his head, touching the tip of his nose to mine. “All I want is for you to be happy,” he said, looking down. “Are you? Happy?”
“You mean, am I happy with my decision? Am I happy to be here with you? Did the sex meet my standards?” I teased, still stroking his neck.
“All of those?” Ward licked his lips, glancing up at me under his lashes. “Mostly the first one.”
“I’m happy,” I said, tilting my head to brush my mouth over his again. “I’m glad I picked you, and this place, and that I don’t have to leave again. I’m happy right where I am and I love this bed, by the way. As for the sex.” I paused to kiss him again, deeper this time, coaxing his mouth open and sucking on his lower lip, pressing forward, putting everything I had into it.
“I love it just like it is, but I don’t think we should let that discourage us from practicing. Often,” I said.
Ward finally met my eyes with one of those shy smiles I loved so much on him. “This is normally the part where someone interrupts us,” he said.
“Not this time,” I promised, snuggling closer. “Not just yet.”
30
Ward
“So what’re we watching?”Ryder asked as he hovered around Dad’s couch, as if he didn’t quite know what to do with himself.
I got the nervousness. I was nervous, too.
Dad had known Ryder almost as long as I had, but this still felt like introducing my boyfriend to my family. I’d never had to do that before.
Dad was calmly making stovetop popcorn, standing over the pot to listen to the kernels popping.
“I was promised car chases and explosions,” I said.
“Can we get a bank heist in there?” Ryder asked.
“I think we can manage some kind of robbery,” Dad said. “They go hand in hand with car chases. Will you sit down before you wear a hole in the rug, Ward? You too, Ryder,” he added.
We both sat down on the couch obediently, a hand-width apart like we were scared to be caught touching.
“Oh, here we go!” Dad enthused as the popcorn really started to take off, grabbing pre-heated bowls from the oven and searching for salt and butter.
“I could help,” I said, moving to stand only to be stopped by Dad waving me away.
“I’m old, not useless,” Dad said. “Will you two relax? I know you’re dating. I’ve wanted you dating since you were fourteen. You’re good for each other, I approve, I’m glad to see you happy.”
Ryder laughed, more nervously than I ever remembered hearing him before, but reached between us to take my hand.
My ears were instantly on fire, but I let him link our fingers together and couldn’t help smiling at the way it felt.
