I dip my head, covering her lips with a kiss, slipping my tongue inside the silk of her mouth, tasting, teasing, sealing the unspoken promises. We’ll make this work. I know we will.
She scoots closer to the edge of the counter, weaving her delicate fingers through my hair, the kiss evolving like it did the first time.
Everything holding us back disappears, raw, primitive desire returning, now more potent with the burgeoning emotions behind it.
“This won’t be easy,” she murmurs between kisses. “There are things I need to deal with, things I need to figure out... things I can’t tell you about.”
“I’m not asking for miracles, B. I just want you to stop pretending you’re someone you’re not. Stop living in limbo and start walking forward. I’m not saying it’ll be easy, but I promise it’ll be worth it.”
She trails her fingertips down my scalp, neck, and shoulders, then holds my face in both hands. “You’re worth every tear I’ll cry, Cody, but I need a few days to deal with my life. A few days to make changes. Until I stand firmly on my feet...” She touches my chest right above my heartbeat, then touches hers, “...this has to stay between us.”
Who would’ve thoughtshe’dbe the one keeping us a secret? It should be me doing everything in my power to make sure my brothers won’t find out, but I’ve lost interest in keeping our enemies-with-benefits status on the down-low.
I was sloppy. Careless enough to stop locking the door when she came over. One of my brothers could’ve walked in on us fucking in my kitchen, and I didn’t care.
“Deal, but don’t make me wait long. I’m not keeping you a secret longer than I absolutely have to.”
Her cheeks pale. “Aren’t you afraid what your brothers will say?”
“Petrified,” I admit.
I could lie to make things easier, but nothing about us is easy. This is a fucked-up, complicated kind of love. The best things in life are never easy, and I refuse to start with lies.
“Cody, I—”
“You’re worth it,” I cut in before she says something that’ll spike my blood pressure.
“I’m worth losing your family?”
I smile, pecking her forehead. “You don’t know my family all that well, but I promise I won’t lose them. It might take them time to accept that you’re mine, but they will.”
“How can you be so sure?”
“I know my family, B. There’s nothing I could do that would make them hate me. We give each other shit over anything and everything, but when it matters, we listen.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
Cody
WE SPENT THE EVENING EATING COLD TAKEOUT, watching the lame romantic comedy I bought, cuddling on her uncomfortable, navy-blue couch, and making out like a pair of teenagers.
She didn’t elaborate on what she needs to take care of before we tell my family about us, and despite the curiosity gnawing at my brain, I decided pushing for answers wasn’t the way ahead.
When she fell asleep on the couch, around midnight, I carried her to bed and stayed, cradling her to me all night.
What I didn’t do was set the alarm. The bachelor party meets at Nico’s at seven am. He’s got the biggest driveway, enough space for the guys to leave their cars there all weekend.
The moment I open my eyes and glance at my wristwatch, I know I’m screwed. It’s six-thirty already. I’m not showered or dressed. I may have grabbed a shower last night when I went to pack a bag for the weekend, but that doesn’t count. I need a shower in the morning to wake up properly.
“Fuck,” I hiss, leaping out of bed. “I need to go, B. I’m late.”
She grumbles something, tucking the comforter closer to her chin before peeking with one eye. “It’s too early.”
“It’s late for me.” I yank my pants on, gather the rest of my clothes, and bend over to kiss her head. “You better not be on your period when I come back.” Grabbing her hand from under her pillow, I settle it over my cock, groaning when she applies the right amount of pressure. “This needs taking care of.”
She sits up with a half-asleep, dreamy smile. “I know how to make it all better.”
“Me too, but I don’t have time, B. Behave.”
