“It’s been a lot,” she said, and I nodded, leaning forward to kiss the sliver of skin that peeked out beneath her top.
My gaze flicked up. “You need some stress relief?”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “We can’t … Zara’s here. Besides, I thought you didn’t want to …”
Her words fell off when I nuzzled her stomach. “Didn’t want to what?”
“You slept out here last night. You didn’t even … t-touch me.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, guilt swept in. How had I not considered how my quiet solemnity last night would come across? I’d slept out here, but only because I’d been so lost in my own stressed, angry thoughts that I’d eventually passed out on the couch. I hadn’t even considered that Shannon would think I was putting distance between us. The truth was I’d been toodistracted by my need to catch Dixon to think about sex, but she should’ve known by now that I wanted her all the time.
“I’m sorry. How can I make it up to you?” A shy look crossed her face, like she didn’t know how to respond. I kept my voice low when I asked, “Did you miss me?”
She nodded, her breaths coming faster. I slid my finger under the hem of her top right before Zara came out of her room, and we quickly broke apart.
“When are we going to Granny and Granddad’s?” she asked, her expression light and cheerful, no clue of what she’d just walked in on. I had no intention of allowing Margie and Dixon’s bullshit to slow down what was happening between Shannon and me. I was still one hundred percent in with her. As far as I was concerned, we could tell Zara right now because I wasn’t going anywhere. Shannon, on the other hand, wasn’t quite where I was, but she’d get there.
“Soon,” I told her before glancing at Shannon. “You up for it?”
“Sure, I haven’t had time to buy groceries, so there’s nothing here for dinner anyway.”
“But I’m peckish now,” Zara complained.
“Do you want a snack?” Shannon asked, and our daughter bobbed her head. There wasn’t much in the fridge, only a couple of things I’d picked up on our way over yesterday. Shannon grabbed an apple and a packet of oat cookies for Zara, washing the apple before chopping it into slices as I lowered onto a stool to watch her. Her cheeks were still flushed from our encounter by the couch.
“What?” she asked, aware of my staring. “Do you need a snack, too?”
I grinned. “I could eat.” The double meaning in my response didn’t evade her, and her flush deepened. Shannon placed some apple slices on a plate next to the cookies before sliding them toZara, who carried her plate into the living area and turned on the television. Shannon then quietly started on another apple for me. She placed the slices on a plate and put it in front of me. The air felt thick around us. I held her gaze as I brought a slice to my mouth and bit down. She turned away, wiping down the counter even though it was already clean.
“How are things with Elias? I forgot to ask if he checked himself in somewhere.”
“He did. I drove him to a clinic, and he seemed like he was serious about quitting, but time will tell. I’ll call him tomorrow to see how he’s doing.”
“That’s good that he’s getting help.”
“It is,” I agreed, bringing another slice of apple to my lips, eating it slowly.
“You’re staring,” she commented.
“That is correct.”
“Can I ask why?”
“Is it unusual to stare at a beautiful woman?”
She glanced over to where Zara was fully immersed in some kid’s show before looking back at me. “Quit flirting, Lister.”
“Stop being so beautiful, and I’ll try, Kryten.”
She shook her head, sighing in exasperation, but I could see her lips trying hard not to part in a smile. Reaching out, she moved to steal a slice of apple, but I caught her fingers. “If you want some you only have to ask,” I told her softly, releasing her fingers before picking up the slice she’d been reaching for. Leaning across the counter, I brought it to her lips. “Open,” I whispered.
Her eyelids lowered, her pulse fluttering at her throat as she opened her mouth for me. I slid the apple past her perfect lips and watched as she bit down. Her gaze met mine as she chewed, then swallowed, and I wrestled with the urge to throw her over my shoulder and carry her like a caveman into her bedroom. Ipicked up another slice, lifting it to her mouth, and again, she quietly ate for me. A low rumble started at the base of my throat, a raw feeling of satisfaction that had me praising her. “Good girl.”
“Jace,” she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Needing to touch her, I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, my thumb brushing against her soft earlobe. “Later, yeah?”
Her throat bobbed on a swallow, and I moved away from the counter, knowing it was dangerous territory doing this with Zara only a few feet away, even if she was distracted by her show.
