Like what his mouth feels like curved against my own. The pleased sound he makes in reaction to the moan that slips past my lips. The fact that I’m more than certain he’s ruined me for all others, but I can’t find it in me to care or worry.
Because if I have my way, there won’tbeany others.
And isn’t that a remarkable thought.
“You’re dangerous,” I mutter against his mouth.
“I thought I was pepper.”
“Good God, he’s got lip.”
“Two of ’em,” Lawson says, proving his point quite nicely.
Thankfully, the man steps back before the bacon can burn. I clear my throat, licking my lips as I turn back around to pick up the tongs. The strips of bacon are cooked, so I turn off the burner and start the oven on quick preheat, having forgotten before. “Your question?”
Lawson leans his hip against the counter as I collect flour and the other ingredients to make biscuits. “You said something I didn’t get a chance to ask about.”
I shoot him a quick nod so he knows I’m listening.
“You said you didn’t want to be my next Laura.”
I still for only a second before continuing to mix up the biscuit dough. “I did.”
“What does that mean?”
Lawson waits patiently while I cut up the still-warm bacon, folding it into the biscuit mixture with some cheddar cheese. I start dropping the biscuits onto a tray after.
Voicing this is harder than I expected it to be.
“I was afraid if I pushed you into something you weren’t ready for, you’d stay out of obligation. Not because it was what you wanted or needed. And I didn’t want you to be unhappy, Law, even if it meant I got you.”
Lawson is quiet for a long moment. Long enough I get the biscuits in the oven and am starting on the eggs when he finally speaks. “Oak. Did you forget the part where I drove over a thousand miles to drag you back here? Youaremy happiness. Don’t you get that? I’m never happier than when I’m with you.”
I draw in a ragged breath and chance a glance at Lawson. The expression on his face leaves me no room for doubt.
“I’m not ever gonna feel stuck with you,” he says. “I can’t get enough of you. Pretty sure I’d chain us together if I could figure out a way to manage it.”
My laugh is hoarse. “Shit, Law. We went from rope to chains pretty fast.”
There’s amusement in his voice, albeit a gentle sort. “I don’t think it was all that fast. It took us a long time to get here.”
I can’t argue that.
“I don’t want to step back from this, all right?” he says, more serious. “When I think about what it is I want and what Ineed, the one constant is…you.”
“Jesus,” I manage.
“Something I said?”
“Everything,” I tell him truthfully. “You have this way of just…cutting deep. Not in a bad way. You’re just so damn honest, it makes me feel splayed open, too.”
“And that’s a good thing?” he asks, a smile tipping his lips.
“Where it concerns you? Yes.”
“’Cause I’m your person.” It’s a factual observation he’s confident in.
“Mmph. You’re gonna, uh, need to give me a minute to find my feet again.”
