Page 17 of Love, Lies, and Whiskey

Why did she have to love that so much? How many times had he done the same thing during that fateful summer? Fighting the end of whatever time they’d stolen together. As if by doing so he could stretch each hour into two.

More chimes rang out in rapid succession, and his muscles tensed, bringing reality, and anxiety, rushing in. She forced herself to push away again. “What are we doing? We have so much to talk about, and sex complicates things.” Not that she regretted it or could’ve stopped herself from wanting everything he was willing to give. They were as explosive as they’d always been, but they weren’t irresponsible kids anymore. They needed to deal with reality.

“Things are already complicated.” He pulled her close again, but she put her hand on his chest, stopping him.

“Seeley, we have a lot to talk about. I came over to clear the air. I didn’t expect to need a suit of armor to battle the heat between us.” She couldn’t suppress her smile. “Not that I’m complaining, but we didn’t even use protection.”

“Shit. I’m sorry. I lost my head. You’re not on birth control?”

“No. I can’t get pregnant anymore. Josh and I tried, but it never happened.”

His brows knitted. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s okay. I have Lucas, but please tell me I don’t have to worry about diseases.”

“Jesus, Jule. Do you really think I’d be with you if you did?”

“I’d like to think you wouldn’t, but we don’t know each other anymore. I don’t even know if you’re involved with anyone, and those texts sounded important.”

“Those texts are probably from my brothers making sure I’m okay because I took off early from a club meeting to see you, and I’m not involved with anyone.” His brows slanted. “Oh fuck. Are you still married?”

“No.” She pushed to her feet, hurt by the question, which made no sense given that she’d asked him a similar one. But her heart was racing, and she wasn’t exactly thinking rationally. “Despite what you’ve thought of me for all these years, I wouldn’t have slept with you if I were.”

She hurried into the bathroom and shut the door. Leaning her back against it, she closed her eyes. Breathe. Just breathe. With everything that was at stake, how could she let herself get carried away like that? She told herself what was done was done. It was just sex. They were adults. They could handle this.

She opened her eyes, taking in the dark wood-and-stone bathroom, which was as ruggedly handsome as the man who had knocked the sense right out of her with a single kiss. She looked in the mirror and winced. Her hair was a mess. Seeley had always loved having his hands in it, but her body had changed so much. She was strong from working with horses, but she was also thicker and softer around the middle, and her breasts were heavier and far from the perky girls she’d had at sixteen.

Chiding herself for worrying about what she looked like, she used the toilet and washed up, trying to figure out how to navigate this. The same way you’ve navigated the last decade and a half. Head-on.

She dried her hands, took a deep breath, and opened the door.

Seeley was standing right there, ridiculously handsome in a pair of black boxer briefs, looking at her with an apologetic expression. He handed her one of his T-shirts. As she put it on, he said, “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have gotten carried away.”

“It’s not your fault. We both got carried away.” Feeling awkward, she tried to step around him.

He gently grabbed her hand and drew her into his arms, holding her tight. “I know we need to talk, but give me a second. That was pretty intense.”

She closed her eyes, soaking him in, glad she wasn’t alone in those feelings.

“Why don’t I make a fire and we can sit outside. I think we could both use some air.”

“Okay.”

“Do you need to check in with Lucas?”

She loved that he considered him. “No. I told him I might be gone for a while, but thanks for thinking of him.”

“I have a feeling you two will be all I’m thinking about for a very long time.” He released her hand, a tease glimmering in his eyes. “I should make you talk naked, so you can’t storm off.”

“You’re the expert at that.”

He nodded, his expression serious. “I’m sorry about that, too, darlin’. I won’t do that to you again. Let’s get dressed.” His brows knitted, and he plucked something from her shoulder and held it up. “Sadie’s fur. Sorry.”

She smiled. “They sleep with you?”

“Every night.”

As she headed into the living room to find her clothes, still missing him so much that she ached with it, she wondered if he had any full-body armor she could borrow.