Page 124 of Whispered Promises

I know what she smells like, what she tastes like. As he sat next to me, I could smell it on him.

Fuck, it made me jealous. I want to smell like her.

I can almost scent her now.

“Hey, you.”

A kiss lands on my neck, and Rosy presses against my back as she leans in for a kiss on the other side too.

I pause mid bicep curl. “Come here. I want one on my mouth. I missed you, little tease.”

She gives me the kiss I asked for, lingering but not enough to satisfy my craving for her. As if anything short of forever and all the time can.

“Missed you too. Do you want me to wait for you to finish so we can walk together?”

I nod to the opposite bench. “Sit, I’m almost done.”

I keep my gaze locked on her as I continue my reps. She squirms, and when I smirk, she blushes and looks away.

“You’re happier today.”

Her knee bounces, and she nibbles on her lower lip before answering. “Max and I talked.” She glances at me, and I nod. “He…wants to give things a go between us. Dating.”

“Is that what you want?”

“I think so. My feelings for him never disappeared, and being friends is too hard.”

“He hurt you.”

She huffs, her arms wrapping around her middle. “I know. And I’m afraid that he’ll do it again.”

If I could keep her safe, fuck, I would. But the world isn’t set up to allow me to protect her from everything. No matter how much I want to control it all for her.

I also don’t want her to hold back and be sad. “Bry could hurt you. You could hurt me. Life can hurt.”

“I know. I’m serious about you. It’s easier because I know my thoughts.”

My chest inflates at her assurance. My little tease wants me almost as much as I need her.

“Communicate. He’ll do whatever you need.”

She blows out a breath. “Okay. I’ll try.”

The burn from the workout rolls through me as I lie across my bed, face down and stretched out. I need a moment before I shower.

Walking with Rosy tonight felt fucking good. She felt lighter, and we spent the time chatting about random shit. Although I feel uncomfortable that I clammed up about my family. Whenever she asks, I brush her off or redirect the question. She hasn’t seemed pissed about that yet. But I know I’ll need to talk.

At some point.

My gut clenches at the idea of Rosy finding out how weak I was around my mother. How small she made me, controlling her love and making it conditional. At least by cutting her out of my life, I don’t have to worry about her hurting Rosy.

The bed dips behind me.

I recognise her scent as she crawls up behind me and presses her weight into my back. She slowly licks the sweat off the side of my neck, and my cock twitches in my shorts.

Fuck.

Her arm glides around my waist, and I roll us onto our sides. Her huffed noise as she lands on the bed tickles my back. Her hand slips to my cock and grips it hard through my shorts.