Page 187 of Let You Love Me

I snicker as we mount the porch, holding Sophie’s hand in my left and Lane’s in my right as we step inside and make our wayinto the kitchen where a burst of commotion ensues. My mother rushes to me and gently pulls me into a hug, being careful not to hurt my still healing back. Dad ruffles my hair like I’m still two years old, Jace offers me a fist bump, and Brynn a side hug. Atlas and Graham amble forward, each of them placing a hand on my shoulder while Mackenzie and Skylar follow closely behind.

“Good to see you in one piece, man,” Graham says.

“Good to be here.”

My heart swells as I glance at the people around me. I’ve always been lucky to have so many people in my life, but I feel even luckier with the women by my side. “Everyone, I’d like you to meet two very special people.”

“Wait for us!” a small voice yells and seconds later, both Trista and Sable, my little sisters, are bustling into the room, looking five times older since summer break when I last saw them.

Once everyone’s settled, I clear my throat. “As I was saying, everyone, this is Sophie.” I run a hand over her little curly head while she hugs my leg, suddenly shy in the presence of so many strangers. “And this is my Lane.” I reach out and clasp her hand in mine, glancing at her with so much love and adoration I think I might explode from it.

When I turn back to my friends and family, I point, going through each name and introduction, and by the time I’m finished, I can practically see how overwhelmed Lane is before my mother and the ladies whisk her away to the kitchen for girl talk while Sabel and Trista take Sophie up to their room.

Later, after dinner is finished, and we’ve caught up, I hover by the stairs as my parents wish everyone goodnight.

My mother pulls me into another hug, whispering in my ear, “You did good.”

“Thanks, ma,” I murmur before they retreat upstairs, leaving me to lean against the wall and wait for Lane.

A creak on one of the wooden risers alerts me to her presence, and I turn to her with a smile. “Everything good?”

Her blue eyes sparkle as she takes the last step to meet me on solid ground. “Sophie is officially passed out in your sister’s bottom bunk next to Sabel. Trista was worried she’d fall off the top, so they insisted on bunking together.”

I chuckle. “They got along well, huh?”

“I think she has two new idols.” Lane grins.

I bite my lip and pull her into my arms with slow, careful movements so as not to jar my back. After more than six weeks of healing, it’s not as painful as it was, but I still need to be careful. “I told you everyone would love you.Bothof you.”

“Do you always have to be right?”

“About you? Yes.” I smooth a hand over her hair. “Thank you for being here.”

“Thank you for wanting me here.”

I smile and brush a thumb over her lower lip. “I’ll always want you, Lane, whatever piece of you you’re willing to give.”

“How about all of me?” Lane rises on her toes to meet me, and our lips collide. She tastes sweet, like the wine she and my mother shared after dinner, and I want to drown in her.

I was already in love with Lane Turner, but having her meet my family and friends brought my feelings to a whole other level.

Turning, I press her against the wall, cupping her face with my hands as I lose myself in her, groaning when her hands slip beneath the front of my shirt, tracing the ridges and grooves of my stomach with her fingertips.

Pulling back, she says, “Should we get back to your friends?”

I press a kiss to her jaw, then her neck. “Fuck my friends,” I say, claiming her mouth with another heated kiss. “I have other things in mind.”

“Like?” she asks, breathless.

Like taking her up to my room and getting her naked.

My fingers grip her hips as I sink into her touch, and I’m about to hoist her up and wrap her legs around my waist, when I remember my back and curse my injury.

I suck her lower lip instead, and she lets out a soft moan when someone behind us clears their throat.

I lift a hand, giving them the middle finger, and it’s worth the momentary twinge of discomfort because I know for a fact my parents are upstairs, which means it must be one of the guys.

Another throat clears, then Jace’s voice calls out. “It’s fine. We only get so much time together before we all go our separate ways again, but I’m kind of enjoying the show, anyway, so we can wait.”