Page 121 of Ruled Out

Threading each hand through hers, I intertwine our fingers and rest our joined hands on each of her thighs. “What are your dreams, Mia?”

She pinches her brows together, confused at the random question.

Except it’s not random at all.

“Dreams … you mean, like, my ideal career?”

She shifts forward slightly, the warmth of her pussy wrapping around my hardening cock. Despite my state of mind, my body still responds to her like the tide going out each day. Without question and like it’s the most natural thing in the world.

I squeeze her hands in mine. “No, Sweetheart. You’ve already got all that down. What areyourdreams?”

“You mean, like, personally?”

I nod and wait for the answer I’m already sure she’s going to give.

Her face instantly morphs from consideration to delight. “Oh. Well, that’s simple—you, me, and a great big Saint Bernard.”

I blow out a laugh. “What? You’ve never even mentioned a dog, let alone a huge one before.”

She shrugs and briefly lets go of my hand, pushing her hair back over her right shoulder. It’s then I notice the red fingerprints that still mark the side of her throat.

My heart plummets at the sight, landing in the lobby three floors down with a thud.

He’s still out there, having made bail.

Reclasping our hands, she leans forward, her peaked nipples rubbing across my chest.

When she places her mouth over mine and kisses me, my pulse goes from barely registering to beating uncontrollably.

I release her hands and flip Mia onto her back, spreading her legs and settling between them.

When I pull the white sheets up and over our heads, I find her neck and will the physical memories away with my mouth.

The truth is, the marks will fade, but she hasn’t spoken to me about the effect the attack has had on her. She told the police she was fine and made her statement to press charges against my dad.

I get the feeling my girlfriend is just as skilled at hiding her scars as I am, and the thought chips away at my armor just a little more.

“What about you, Jessie? What are your dreams?” she asks, tilting her head to give my lips better access to her neck.

I pause against her skin, realizing this isn’t a question I can answer easily.

Feeling the way she stiffens in response to my hesitancy, chips at another piece.

“What do you want, Jessie?” she repeats, her voice less relaxed than before.

My lips ascend the side of her neck, and I close my eyes. “You,” I whisper, feeling the way her muscles relax.

Squeezing my eyes a little tighter, I know I owe her all the honesty I’ve always promised. “For as long as I’m here, on this earth, while blood is running through my veins, my existence will always revolve around you. Even if one day, your dreams don’t involve me, mine will always be of you, Mia.”

She pulls back and twists her head to face me. I can’t make out if it’s hurt or confusion in her green eyes. “You think there will be a point when I don’t want you anymore?”

I go to kiss her, words failing to express what I mean when she pulls back again.

“No, wait. You don’t get to kiss me right after you just said that.”

“Mia—”

She holds up a hand, her eyes glassy. “No.”