Page 166 of Between Passion and Revenge: Part Two

…even though I know I can let it go at this point.

Fear dances around my brain, locking arms with painful memories.

“Raiden, Mommy is going to work, and I’ll be back in a few hours while you play video games with Uncle Axel. Your dad and Tems will hang out for a little bit. You okay with the plan?”

I don’t know why I ask, because Raiden’s already running toward the hall leading to the game room.

“Yeah! Bye, Mom! Bye, Dad! Love you!” Raiden’s voice fades as he heads down the hall.

I turn to Axel, and his eyes ping-pong between me and Storm.

After putting on a grin, Axel says, “Well…I’d better get back there before he wrecks my score or something.”

Storm laughs. “You made the game. Don’t you know how to win it at any level?”

Axel puts his hands up, taking a step backward.

“You think I’d cheat at my own product? Madness!” Then, with those parting words, he spins on his heel and leaves the foyer.

Finally, Storm and I are alone again.

I feel awkward and raw.

“Hey,” Storm says, taking only one step closer to me. I breathe him in, and his scent makes me dizzy, just like it always does.

“Hey,” I offer back, not even pretending to be unaffected.

Focus. I just need to focus, and Storm needs to get past this outing with Tempest.

“So, you’re gonna go get her from her room,” I state, knowing full well that this is the plan and that yes, it’s okay for Storm to handle this day with Tempest from start to finish by himself.

“Yes, Sweetness,” he says, just a hint of amusement in his voice. When I examine his face, however, it’s easy to spot the nerves.

“Hey,” I say, unable to stop myself from moving even closer to him and putting my hand on his cheek. “It’s gonna be great. We’re all moving forward, right? We have to start somewhere.”

Storm searches my face before pressing the side of his face into my hand.

“You have no idea how much I crave your touch, Shae.”

He delivers the words with his eyes closed, a peaceful look on his face. My heart stumbles at the sentence.

“I’m not just talking about sex, either. Just something as simple as us holding hands, or this—” He cradles my fingers, keeping them pressed to his cheek. “It grounds me, and after not having you next to me for so long, I find myself needing that tether to you.”

His eyes finally open, and when they do, there’s so much damn emotion in his gaze, my eyes well up, and I find it hard to breathe through the knot in my throat.

“I get it,” I say, because…I do. I crave him just as much. Maybe it’s because I’m so used to denying myself what I want that I’m able to carry it more quietly, but…maybe that’s the whole damn point.

Maybe I’mnotsupposed to suppress my needs but shout them instead.

With a breath, Storm takes a step back, releasing his hold finger by finger until only our pinkies connect for a suspended second…and then the touch is gone.

“So,” he clears his throat. “Work awaits.”

I flex my shoulders, trying to release the sudden tension there.

“Yes. I need to meet with Melissa and Zane first thing,” I reply, looking at my watch to check the time. When I return my attention to Storm, my eyebrows go up when his slam down.

“What?”