Page 193 of Burning Ember

The question hits me like a freight train that’s packing a million tons of cargo. “What? No. Ahh . . . I don’t know. I . . . my period’s been weird. Funky since I was shot. The doctor said it would be.”

“Yeah, but . . .” I slap at his hands when he lets go of my elbows and cups my breasts, one in each of his hands because holy shit my stomach just went all aflutter, and my thighs tighten to ward of the ache building between my legs. “They’re bigger and they look really nice.”

I move his hands out of the way and test their size myself. “But they do that when I gain weight too.”

“Fuck, Doll. This is exactly what I’m talkin’ about. You do shit like this. Little shit that you don’t think about, and all of it turns me on. Makes me hard, and it’s drivin’ me fuckin’ crazy.”

“Like what?”

“Whisperin’ goodnight. Reachin’ for a glass and your shirt rides up. Bendin’ over right in front of me. And do you realize you chew on your pencil when you study?” He’s glaring at me like I’m doing this all on purpose. “This is why I can’t be home. Because this happens. And I can’t very well walk around the house like this. He unknots his towel and his hand circles his cock. “This is torture.”

I roll my bottom lip under my teeth to fight off the smile I feel bubbling up. “It looks angry.”

“It is angry.” He grips it hard and slides his hand up to the tip. Precum leaks from the head and spills over the side. “I’ve been trying not to put pressure on you, to give you time and space to get over what happened. And I sure as fuck don’t want Will seein’ me like this. But the truth is, yeah . . . it’s killing me. Painfully and slowly.”

He puts his finger over my lips when I open my mouth. “No, I’ve haven’t been with anyone else. I told you. You’re the only woman I want touchin’ me. That hasn’t changed. Won’t ever change.”

I can’t keep my distance any longer. I slide my hands up his chest behind his head and force his mouth to mine. I kiss him hard and push my tongue into his mouth. “I thought you were sleeping around,” I breathe out as his mouth attacks mine. He growls and backs me up, sits me on the edge of the bathroom counter.

“I would never . . .”

“I thought you didn’t want us here anymore.”

“I want you with me always. Will, too.” His lips press hard into my neck and my head kicks back as his lips devour my skin and I start to moan.

Sinking my hand between us, I feel him, all of him.

He hisses and his eyes close. “I’m gonna come. I mean it, Doll. It’s like I’m fourteen again. It doesn’t matter how many times I take care of it on my own, it won’t go away. Every night, I’m prayin’ for things I shouldn’t be prayin’ about.”

I smile and lift his face so that his molten eyes meet mine. “Are you waiting for a printed invitation? I’m pretty good at Word. I can draft one up for you, if that’s what it’s going to take. Because clearly, you’ve been oblivious to the fact I’ve been eyeing you like a lollipop for weeks.”

“Such a smartass mouth.” He kisses me again so deep and desperately. His lips brand mine with his name as it expels from my lips. He tangles one hand into my hair, and the other works over mine to jack him off.

He doesn’t last long like he promised, and he comes for way longer than he ever has before. Watching him come and hearing the noises he makes, sends a rush of moisture between my legs.

Afterward, he cleans us up the best he can, and then we’re both smiling and kissing, letting our hands roam where they haven’t roamed in months.

“I haven’t said this for a long time, because I didn’t want you to feel guilty for not sayin’ it back, but I love you. So goddamn much.” He rubs his thumb over my jaw. “I feel it a thousand times a day and it sits on the edge of my lips, and it’s been hell not to tell you how I feel.”

I lay my palm on his cheek. “I love you too, Mav.” Then I repeat his words, because they describe my feelings exactly. “I’ve felt it too, a thousand times a day, and yeah it’s been hell not to tell you these past few months.”

His smile widens. “Months?”

“I mean it. Every word.”

He threads his hands into my hair again and seals his mouth over mine. When he pulls back, his smirk is sexy as hell. “Do you think you could be pregnant? I know there’s a slim chance with everything that happened. But—”

“I don’t know. I guess I could go buy one of those tests.” My good mood waivers. My voice trembles as I think of the only reason why that would be a bad thing. “He used a condom, b—”

“Hey, if you are, it doesn’t matter whether it’s part of both of us, or only a part of you. It’ll be mine either way and I’ll love him or her the same. And I know you will too. So don’t think whatever you’re thinkin’.”

“You say that now, but what if—”

He silences my lips again. “I mean it. Every word.” He wipes away the lone tears on each of my cheeks and smiles again, pecks my lips.

A door slams below us and then Lily’s voice rings out, “Hello? Em, you home? Mav?”

“I’ll go to the store and get a test. I’m sure Lily will stay if you need to head out again.”