Page 47 of The Disputed Legacy

The first time I’d fucked the woman of my dreams.

Even if I had to fight this conviction that it would be a battle to make her fit in my life, one so different from her own.

19

WILLOW

Iwoke up with a start.

Caught in a weird spot between a nightmare and a semi-lucid sensation of rolling over in my bed, I snapped to and wrenched my eyes open quickly.

Saul was gone.

He wasn’t lying next to me like he had been after we showered together and got under the covers with him holding me close.

The fact that he wasn’t here anymore stood out the most as all the memories of last night returned to me.

The fear and shock of the diner being shot up. The nervousness and excitement of having sex with Saul. The peace of the comfort he could offer me, even if he’d had to use a little more command to keep me distracted and out of the loop of panic and what-ifs.

If it weren’t for him, I never would’ve been able to cope as well as I had. Because of him, because I’d granted him permission to trespass into my home, I wasn’t stuck in terror at almost losing Oscar.

Instead, he’d shown me pleasure like I’d never had before. He’d kept his arms around me and let me lean on him for that elusive support I thought I would die not knowing firsthand.

It was a dream come true, but as I sat up and felt the soreness between my legs, I sighed and knew it wouldn’t happen again. He’d only come home with us so I could help him with that wound. Then with the combination of gratitude and shock confusing me, I’d wanted him so badly and craved the security he showed me and I fell into bed with him.

Tender and aching, but in the sweetest way possible, the sensation of having sex with him would remain for longer yet. That blissful night wouldn’t be forgotten—ever—but I couldn’t let myself get addicted to the idea of counting on a repeat.

That wouldn’t happen.

The details of last night ended in a heat-of-the-moment kind of experience I’d only ever fantasized about, but it wasn’t enough to make me change my mind about keeping Saul out. I was still committed to being as safe and secluded as possible to keep Oscar safe.

Wait.

That’s messed up, isn’t it?

I furrowed my brow as I swung my legs over the side of the bed and readied to get up.

Saul had saved my son’s life last night.

Hewassafe with my rugged one-night-stand lover nearby.

No. We’re not dealing with this now.

I still had to acclimate to the trauma. Now I needed to readjust to what was supposed to be normal life after sex with him. Analyzing anything more would have to wait.

Reality struck.

No matter how scary and magical last night ended up being, I had to get up and deal with surviving another day.

A glance at the clock proved I would have time to whip up a quick breakfast for Oscar before taking him to school. I doubted that I’d be working today, but I anticipated needing to check in with Margo or the managers. The diner would have to be cleaned up.

I can’t believe he slept all through the night.

Oscar was a deep sleeper. Once he was out, he stayed out, but still, he’d suffered a huge scare last night. He hadn’t gotten up at all, and for that, I was secretly grateful. Because if he’d woken up and come to my room, I wouldn’t have been able to explain Saul being in bed with me.

Everything would have to change now that I’d slept with him, but I wasn’t sure how to handle it.

I’ll have a whole day to think about it. To prepare to see him. Wait. No. I won’t. There’s no way I’ll be working tonight, so how would I see him?