Page 5 of The Year of Us: June

Cory

Truth be told, I slept better in Reese’s bed than I had anywhere else and when he arrived home, I was dead to the world.

I’d worked myself until I was loose and empty.

Waiting for him in his apartment had been a special kind of torture.

To be surrounded by his scent, his things, but be absent from his company?

It was agony. But the payoff was exquisite.

Reese had thoroughly fucked me, pounding me with the force of a desperate man, and after, he lay boneless on top of me. The moment held its breath as he ghosted kisses across my shoulders. And then I heard him whisper.

“I love you.”

He stiffened, a subtle difference in the way his weight sat on me.

“I mean, I loved coming home to you.” The way he backpedaled wasn’t unexpected. Reese had been hesitant. Cautious. Guarded. But it still was a blow to my chest for him to give me that gift and then try to take it from me.

Squirming under him, I managed to roll over onto my back. Reese tried to get out of bed, but I wrapped my body around his and tugged him down on top of me.

“Reese, settle.” I always meant the words I said, even when I softened the level of dominance I used, as I’d been known to do where Reese was concerned.

But this was a hard line for me, and I needed him to know I meant business, so I used a little more force behind my words than I usually did. Reese stilled immediately.

“I didn’t mean it.” His voice was strangled, like he was choking on his own tumultuous emotions.

“I got caught up in the moment,” he tried, without meeting my eyes. That wouldn’t do.

With my heart twisting in my chest like Reese had reached in and grabbed it in his fist and pulled, I made myself stay calm. “I have a new limit, Reese.”

Immediately his gaze snapped to mine. The sadness in his eyes was mixed with wariness, maybe a hint of fear. We were in uncharted territory. Carding my fingers through his hair, I tightened my grip until I was sure I had his full attention.

“Never, ever lie to me.” Still keeping my hold on him, I brought his mouth down to mine and demanded entry with a bruising kiss.

It started out rough, an assertion of my dominance.

A tangible reaction to prove that I meant what I said.

And when he softened and let me take over the kiss, when he let me lead, I rewarded him by relaxing my grip.

I let my kiss become more gentle and when I pulled away, I waited until he opened his eyes before I released the smile that I’d been holding back from that first moment of hesitation.

“I love you too.”

Reese huffed and buried his face in the curve of my neck. I allowed it, for now.

“I’ll never lie to you, Reese. Not about this. Not about anything.”

He made a sound that might have been him saying thank you.

“And I expect the same from you. No lying.”

“I didn’t mean to say it.” Reese relaxed on top of me, like he was too tired to keep fighting.

“Not meaning to say it doesn’t make it untrue, does it?”

Reese was quiet for some minutes. I didn’t expect him to answer right away, and I started to worry that maybe he hadn’t meant it.

Maybe I’d gotten in over my head again. Maybe I’d, once again, fallen too hard for someone who didn’t feel the same.

My heart wasn’t the fragile thing it was break-up years ago, but after being alone for so long, finding Reese felt like coming face to face with a miracle.

“Well, considering lying is a limit… no. It’s not untrue. I mean it. I just didn’t mean to say it.”

I’d heard Reese in many states before. Aroused. Annoyed. Sated. I’d never heard him petulant before. My heart gave a happy flutter at the idea that he was comfortable enough to let himself be petulant. Vulnerable.

“Are you pouting?” I carded my fingers through his hair again. “I must say, it’s rather cute.”

Reese snapped his head up and glared at me. “I’m not pouting. And it’s not cute.”

Raising my head, I stole a quick kiss before collapsing back down onto the pillow. “You are and it is, but if it’s not something you’re ready to say, I don’t expect to hear it. Okay?”

Reese let out a sigh. “Okay.”

“Now, about that wake-up call.”

He made a sound low in his throat. “Liked that, did you?”

“You were exquisite.”

Reese made another pleased sound, and I gave into the temptation to kiss his forehead. “My good boy.”

“What’s your schedule like while you’re here?” he asked a few minutes later. He sounded like he was close to sleep.

“They’re not expecting me until lunchtime tomorrow, but after that it’s pretty basic office hours. I’ll be back in time for dinner if you want to see me before you go to work.”

“I always want to see you.” He snuggled closer.

“Because you love me?” Yes, I was fishing. Sue me.

Reese let out a sigh. “Yes, Cory. Because I love you.”

“I love you too. Now get some sleep.”

Reese, worn out from work, and from topping me, fell asleep almost right away. I wasn’t so fortunate, but I did get a chance to lie there and think about everything that had happened in the past hour.

At the beginning of the year, I never imagined that I’d be here, in LA, in the bed of a man I’d fallen hopelessly in love with.

There was still a chance that things might not work between us.

I had to go and fall for a man who’d only ever been dominant.

A man whose life was across the country from mine.

If things were going to work, concessions would have to be made sooner or later.

Rubbing my eyes, I let out a sigh and willed sleep to take me.

Reese loved me. I loved Reese. I was in LA for the next three weeks. For now, that was more than enough.