Page 6 of The Year of Us: June

“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.

CHAPTER 6

Reese