Page 27 of You Can Make Me

“Denny,” I breathed, as he trailed rough kisses down my throat. I loved it, but my heart was beating wildly out of control. “I’m seeing spots.”

He pulled me tight against him, wrapping his arms around my back, and buried his face in my neck, brushing his lips tenderly over the scar on my collarbone. That slice had gone so deep, the bone had been nicked. I flinched when his lips touched the spot.

“I’m sorry?—”

“No, it’s okay. You didn’t hurt me.”

He blew out a breath. “No, I’m sorry I fucking called them to come. Today. Fuck. I’m not done with you, but you need to shower and see your family. Just know, when you’re ready, if you’ll let me, if you say yes, I will kiss every inch of you. I’ll stop holding back. I’ll touch you all the ways I know you like until you stop with this nonsense of wondering whether I want you.Christ. You’d better think about it. If you don’t want that to happen, you’ll have to tell me and mean it.”

“Denny, I?—”

“Don’t say anything now. I want you to think about it. I’ll ask you again. I want you to be sure.”

I nodded. “Okay. Then you better let me shower so I can face the tribunal.”

“Coop—”

“No, it’s true. They need to know I’m not going to hurt myself. I swear, Den. I won’t. And if I feel like that changes, then I’ll talk to you. I’m sorry I worried you.”

He rubbed at his chest absently. “All right. Thank you. You sure you don’t need me to stay?”

“Okay, Trouble. My parents are out there, remember? And we both know I don’t have your stealth abilities when you’ve got your mouth on me.”

It was his turn to flush and look admonished. In our brief time together, he’d made me scream multiple times from the way he worshipped my body. For recently discovering he was bisexual, the guy had skills. More than that, he had determination, which I’ve always thought overrides skill level when it comes to sex.

And I needed to stop this line of thinking.

He stepped back and gestured to the faucet. “Go on then. I’ll be out here taking a mental cold shower.”

I grinned and covered my mouth again. A cold shower was in order for me as well.

Seven

Denny

Christ, the man was going to end me. Thank God for both of us that since my angioplasty, all my cardiovascular checkups had come back excellent, or else this riptide of emotions would tear the most important organ in my body to shreds.

Thankfully, the hallway led to the kitchen and wasn’t directly in view of the living room. I picked up the Magic 8 Ball as I passed the shelf, eyeing the cigarettes but knowing that was the last thing I should do with this bone Cooper’d thrown me. Signs pointed to the potential of a second chance for us, which would be ruined if I fucked up my heart.

“Am I going to survive this man?” I gave the bullshit excuse for an oracle a shake and chuckled at the message.

“Outlook good.Well, all right, my creepy little inanimate advisor, let me push my luck. “Do you think things will go smoothly with Cooper’s intervention?”

I shook the damn thing and sucked in a breath.

Most Likely. Not as promising, but I’d take it.

I set it back on the shelf and went into the living area.

“He’s showering. He’s, uh…not mad.” I gave a rueful smile, and they all breathed a collective sigh of relief.

“That’s great news,” Frank said, clapping his hands together. “How about Gene and I go set up the grill? I brought salmon and halibut and shrimp, and Deb made veggie skewers. She figured fish would be easiest for him to chew?”

I nodded, grateful that they were thinking of his needs but not making a big deal of his limitations.

“That sounds great. I haven’t been able to get much fresh fish around here. I’m sure he’ll appreciate it.”

“And I baked him some of my legendary brownies,” Sam chimed in with a devious smile.