My shirt is tugged as she grips it with her small hands. I’m forced to lean on my fists when she pulls me toward her. My instincts and body beg me to crawl over her and settle between her legs. If it wasn’t for the fact she’s still recovering from giving birth, I’m not entirely sure I’d be able to hold that need back.
I lace my fingers through her hair and tilt her head to the side to get a better angle at her lips
Fuck, but she tastes so damn good. I want to savor and devour her whole all at once.
Reluctantly, I pull back, but still only keep a couple of inches between us. Her breath fans across my lips as she pants heavily, and damn if it doesn’t wreak havoc on my senses. After several seconds, she opens her beautiful blue eyes. There’s no mistaking the dark need in her gaze. It chaps my ass that I can’t do anything about it for either of us. I’ve never been tempted to have something real with a woman before. Until now.
“What are you doing tomorrow?” I murmur, smoothing my knuckles over her cheek.
Her hands drop from my shirt to her lap, but she doesn’t pull back.
“Umm… nothing really.”
“Mae, the woman who raised me, wants you to come for dinner tomorrow night. She wants to meet you.”
She does pull away now, and I want to snatch her back.
Eyebrows slant into a frown and she asks, “Why does she want to meet me?”
“Because apparently, Jenny can’t keep her lips shut and now Mae thinks something’s going on between you and I. Denying Mae something she wants never gets my brothers and I anywhere, so we don’t even try anymore.”
“Is there?” Her eyes briefly flit to the side before clearing her throat and looking back at me “I mean, what are we doing here?”
Pulling in a deep breath and letting it slip back out slowly, I lean back until I’m sitting up straight again. I scrub my hands over my face.
“I have no fuckin’ clue, but whatever it is, it can’t happen.” I feel like a dick when her face drops. I fist my hands to keep them from reaching for her. “You’re leaving soon, and I’m not in a place in my life where I can have a relationship.”
I leave it at that, because I sure as shit can’t give her the full reason.
“Yeah.” She nods and smiles, but it’s a strained one.
Cursing myself up one way and down another, I press my lips to hers one more time before getting up from the bed.
“I’ll come by tomorrow about six-forty-five to get you.”
“Okay,” she responds softly.
Before I do something stupid, like crawl into bed with her and pull her body against mine, I turn on my heel and leave.
REMI
SITTING ON THE EDGE of my bed, I look down at the chain and cross in my hand and something warm and tingly settles in my stomach. My eyes move to the baby book that’s on my night stand. I’ve already written Elijah’s name, birthdate, and a few other things in it. It took everything in me to not burst into tears when Trouble gave them to me last night. I never would have expected the nice gesture to come from him. Elijah and I have gotten quite a few things donated to us from several people in town, but the necklace and book are different. These weren’t necessities, they’re a luxury we could have done without, but Trouble felt the need to get them anyway. Knowing that he gave the necklace to Elijah because he guessed the importance of my own is one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. I run my finger over the cross and choke back my emotions.
Then I remember the kiss we shared. It was soft and gentle, but it lit my body on fire faster than a blow torch. It’s been a long time since I’ve felt the stir of desire he provoked in me. After what Phillip did, I was worried that part of me would be broken. My fears were for naught, because I certainly felt something. Something that both excited me and made me nervous. I wanted to explore it further, but even if my body was ready for more, apparently, Trouble wasn’t. Him saying there couldn’t be more between us hurt, but it was also smart. It pushed me back into the reality I needed to be in. We’ll be leaving soon, and it would be stupid of me to get attached.
Getting up from the bed, I walk over to Elijah’s bassinet. He stares up at me with alert eyes and it brings a smile to my face. It’s amazing how something so tiny could incite such strong feelings.
I scoop him up and cradle his small body into my arms. His fresh baby scent envelopes me. There’s no way I could ever get enough of his scent.
A knock on the front door has me leaving the bedroom. By the time we make it to the living room, Susan’s already let Trouble inside. He’s in a pair of worn jeans and a black t-shirt that molds to his muscular chest, and just like every other time I see him, I appreciate his good looks.
“You ready?”
“Yes. I just need to grab Elijah’s diaper bag.”
Before I get a chance to grab it from the couch, Trouble has it slung over his shoulder. Susan stands to the side with a smirk tipping one side of her mouth. I offer a smile as I walk over to Trouble.
“You okay to walk, or would you prefer to drive? She lives behind The Hill.”