When she finally slid her body up mine, I rued the few pieces of clothes left between us. We’d rushed and skipped steps and now her soft, used lips were teasing mine, transferring my taste mixed with hers as if it was ours to share. I cradled her face between my hands, pouring my gentleness into her the same way I’d fed her my anger and hurt. Cherishing her to erase the harsh words I would wish forever I could take back.
“Kin,” I whispered, tracing my fingertip over her swollen mouth. “I lo—”
The sound of crackling filled the room. “Kinleigh? Are you there?”
For one final instant, Kinleigh kept moving against me, her body flowing as sinuously as water against my spent shaft. She drew back, the flush of arousal fading from her cheeks.
“Ivy?” She covered her mouth with her hand and frantically shook her head.
I should’ve been far more relaxed. My jagged edges should’ve been dulled. But my cock was already hardening again, and beyond that, the white-hot ball of frustration in my gut hadn’t gone anywhere. She’d soothed it, soothed me, but nothing had changed.
My sister’s voice on a speaker was enough for her to go ice-cold in my arms.
“Yeah, it’s me. Sorry I’m doing that Alexa drop in trick again. Is it a bad time? If it is, you could just tell me, and I’ll leave you alone to do…whatever. But if you don’t tell me, I’m going to be really pissed because seriously, hasn’t this gone on long enough?”
Kinleigh’s gaze swung to mine as I nodded although my sister couldn’t see me. And thank God for that, since my state of undress was inappropriate, to say the least. But she was about to hear me.
As was my girl.
“Yes, it has.” I didn’t lower my voice when Kinleigh rose to yank on her blouse and tugged her skirt back into place. I couldn’t stand the fear that telegraphed on her face, and I didn’t have the slightest clue if what I was doing would help or hurt even more.
But I had to do it. No more waiting.
“August?” If I wasn’t mistaken, my sister didn’t sound surprised I was at Kinleigh’s. Far from it.
“Yeah. It’s me.”
I shut my eyes. I just hoped for the sake of her sanity—and mine—that she hadn’t dropped in to Kinleigh’s living room any sooner than she’d made herself known.
Dear God.
Ivy didn’t ask why I was there. Somehow she already knew. Granted, I’d kissed the hell out of her best friend at the hospital, but still. Putting it together with some of the odd little looks and comments she’d made recently, it all added up.
“You know we’re together, don’t you?” I asked while Kinleigh buried her face in her hands much as I’d done in my truck.
The difference was I’d been at the end of my rope. She didn’t realize it yet, but this might be the thing to finally free us.
“Yeah.” Ivy sounded hurt. “I just don’t know why you’ve been lying all this time.”
“It hasn’t been that long,” Kinleigh began.
“Since the wedding,” Ivy corrected. “That’s pretty long to me. Three months? Really? And you thought you were pregnant and didn’t tell your best friend?” She let out a sharp laugh. “At least I thought I was your best friend.”
Kinleigh turned her face away but not before I saw the accusations fly across her face. She looked as if she’d been slapped.
By me.
“I didn’t tell her.” When Kinleigh wouldn’t meet my gaze, I shook my head. “Ivy, did I tell you one damn thing?”
“No. You lied to me every bit as much as my best friend. Really makes me feel good. What I don’t understand is why. Do you both trust me that little?”
“We trust you. Kinleigh just somehow thought you wouldn’t be happy.”
Kinleigh rose and walked out of the room, taking a chunk from my chest with her.
“Are you freaking kidding me? When Rory and I heard, I basically wanted to beg you two to try again for a baby. That would be unreal.” She sniffled. “At least it would’ve been, if anyone had bought a clue and realized I want nothing more than for you to be happy. If you’re happy together, bonus round for me. Another cousin for Rhiannon would be wonderful, since God knows Caleb won’t ever settle down. Like…ever.”
I laughed at the truth in that statement as I sat up and stuffed myself back into my boxers and jeans. Talking about having babies with my baby sister while my dick was hanging out was skating too close to about fifty lines.