“I’m the one who’s going to protect you.” He lifts my chin, then cups my cheek in his hand. “I never knew how to show you the way I felt. I’m still not sure it’ll come out right. I have a lot of shit to get through and work out.”
“I understand.”
“But I want to start by saying I meant everything this morning. You’re my angel. You saved my life every day. Sometimes I hated you for that, but deep down I couldn’t stand away because I loved you.” He runs his thumb over my lips, now parted in wonder. “I love you.”
He’s made me cry before. More than once. But never for a reason like this. “I didn’t think I would ever hear you say that.”
“The only reason I can is because of you.” He rolls us both over until I’m under him, on my back. “I’m sorry for hurting you before. I was only trying to hurt myself. I’ll never do that again.”
“I believe you.”
He shakes his head a little. “Sometimes I wonder if you’re real. You can’t really be this understanding and good. You can’t want me after… everything.”
“I do.” I kiss him as hard as I can, like that will help convince him. “I’ll always want you. Just like I’ll always love you.” I slide my leg against his.
“We have to be careful with this. How are we going to make it work?”
“I don’t know,” I admit. “But we’ll figure it out. Maybe no sneaking around in each other’s rooms.”
He starts to get up, but I tighten my grip. “I didn’t mean right now!”
“I’m fucking with you,” he whispers with a laugh. “We could always try the high diving board again, you know.”
“Yeah, we wouldn’t get into any trouble if somebody walked in, right? Maybe you need to learn to control yourself, is all.”
He growls. “Unlikely. But I’m willing to try.”
For now, that’s the best I can hope for. No matter what comes after this—and I know it won’t be easy—we’ll have each other. That’s more than enough.
EPILOGUE
One Year Later
There’s nothing like waking up to a hot, naked man between my legs. “Mm…” I moan, rubbing my eyes once I know I’m not dreaming. It’s morning, and we’re in bed, and Hayes is a few inches away from going down on me. “You’re in a hurry.”
He nips at my inner thigh before kissing the same spot. “Remember, we have stuff to do today. Do you want me fantasizing and groping you under the table instead?”
He’s right, but I wouldn’t try to stop him even if he was wrong. We’ve been together for a year, but it wasn’t until we moved out and started college together that we could really start acting like an actual couple. It’s like we’re catching up for lost time.
Not that Hayes’s dad didn’t figure it out way before graduation. By then, the marriage was annulled. We were officially stepsiblings for hardly any time at all. It was still a little weird, but he tried to be understanding. Maybe it was almost losing his son or finding out all those terrible things happened without him ever knowing about it, but he’s worked hard to be a better father.
We’ve always kept it from Lucy, however. She’s a smart kid and always has been, but she still thinks of Hayes as our brother and his dad as our father. She understands Mom’s not coming home, she just doesn’t know why.
The worst part might’ve been how unsurprised she was when I finally told her. Not even all that upset. Like it was going to happen someday.
Now we’re meeting up with her and Hayes’s dad for lunch later. I’m looking forward to it—but right now, what matters more is what’s happening here in bed.
Like the feel of Hayes’s tongue gliding over the seam of my inner thigh and my shaved pussy. I close my eyes to focus on the sensations, sighing and running my fingers through his hair. Every lick feels better than the one before, all of them combining to make me writhe and groan.
He laps at my lips next. I know they must be wet by now, thanks to what he’s already done to me. When I try to push against his tongue to force him deeper, he only pulls back with a chuckle.
My fists twist the sheets. “No fair.”
“I didn’t know we were supposed to be playing fair.” Another lick, feather-light, just to drive me crazy. “You think it’s fair I can’t think about anything but this pussy twenty-four-seven?”
“Is that all you care about?”
“Of course it isn’t.” Another lick lights me on fire. “I think about your ass…” Lick. “Your tits…” Another lick.
“Fuck,” I moan, desperately grinding my hips.
“That, too. A lot.” He opens me with his fingers, parting my lips before finally giving me what I’m dying for. The tip of his tongue flicks the tip of my clit, and my body jumps.