Page 70 of One Billion Reasons

I nod at Miles. “Okay. I’ll do it. One fun activity of your choice, to be decided tomorrow.”

I set my dishes on the cart and stand. Miles scrambles to his feet. I want to kiss him good night, but again, I don’t want to demand more than he can give. My stomach knots.

“Lane?” His eyes are soft and serious. Maybe even longing? I’m seeing things. He pulls me against him, and the breath whooshes out of me. He presses his forehead to mine and our breaths mingle. “Stay,” he murmurs. And then he kisses me, and in it, I can taste every piece of him that maybe wishes we could be more. Don’t be silly. That’s how you feel, not Miles. I kiss him back, and I want to cry. He tastes so good, and his lips are soft and firm at the same time.

We get ready for bed, and when his big body is curled around mine, all I can think is, I don’t want this to end.

32

Miles

Waking up with Lane in my arms is as satisfying as I imagined it would be. Twenty-year-old me would be delighted to know that she does sleep in those tiny shorts, which are somehow better than her being naked. She’s also a very active sleeper, migrating from one side of the bed all the way to mine, where she’s draped herself over me. Her head is on my chest, her arm is on my stomach, and I never want to wake her.

You’re falling for her. Of course I am. I’ve been falling for Lane since we were eighteen and foolish. I wrote it off as childish infatuation, but it kept coming back. What if it doesn’t end? Jason’s words play in my head. Jason doesn’t know shit. He might have found The One, but it doesn’t make him an expert.

The risk is too high. It wouldn’t be just me I’m hurting if we fail. It’s Lane, and Liam, my mom, Aunt Grace. Everyone that matters. If I fuck up with Lane, I could lose everything. My breath catches in my chest. That can’t happen.

Lane shifts against me, and I run my palm over her back. I’ll enjoy this while it lasts, then. Lane’s lips make contact with my chest. Oof. My body stands at attention.

“You better not be teasing me in your sleep,” I grumble.

She raises her head. Those soft brown eyes are glinting with happiness and mischief. “Want to get in the shower with me?”

“God, yes.” I leap out of the bed, and she laughs.

“Someone is eager.” She strips off her tank top, and my mouth goes dry.

“Are you kidding me?” I shake my head and push my briefs down. I’m already hard for her. I was when her lips brushed my chest. “This is all I’ve ever wanted.”

I say the words casually, but she sucks in a breath. Shit. I want to kick myself. I shouldn’t have said that. Hiding how I feel about Lane is second nature, but the cracks are starting to show.

“Come on, princess. Out of the bed.” I step toward her, ignoring the way my erection bobs and the way her eyes track me hungrily.

She makes her way to the bathroom, pushing down her shorts as she goes.

“I love to watch you walk,” I growl. “No underwear, Lane? Again?” She gives me a teasing smile over her shoulder, and my body lights up.

I turn the shower to hot with frenzied hands and then push her up against the green tiled wall. She goes easily, smiling up at me. Her hair is damp and sticking to her neck, her eyes are warm and trusting, and her lips are curved. I skim my fingers over her collarbone, up her neck, until I can cradle her cheek in my palm. “You’re so pretty, Laney.”

“Kiss me,” she whispers back.

She makes a needy sound in the back of her throat when my lips meet hers. I taste her with my tongue and pull her bottom lip into my mouth. My hands come up to span her waist. Her skin is so soft and slick in the water. She flicks her tongue over my bottom lip in a way that pulls a groan from my throat.

“I love your sounds,” she murmurs.

“Yeah?” I pull her nipple into my mouth, and she arches off the wall.

“Like the dirty talk,” she gasps. “It’s unfiltered. I love that.” She’s panting now, as I tease her with gentle scrapes of my teeth and swirls of my tongue. Desire is clawing in my gut, and I’m shaking with need as I sink to the shower floor.

“What are you doing?” Her fingers thread through my wet hair. The scrape of her nails on my scalp makes me shudder.

“Legs wider for me, baby.” I nudge her legs apart.

“You don’t have to—”

I look up at her. Her eyes are uncertain. “What gave you the impression that this is an obligation?” I run my lips over the top of her thigh, and she trembles.

“You like it?”

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