Page 120 of Catch and Release

“If he shows up again, please let me stay with you,” he said, leveling his eyes with hers. “I’ll control my temper. But you don’t have to deal with him alone.”

“You’re not… mad at me?”

“Of course not, Willa. He took us both by surprise. And I understand what was going through your head, now.”

“What about… earlier?” Willa asked. “I’m sorry I assumed you and Hanna?—”

“Consider it forgotten,” he cut her off. “I meant what I said when I told you I’m all in. I’ll do anything I can to earn your trust. And your trauma will show up sometimes. We have to work through it together.”

Willa’s heart melted.

Maybe that’s what compelled her to say what she said next.

“I love you,” she blurted out, then bit her lip and looked away.

She heard Shawn gasp and looked back at him. His mouth was agape. His eyes filled with wonder.

“I love you, too.”

Willa’s heart soared. “You love me?”

“Baby, I’ve loved you for weeks now. Just didn’t want to scare you away. You are… everything. All I’ve ever wanted. All I’ve ever searched for. You’re it for me.”

“You love me.” Willa said it again, as if she was trying to make it sink in.

She’d hoped, of course. Thought perhaps he shared her feelings. But she wasn’t sure.

“I love you so much, Willa. I’ll find you ten more jobs if you want. I’ll bring you bait every night for the rest of our lives. I’ll sneak Grams’ brownies for you every time she makes them. I’ll come to your yoga classes and take you on boat rides and carry you in from the car every time you get drunk and fall asleep on the drive home.”

She chuckled, her eyes misting.

“Shawn,” she breathed. “I’m still scared. But you make me less scared. You make me feel like everything is going to be okay. I love you. So much.”

He tugged her into his lap. “Say it again.”

“I love you,” she whispered against his lips.

He claimed her mouth, pulling her in closer. The kiss didn’t start off soft or uncertain—it was steady and sure. He pressed his lips against her, the feeling and power and gravity of the words they’d just exchanged behind every touch. His tongue tangled with hers, and she nipped at his lip. His hands wandered up her thigh, and she grabbed his cheeks with her hand, tugging his mouth, his face closer. She wove her fingers in his hair, taking the kiss deeper, and heat pooled in her core as she whimpered. She shifted in his lap, and he moaned, pressing into her.

Oh.

Oh.

He was fully erect against her, and they were barely 30 seconds into making out.

She needed him. Wanted to go find the nearest broom closet and drop to her knees, tug his pants down, and suck him so hard he still felt the force of her a week from now. Wanted to feel him press his fingers against her throbbing clit. Wanted to straddle him until she felt that growing bulge against her center.

His hand kept coming up higher, higher, higher…

Closer to where she needed him.

She whimpered.

“Shawn,” she whispered against his lips. “We shouldn’t… What if Grams wakes up?”

“I’m already awake.”

Willa scrambled off of Shawn’s lap and looked at Grams.

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