Page 61 of Whispers on the Water

Women all over the planet have fallen in this trap before; a man being good with kids has some sort of special allure. And even though the idea of starting a family has never occurred to me before, it’s now incredibly appealing. There’s something about finding a partner that triggers a primal instinct. It’s as if millions of years of evolution are conflicting with my feminist beliefs. Considering my ovaries are currently producing eggs at a rapid pace, it seems like feminism has taken a backseat. There’s nothing inherently wrong with desiring to be a family-oriented woman; it’s just not something I ever envisioned for my future.

And yet this man has got my insides and mind so twisted up I’m suddenly picturing it. Kids and babies everywhere, all mine and his.

I’m staring at him and, yes, most likely drooling when Greg bounces his knee. “Annie doll, have you met your auntie yet?” Greg stands up with her on his hip and approaches me.

“Yes, momma says they’re sisters, but I don’t get it.” Annie’s confusion is charmingly innocent and genuine.

Greg, feigning deep thought, points out, “Really? But look.” He draws attention to the dimple in my smile, then to Penny’s, highlighting our shared trait, making the connection between us tangible, even to a child.

Annie’s excitement is infectious as she notices, “And they have the same hair color!” Her voice is filled with delight, but then it shifts to a more contemplative tone. “Clark doesn’t have hair yet. Do you think he looks like me?” she asks, her big eyes searching for confirmation.

Greg takes a moment, his expression turning solemn as if considering a profound truth. “Oh, for sure. You’ll be like twins,” he assures her with a seriousness that makes me want to believe him too. Annie’s squeal of happiness is so sharp that Greg can’t help but flinch, a reaction that sends a ripple of laughter through me.

Penny steps in then, her maternal instincts kicking in as she gently pulls Annie away. “Alright, that’s enough auntie time for now. I’m gonna go start dinner. It’ll take about forty minutes. There’s a shower in the room if you need it,” she says. There’s teasing in her voice as she glances back at us, leaving the room with a knowing smirk.

I’m fairly certain my sister is trying to get me laid.

As soon as the door closes, I can’t contain myself. I wrap my arms around Greg, peppering his cheek with kisses, unable to express my gratitude and relief in any other way.

“Woah, Sam…” he laughs, a bit overwhelmed by my sudden onslaught of affection. “Stop for a second.”

“No, you brought me home to my family. I’m never going to stop,” I say. My initial anger at Greg for deceiving me has completely dissipated, replaced by an overwhelming sense of gratitude. Tilly’s words about the risks Greg took for me, coupled with the joy of being reunited with my sister, have shifted my perspective. I’m kissing him, laughing softly at the irony that I’m actually thankful he arrested me.

Greg’s hands come up to cup my face, his voice dropping to a serious tone that immediately dampens my excitement. “We need to talk, okay?” he says, and I hear the gravity in his voice. “Look, I can’t stay. The FBI is already investigating me. I can’t be seen with you like this.”

I pause, looking around the empty room with exaggerated thoroughness. “Erm, no one is here, Greg, and I’m pretty sure the door locks.”

He sighs. “Well, I know that. I just mean, I’ll need to distance myself from you in public.”

Feeling a sting of hurt, I step back, letting my arms fall to my sides. “Okay, then.”

“It’s not like I want to, Sam! But both of us in trouble is worse than one. I could go to jail for not arresting you sooner.” His words cut deep, and I can feel tears threatening, blurring my vision. “No, please don’t do that. I hate it when you’re upset. Come on, we’ll get through this and never have to be apart again.”

I scoff at his words. “Forever promised tomorrow is a lot less than being together right now.”

“I’ll stay for dinner and then head to my hotel. I can come by every so often. Whenever you need an escort, I’ll volunteer. But…” he trails off, the unsaid words hanging between us.

“You can’t touch me,” I finish for him, crossing my arms defensively.

His hand gently brushes my shoulder, a gesture filled with longing. “Just not in public,” he clarifies, and I feel a shiver run through me, his touch leaving a trail of goosebumps. The complexity of our situation, the need for this ridiculous secrecy is leaving me heartbroken.

“Oh.” The disappointment isn’t something I can mask. In my head, I had envisioned us together, physically close, as I navigated the storm of this arrest—his hand in mine or his arm securely around my waist, offering silent support in the face of adversity.

“You’re upset.” Greg says. He’s always been able to read my emotions like an open book. Right now, it’s not an asset. After everything he’s done for me, I don’t want to throw a fit over something so small.

“No, I understand. You don’t want my drama to ruin your job.” My words are bitter, and I find myself looking away as they spill out. The last thing I want is to cause him trouble, yet the sting of this necessary distance is hard to ignore.

“I’m sorry, Sam. I wish this was all different.” His apology is heartfelt, and I manage a small, albeit forced, smile in return. Words fail me, choked by the swell of feelings his concerned gaze stirs within.

Then, he leans in, closing the space between us, and our lips meet. My fingers instinctively find the short strands of hair at the nape of his neck, and a warmth blooms from deep within me, spreading rapidly through every part of my being.

I know Greg’s body well, each line and curve memorized in moments of intimacy, but it’s his lips that I adore above all else. Their shape when he smiles, the way my name sounds when they caress it, but most of all, the sensation when they’re press against mine.

His tongue probes between my lips, a gentle inquiry that I answer by tilting my head, allowing him better access. It’s a dance of familiarity and discovery, our bodies leaning into each other, becoming a tangled harmony of longing and tenderness.

A hardness firm against my hip and the flood of desire is instant. It radiates through me, a painful throb building between my legs.

Oh, it’s been far too long since I felt that. Slow and deep, a growl comes out of him. That’s not helping the invariable waterfall of wetness pooling in my underwear. I’m ready to crawl up his giant body like a tree, but he pulls away.

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