Page 114 of Make Me Dream of You

“Come here,” I whisper, sliding up to hold his head to my chest.

He nuzzles down against me and wraps his body around mine. And I hold him. There’s nothing I can say to make it better. Nothing he hasn’t already heard, doesn’t already know. He knows it’s not his fault. That if he’d been in the car, it doesn’t mean he would have been able to save them. Most likely he’d be gone too.

I hold him tighter, so thankful he wasn’t with them, that he’s here with me instead. And we stay like this, in the quiet, with the understanding I’ll hold him for as long as he needs.

CHAPTER 20

NOAH

Livvy stretches, letting out the softest sigh, shifting the covers so they slip down, revealing her bare skin. The morning light kisses the curves of her body. Shapely shoulder, slim neck, plump breasts, hard nipples. Soft stomach, flared hips, rounded thighs.

I am as hard as a steel rod. Pulsing for her.

She yawns, blinking sleepily, and props herself up. “Hey.”

“Hi, you.”

“Were you watching me sleep?”

“Maybe.”

She smiles. “Creepy.”

I chuckle, running my finger over the curve of her hip. “How are you feeling? Sore?”

“Maybe a little.”

I trace over the lines of the wing on her hip. “When I was tattooing these, I thought they were perfect for you—sweet and innocent. Now I know what they really mean.” I look up at her face.

Her smile grows as her cheeks darken. “Since I was done with school, I was going to be done with the app—I am done with the app—but I wanted to keep a piece of Angel with me. As a reminder of the woman I want to be. Sexy. Confident.”

“But you already are those things.”

She shakes her head. “Not really.”

I grab her hips and pull her down the bed onto her back as she yelps and laughs.

“I’ll just have to show you,” I say as I slip her panties off.

She bites her lip and spreads her legs, watching as I bury my face.

“You’re good, right? I’m sure we could make room for you at Spencer’s place.” Bex hoists her duffle bag over her shoulder as Livvy follows her out of my room into the living room.

She catches my gaze, making eye contact for a second, the pulse in her neck visible. “No, I’ll be fine here.”

“Okay, well Spencer’s conference is all week. I told Macy that since we finally got everything figured out and our lease ended with our old apartment, we can start looking for a new place now, for the three of us.” She gives Livvy a hug.

“Yeah, that will be great.” Livvy smiles and nods and my chest tightens at the thought of her moving out.

“It will be! I’m sorry it has taken so long. Macy’s been dragging her feet about apartment hunting. She keeps hoping Spencer will ask her to just stay there and move in with him, but he hasn’t.”

Wood mumbles something in the kitchen, scrambling his eggs more forcefully than necessary. I sip my coffee.

“I’ll let you know about apartment hunting. Text me.” Bex and Liv hug again before Bex leaves.

“Eggs?” Wood asks.

Livvy shakes her head. “No thanks, I’m going to go take a shower and get ready for work.” She disappears down the hall.