Page 82 of The Torment of Two

“For carrying this for so long. For not talking to my dads about it sooner.”

“That’s not being dumb, Two. You were scared. Understandably so.”

“But all of this could have been avoided if I’d spoken up.”

“Hindsight is 20/20. If we all knew better, we’d never have any regrets. We’re human, though, which means we fumble through life doing our best and slipping many times along the way.”

I study my friend for a long beat. “You have an uncanny way of making people feel normal even though they’re anything but.”

“Being ‘normal’ is abnormal if you ask me. No one is normal. We all have our quirks and hang-ups and past experiences to haunt us. I’m glad you feel comfortable confiding in me, though.”

My phone buzzes and it’s Dad checking in on me. I quickly reply back to let him know I’m still with Tate. He sends an excessive amount of heart eye emojis that make me shake my head.

“Someone should take the emojis off his phone. Is it possible?” I show him the message to prove that Dad overuses the emojis more than even Dax does. “Can your hacker lover do it for me?”

“My hacker lover can do anything.” Tate’s grin is wide and silly. “Give your dad a break. He clearly adores you.”

I let his words wash over my newly healing heart.

My dads do love me. So fucking much. In a way, I’m glad the deep, dark secret was revealed because it gave my parents the opportunity to state their case and profess how much they love their only son.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. He and Pops do love me,” I say, returning his smile. “Damn, that’s a really good feeling.”

Gemma

Two weeks later…

“Stop,” I say, breathless. “We’re going to get caught.”

Two groans, pulling his lips away from my neck where he’d been hell-bent on giving me a hickey. He also slips his hand out from under my shirt. This is the problem with us. Whenever we’re alone together—which is rare these days—we collide with the fire of a thousand suns.

But we’re always at risk of getting caught by someone who would frown heavily at seeing the two of us maul each other.

As much as I love our stolen moments, I want more. I want the two of us to have time to explore each other’s bodies. I want to take the final step of physical intimacy with Two, but I don’t want to be rushed.

His large, bony hand cradles my face as he searches my gaze. Then a devious grin curls his lips up. “I know where we can go for some privacy.”

I rack my brain for what that place here at Hemingford Hall may be and land on the hidden room we found.

“I know which closet they keep their linens in,” Two continues with a twinkle in his eyes. “Towels too. I could meet you in there in five.” His brows knit together. “That is, if you really want to.”

I’m still panting from our hot make-out session. Of course I do. Now that the possibility is finally here, though, I’m nervous.

“I want to,” I squeak out.

“But?”

“I’m scared.”

He presses a soft kiss to my lips. “We don’t have to, Golden.”

“I do want to, though.” I gnaw on my bottom lip. “Will it hurt?”

“I don’t think so,” he answers, though he doesn’t seem sure. “If it does, we’ll stop. I’ll do my best to make you feel good.”

His sweet words chase away my unease. I nod and grin at him before I can change my mind. He gives me another quick peck on my lips before he slips out of Alexander’s office on a hunt for the supplies we’ll need. Meanwhile, I peek out the doorway to make sure Paula or Gregory aren’t lurking.

Coast is clear.

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