Page 42 of Closing the Distance

Tina throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, sweetheart, there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. You don’t think people who read murder mysteries or thrillers feel guilty for liking murder stories, do you? So why should women feel guilty for reading love stories?”

I smile at her logic. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” She shakes her head. “Pearl-clutchers trying to shame other women for enjoying a realistic love story. Sex is real life. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous. So don’t feel guilty for a single second.”

Acceptance hums in my bones. “I won’t.” How could I when this woman whose opinion I’ve come to desire and respect in such a short time is so adamant?

We nibble on the snacks and talk about our favorite books for a while before her expression turns more thoughtful. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Tyler was vague when I asked him about your family. Were they okay not getting time with you during the holiday?”

My stomach tightens. Of course Ty was vague, since I’ve barely told him anything substantial about my family except that my parents died when I was young. He deserves to know the full truth of my upbringing. I’ve put it off for so long, and he’s been patient with me, but I know I won’t be able to keep the truth from him forever.

I look down at my hands, scraping my thumbnail with the nail of my other thumb. “I don’t have any family.”

A moment of silence passes. “Your parents?” she asks softly.

Emotion clogs my throat. “They passed away in a car accident when I was five.”

Her hand reaches out, resting on my arm. When I look up at her, tears fill her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Who raised you?”

My eyes burn. “I did.” It’s the truth. My foster homes were not filled with love or happiness, or care for that matter. I was a mouth to feed and a regular check from the government. I taught myself how to behave, how to survive.

Without saying another word, she gets out of her chair and wraps her strong arms around me. For such a small woman, I’m shocked by how tight she squeezes me, but it’s the hug of a mom comforting her child, and that breaks the dam. I wrap my arms around her, returning the hug as my tears cascade down my face. She holds me for several minutes, never loosening her hold until my tears finally subside. When she pulls away, she places her hands on my cheeks, making sure I’m looking right at her.

“I hate that you didn’t have the love you deserved growing up, but I can promise you that’s not the case moving forward. I’m so grateful to have you in our family, and to see my son so incredibly happy with a strong, beautiful woman. It doesn’t matter where you came from. You’re ours now, understand?”

I nod, my heart feeling so full it almost hurts. She can’t know how many nights as a child I dreamed of a moment just like this. She drops a kiss to my forehead and then sits back in her chair. We visit for a little longer before she starts to yawn, and we both head back to bed.

When I get back to Ty’s childhood room, I crawl into bed and snuggle up next to him. His arm instantly wraps around me, pulling me tight against his body.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. It’s better than okay,” I mumble, my head resting on his shoulder and my lips brushing against his warm skin. I place a soft kiss on his pec, and he hums deep in his throat. “I love your family,” I whisper, glancing at him. Now that my eyes have adjusted to the dark, I can see his profile clearly, his eyes still closed and a small smile lifting his lips.

“Yeah, they’re pretty great. I got really lucky.”

My heart races as I open my mouth, needing to say the words that have wanted to burst out for several days. “I love you too, Ty.”

He turns his head, his eyes now wide open and staring at me like he’s trying to see into my soul. Emotion burns in his deep-brown eyes as he rolls to his side, cupping my face and still keeping my body plastered against his.

A puff of air escapes his mouth as if in relief as he drops his forehead to mine. “Thank fuck, because I love the hell out of you, Lexi.”

“You do?”

“So damn much.” His lips brush against mine, just a tease, but I can feel the way his body tenses like he’s holding himself back, especially when I feel the stiffness of his erection against my stomach. “You’re it for me, Precious.”

I close the space between us, kissing him with every emotion that’s been building inside me. I kiss him with all the years I spent thinking I’d never have this. I kiss him with all the hopes and dreams of a real love I’d given up on until he showed up in my life. I kiss him with gratitude and so much love, I didn’t even think it was possible for me to feel this much.

His hand wraps around my thigh, draping my leg over his hip as he rocks forward, rubbing his thick cock against where I want him most. He groans low in his throat as I rub against him, eager to feel him deep inside me.

“Fuck, Lex, I need to be inside you.”

“Yes,” I plead, my voice sounding breathy.

He pushes off his briefs while I pull off my T-shirt and slide down my pajama shorts and underwear. His mouth finds my breasts as he sucks and teases my overly sensitive nipples with his teeth. A whimper escapes my mouth, and he lets out a soft groan.

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