Page 52 of An Endless Memory

I grinned. “Not for eleven months.”

A flash of hurt ran through her gaze so fast I should’ve missed it.

“I trapped you, I know I did. I promise that as soon as the time is up, I’ll have divorce papers drafted.”

My stomach clenched. The thought of those papers landing on my desk as just another task to finish left a thick, oily feeling in my gut. “It’s fine.”

“I can even get them done earlier, and you can sign on the day of. Aunt Linda doesn’t have to know right away. By then, it won’t be your business.”

“I’m not talking about?—”

“If we find a loophole, I’ll definitely let you know. Alder and Violet won’t let up?—”

I pressed my lips against hers. Lust rose like a flame on a dry day. I couldn’t blame my long stretch of solo nights. My desire was on a constant and inappropriate smolder around Lily. She was curvy in a way that gave a guy ideas, thoughts about how soft she’d feel under me or how those tits of hers would overflow in my hands. She was oblivious to her sex appeal.

I was not. She dug her fingers into me. She wasn’t pushing me away but pulling me closer. I continued kissing her, licking along her plump lower lip. Her mouth would’ve held me rapt for weeks if I was weaker, but I’d been determined not to pant around her like a stud ready to mount.

I lost that battle. I tightened my hold. She whimpered in a way that made me think of naked bodies and rumpled sheets.

Being taller than her made it harder to palm her ass, but when she twined herself around me, she fit perfectly. I could bend over her, keep my mouth on hers, and get a good grip on those ripe cheeks. When she opened her mouth for me, I groaned. Hot and wet. My mind filled with other areas of her I could explore, but I was content for now. She answered each stroke of my tongue with her own. Then she tunneled her hands through my hair, and fuck, that was my kryptonite. She massaged my scalp. If my eyes weren’t closed, they’d roll.

I brushed a hand over her jeans and up her shirt. When my fingertips touched skin, electricity sizzled between us. Christ, we’d light the sheets on fire.

I tasted her as I trailed my fingers higher to her breast. Her bra was lacy but lined. Thick. A warning bell went off in my brain. There was a reason why I shouldn’t do this, but I didn’t stop. She was responsive. Her greedy tongue licked against mine, her demanding hands tilted my head at just the right angle, and her body?—

Kellan’s cry echoed from down the hall.

Lily stiffened, and I jerked my head up. Fuck. She was a mom. I was supposed to be helping her, not feeling her up.

“Oh god.” She pushed her fingertips against her forehead. “Eliot, you don’t have to do that.”

“Do what?”

Kellan let out another cry. She rushed around me. Her face was as red as a cherry, and her bouncing butt cheeks didn’t help temper my arousal. My erection strained against my jeans. I pushed at it, trying to make it less obnoxious.

Did I go after her?

Did she think I gave her a pity kiss?

I huffed out a breath and planted my hands on my hips. Staring at the floor, I slowly gained control of myself. It was getting late, and I couldn’t have her hiding in her bedroom and going to sleep thinking I only kissed her because I felt sorry for her.

The bedroom door was closed, but Kellan was still fussing. She might be changing his diaper before she fed him. I knocked lightly.

A few tense seconds ticked by before I heard, “Yeah?”

I squeaked the door open. Her hair was hanging over her face as she changed him on the bed. Kellan glanced over at me, stopped crying, and gave me a two-toothed grin. I smiled back at him before zeroing in on his mom.

“Let the record state that kiss was not out of pity.”

She faltered snapping his onesie. “You don’t have to worry about it.”

“But I do. I’m here to help you. I’m not here to maul you. You don’t need that pressure.”

Finally, she turned her head enough that her curtain of hair fell back. “You feel like you’re pressuring me?”

I lifted a shoulder. “You’ve got a man in your house who you don’t know well. You’re in a tight spot.”

“You’re right.” She snapped more buttons together. “I was forced to kiss the impossibly handsome cowboy who reads books to my daughter and takes the baby so I can sleep. Oh, and he dances.”

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