Page 32 of Return By Fire

“Then why did you?” I yell down into his face.

“Maybe because I’m as twisted into knots over what’s happening between us as you are,” he shouts.

“Oh.”

He blinks his golden coin eyes up at me. “That’s it, ‘Oh’?”

I shrug, the journal in one hand. “I’m not as eloquent in person as I am writing.”

Dean flips me over and looms over my body. I cradle him in between my thighs, causing my cock to rise and press against the seam of my flamingo board shorts. “Then let me address a few things you mentioned here.”

He plucks my journal from my fingers and begins ticking the items off in no particular order. “What’s stopping you is the same thing causing Kara to delay introducing Kevin to you—our human inclination to shoot the messenger.”

It makes sense when it comes to Jennings. “Why would she fear introducing Kevin to me?”

“Because that little boy is sharp as a tack. I mean smart. He in advanced high school level math and science and he’s twelve. That means his logic skills are off the charts. It may not happen at first, but over time, he’s going to demand to know why he’s never met you. He’s going to want to know who your friends are. Do you have pictures? Do you get the idea?”

“I’m beginning to.”

“Kara’s shoring herself up, Jed. That’s what’s taking so long. Plus, in her mind, Maris is hers and you’re Jennings’s.”

“That’s bullshit,” I snap.

“That’s the heart unable to listen to the mind. After all, haven’t you been doing the same thing? Having similar arguments?” he points out logically, shaking my journal.

“I hate when my own logic is used against me,” I inform Dean loftily.

“Tough. It’s hard enough to break through to one of you.”

“Why haven’t you said anything? Why the attitude then?”

He’s incredulous. “Maybe because when I’m courting a man, I’d like to know I have his full attention?”

I feel myself turn red—even more red than I’m certain the sun has made me. “My bad.”

“Oh yeah. While we’re on the topic, let me set one more thing straight.”

Dean drops my journal next to my head before taking my lips in a kiss that I never want to fucking stop. It’s everything I fucking dreamed of. The salt air, the weight of the man, his big hands lacing with mine as he lifts them over my head so he can rock his denim covered cock against mine. Then before I can fall over into oblivion, he rears back and singes me with golden fire. “I’m no one’s Kryptonite, Jed, nor am I a superhero. I’m just a man.”

I glare up at him, even as I lick my lip to capture the essence of him on my tongue. “I’m still furious you read my journal.”

“I can tell,” he declares arrogantly.

I let out a harsh breath. “But thank you.”

“For what?”

“For limiting yourself.” I smooth a hand over his hair. “I imagine the urge to read more was tempting.”

“You have no idea. You’re a talented writer, Jed. You should consider being published.”

I blink up at him like he’s suddenly spoken in fluent Kree. Then I start laughing. “I’m sorry. That was funny.”

He rolls to the side. I cuddle back up next to him and feel him sigh. “I see Kara and Kevin aren’t the only ones whose sense of self-worth I’m going to need to work on.”

I murmur, “I wouldn’t mind you working on me.”

He slaps my ass. “Not today. Now, tell me about your friends. Let me get to know them through you. Which one do you think I’d like the best.”

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