Page 168 of Unforgettable

Josh’s eyes darted between us then his lips lifted in a similarly devilish grin. One that made awareness dance over my skin and excitement buzz through me.

“It involves a hot bath and both of you inside of me… at the same time.”

His smile grew, and Reed chuckled behind me. Suddenly the ground disappeared from beneath me as Josh swept me into his arms. My laughter was genuine when he spun us around and started for the few cars still in the lot.

Still carrying my bags, Reed kept pace behind us. I watched him over Josh’s shoulder, and his attention bounced between my face and Josh’s very shapely ass, hugged in light denim jeans.

I realized we were heading toward Josh’s waiting truck.

“Wait, I drove my car. Reed drove his car. We’re both in the other lot.” Josh’s steps didn’t falter. Instead, he sat me down next to his truck and pinned me against it with one hand on the window next to my head and the other wrapped around my neck.

His thumb stroked my jaw, and I couldn’t seem to catch my breath. Not too far away, people were still packing up and leaving the school, and somewhere I heard Reed open the truck door and promptly close it. But I was too utterly consumed by the man in front of me to comprehend much else.

“I’m not letting you,eitherof you, out of my sight for a good long while. I need you both in my bed where I know you’re safe. I’m not going to lose another person I care about. And I’m done with the close calls, too.”

If my heart wasn’t already broken, it was then. Hearing him say again that he couldn’t lose someone else was my undoing. Between losing his mother to his abusive father and nearly losing his brother and sister-in-law to Valerie, Josh had seen situations go the other way. It was a heavy burden he carried with him every day, and no matter how much I wanted to help, it was impossible for me to carry enough to make it much lighter.

But damn it, if I didn’t try.

“Okay,” I said, and the seriousness of the moment dwindled with his smile. “How are you so perfect?” I asked and immediately made a face. “God, that was cheesy. I sound like you two. What have you done to me?”

He tossed his head back and laughed his intoxicating laugh. “I’m not perfect. I’m just really fucking in love with you.”

Any thought I had in my head immediately disappeared. I knew my face had to display my shock, but Josh’s smile didn’t falter. Both of his hands cupped my cheeks, and he pressed a soft, chaste kiss to my parted lips.

The thing was, I had felt the same feelings for so long. I was more surprised that either of them felt it and was willing to vocalize it, too. Which was absolutely insane since they’d shown me in every other way possible that they loved me.

So, I wasn’t going to question it. I wasn’t going to analyze their feelings and deconstruct every little minute action leading up to this moment. I wasn’t going to consider all the possible ways our carefully constructed relationship could shatter around us.

For us to work, I knew I couldn’t hold back.

“Well,” I said when he pulled back. “That’s good because I’m just really fucking in love with you, too.”

His smile widened, larger than I ever thought imaginable. My entire body flooded with happiness, and his mouth was on mine again. It was a quick kiss but was filled with all of the other emotions he hadn’t vocalized.

“Okay, get in the truck,” he said, kissed me one last time, and then reached to open the door behind me.

I slid onto the black leather seat and across to Reed, who leaned against the other door. He opened his arm, and I tucked myself into his side.

“He told you he loves you, didn’t he?” He pressed a kiss against my temple, and suddenly, I was apprehensive. There wasn’t a hint of jealousy in Reed’s tone, nor was there a stiffness in the way he wrapped his arm around me. But the possibility of that one little word changing everything was there. We’d come so far, so I hoped that wasn’t the case.

“Yes,” I said hesitantly. An officer that was leaving the school stopped Josh as he rounded the front of the truck, giving Reed and me a few seconds alone.

“I’m not surprised. I can’t believe it took him this long actually.”

A little surprised, I leaned back and surveyed his expression. “Why?”

He chuckled and reached forward, taking a strand of my hair that had fallen from my clip between his fingers. “Cielo, we’ve both been in love with you since you walked into that damn classroom freshman year. We’ve been in love with you for over a decade, and it’s been nearly impossible keeping it to ourselves.”

It was a strange feeling—the lightness in my heart and the warmth collecting in my chest.

Unable to help myself, I twisted and swung my leg over Reed, straddling his lap with ease. My palms pressed against his dark scruff, and I enjoyed the scratch of it against my skin. His large hands gripped my hips and urged me to settle farther down against him. I could already feel him hardening beneath me as I scanned his features.

I loved the few lines around his eyes and mouth. They were the same ones Josh had and were evidence of laughter and happiness. AndGod, I loved his lips. They were plump and pouty and the perfect pink. I ran my thumb over his bottom lip as I got lost in his eyes.

He had the longest, dark lashes and amber eyes. Sitting so close, it was easy to see the various brown shades, lighter yellows, and oranges with a hint of green.

“I love you, too,” I whispered against his mouth, and his smile prevented me from kissing him properly.

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