Page 76 of Someone You Deserve

“Is that a problem?”

“No. Not at all. It’s just going to take some getting used to.” She reaches down and strokes my cock with her hand. I’ve been half-hardthroughout this conversation, but her touch is bringing me to full mast in seconds. “Like this. Touching you like this is…”

“Fucking perfect,” I finish for her, twisting us so she’s flat on her back again, staring up at me.

“Yeah, it is.” Our lips meet and then we languidly kiss, exploring each other’s bodies. Part of me wants to take her again, but I don’t want to push her. And I don’t want this to just be about sex.

When we finally come up for air, I get dressed, knowing that staying the night is out of the question with the kids. I quietly unlock and open her bedroom door, and then Astrid follows me back out to the kitchen where I left my keys.

“So when do we tell them?” I jerk my chin in the direction of the hallway, keeping my voice low as we talk.

“I can’t give you a timeline, Penn.” She takes in a shaky breath. “I just know that I need some time to wrap my head around this.”

Pulling her into my chest, I rest my forehead on hers. “I know. And I’m here, okay? I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m so nervous about this changing our friendship.”

“It won’t. If anything, I think it’s going to make it stronger.”

“Aren’t you scared? That something will happen…”

I lean back and stare at her, feeling like pieces of my heart are snapping into place, the fragments that have been floating around lost all finally coming together because all I’ve wanted for years is to be with this woman.

I can sense that she has doubts, that she’s terrified of this shift in our relationship. But all I can do is show up for her and keep proving to her that it only means good things for us. I can’t push for too much right now. I just have to accept that at least where we’re at is a far cry from where we were.

“The only thing I’m scared of is going back to a life where I don’t get to hold you like this,” I say, pressing a soft kiss to her lips. “And kiss you like this,” I continue, kissing her more deeply this time. “And tell you that you’re gorgeous, incredible, and the only woman that I want.”

Her eyes widen. “Wow.”

“Just give this a chance, Astrid. Please?” My heart is thrashing because I can sense how uncertain she still is. And I wonder if I’m the only one that’s truly worried about being hurt in this situation.

Whatifthis doesn’t work out?

I don’t even want to entertain that thought.

“Okay.” Her voice is unsteady, but she inhales deeply and then pulls my mouth to hers again.

When we part, I grab my keys from the counter and notice a few pieces of paper strewn about. “What’s this?” I ask, lifting the papers from the counter to get a better look.

“Oh, sketches for the new name. I’m not sold on either option, though.”

“Cooper’s Creations or Whisk Me Away Bakery?” I wrinkle my nose. “Neither of these fits you.”

“I know, but I haven’t been able to come up with anything else.”

When our eyes meet, the same sweet smell I take in every time I’m around this woman hits my nose. And then I grin over at her. “Smells Like Sugar,” I say.

“What?”

I drop the papers to the counter and pull her into my chest again, dropping my nose to her neck and dragging it up the column until I get to her ear, watching how her skin pebbles right before my eyes. “Smells Like Sugar. That’s what you should name the bakery.”

She gasps as I lick and nibble on her skin. “Penn…”

“It’s perfect.” My voice is gravelly as I hold back, trying not to pounce on her before I leave. But my dick isn’t getting the memo.

When I pull back, she’s staring at me with wonder in her eyes. “Smells Like Sugar…” she echoes as her smile grows wider.

“I think it’s the obvious choice.” I press one more kiss to her lips and then head for the door.

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