Page 75 of Virgin Skin

He smirks and shrugs.

“It was a shock to me too, but Milo’s here now and I’m hoping you’ll all welcome him.”

“Of course we will,” she says indignantly, like she can’t believe he would even question her. Then she pulls me in for the biggest hug I’ve ever had in my life, strangling the life out of me and nearly cracking two ribs in the process before she hands me over to the rest of the family to do the same.

I accept the barrage of hugs in a stupor, along with hair ruffling and questions thrown at me from all directions. Where did I grow up? How long have I known about Kaiden? What’s my mom like? Where do I live now?

“Guys, guys, let him breathe.” Hero pulls me back out of the fray protectively and I give him a grateful smile.

“Sorry, this is just so exciting,” his mom says. “Come, sit down, I want to knoweverythingabout you.”

PISTON

It’s starting to get late by the time I hear the rumble of Hero’s truck pulling back into the driveway to drop Milo off. It took most of the day, but I managed to coax Cy into my lap. As soon as the front door swings open though, she hisses and makes a mad dash back to her babies.

“Oops. Sorry, Cy,” Milo says with an apologetic smile.

I shouldn’t be surprised that his coat is mysteriously missing. His cheeks are rosy and his eyes are bright with excitement.

“How did it go?”

He kicks off his shoes and prances across the room. Instead of sitting down next to me on the couch, he climbs into my lap, straddling my thighs, his arms looped around my neck.

“It was so great. They were so nice and welcoming. My new grandma makes thebestpies, and she said she’d teach me at Christmas. I’m invited forChristmas. I mean, I haven’t figured out my plan with my mom and myothergrandparents yet, but still.” He’s all bouncy and wiggly, and it’s the cutest fucking thing I’ve ever seen. It’s impossible to stop myself from cutting offhis excited rambling with a kiss. He laughs into my mouth then hums happily, parting his lips and kissing me back.

“I didn’t tell Hero though,” he confesses. “About us, I mean.”

I rake my fingers through his hair and bump my nose against his.

“That’s fine. I told you it wasn’t a priority today. I’ll take him out for a drink tomorrow and tell him.”

Milo nods and kisses me again. Big, warm, dizzying feelings swell inside of me. The slow, steady rhythm of our lips feels like home. It feels like forever. It feels like all the things I stopped bothering to want years ago because I didn’t think I’d ever find them. His teeth scrape my lips a few times because he can’t seem to stop smiling, and all I want to do is drown myself in his sunshine.

“Milo,” I rasp his name. “I lo—”

The sound of the door swinging open and boots clomping interrupts my words before I can get them out.

“You forgot your co—”

“Shit.” Milo cringes and, yeah,shitpretty much covers it.

My heart is in my throat as I gently move Milo off my lap. Hero is standing there in the open doorway, holding Milo’s jacket with a stunned look on his face like he’s just been sucker punched.

Shit, shit, shit.

This isn’t how he was supposed to find out. This isn’t how this was supposed to go at all. I need to say something. An apology, an explanation,anything. Hero stares at me and I stare right back at him, my pulse thundering so loudly in my ears that I can’t hear anything else.

“Sorry,” he says gruffly. He drops the jacket, then turns on his heel and leaves.

The door swings closed behind him and I’m still too stunned to move by the time I hear his truck pulling away.

“Should we go after him?” Milo asks, scrambling off the couch and dragging his hands through his hair as he starts to pace.

“No. Let’s give him the night to cool off and process what he just saw. We’ll talk to him tomorrow.”

He nods, and then a laugh bubbles up from his throat.

“At least we weren’t naked?”

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