Page 41 of Best Kept Secret

He took a step closer, his voice more certain now. "I care about you, darlin'. And I want you. I know you want me."

"You said that—"

"Shh," he breathed, and pulled me to him in an embrace. "Forget what I said to Fallon. Listen to what I'm telling younow. I wantyou, Mira."

"Why?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. The streets around us blurred—the laughter, the music, the lights—it all faded into the background. It was just him and me, standing in the middle of this city that suddenly felt too big, too cold. "Because the way you're saying it, it sounds like you want me around to babysit your daughter. Like you're making some clinical, logical decision instead of…instead ofactuallywanting me."

"Don't insult me," he retorted. "How the fuck dare you? I wantyoufor you. Not because…and you're notbabysittingPari. You're her parent, just like I am."

I stepped away from him, feeling fragile. "I came here to…." I looked down at my dress.

"You look beautiful, darlin'. But then you always do." He reached for me again, but I shook my head, and he dropped his hand. "I care about you, Mira. I feel like we're a family. Don't you feel that way, too?"

I did, but after hearing what he said to Fallon, I wasn't sure of anything. "Are we?" I asked, my voice breaking under the strain of everything I was holding back. "Because it sounds like you're just trying to piece together something convenient. Not a relationship. Not something real."

His jaw tightened. He yanked me forcefully against him. I could feel him hard against my thighs. "That real enough for you, Mira? Because I can't fuckin' sleep at night, I want you so much. I jack off thinking about your lips around my cock. I jack off thinking about licking your pussy because I know it will taste sweet, like your mouth does, and it'll smell like sandalwood. I want you so much that, every night, it's a struggle to not just get into bed with you, and get inside you."

My breathing became ragged. I was tempted, every night, to seduce him. I wanted something for myself at the end of another long day, and I wished it could be him—just for a little while, a respite from all that had happened in my life—a good thing, like Pari.

He took a deep breath, his voice softer now, assuaging the hurt inside me. "Don't run away, darlin'."

Tears burned in my eyes once again. I looked away, trying to hide them, swallowing hard.

"I'm scared," I whispered, more to myself than to him.

"Mira—" he started, but I shook my head, cutting him off.

"No, Beau," I said, my voice breaking. "I'mreallyscared."

He smiled. "Me too, darlin'."

"Why are you scared?"

"That I'll fuck it up with you. That I'll lose you."

We looked into each other's eyes, and I felt him all the way into my soul.

The world around us kept spinning, people walking by, laughing, living their lives like everything was normal. But everything inside me felt like I was getting ready to combust.

"You came here for me?" he asked, his eyes liquid with arousal.

"Yes."

"Let me take you home," he crooned. "Let me take you to bed."

"Yes." I leaned into him, and decided to throw caution to the wind.

Chapter 16

Beau

Iall but kicked Anson and Nova out of my house. Pari was sleeping, and I was hoping against hope she'd continue to do that because I wanted an entire night with Mira, indulging in every fantasy I'd had about her.

She pressed her lips to mine as soon as we entered her bedroom. I'd wanted her in my bed, but she'd insisted that if Pari woke up, she'd come toherbed—which I was seriously wishing didnothappen. I loved my kid, but for this one night—this first night—I wanted Mira's undivided attention, and I wanted to give her mine.

My hands wandered down her front. That little black dress she'd worn drove me crazy since I'd seen her in it. Her nipples were hard, poking against the palm of my hands through her bra. Her breasts were not large—but they were a handful. I'd looked at them for longer than I should have, every fucking day, like a pervert.

Mira sucked on my tongue, her hands in my hair. I had, for some reason, thought she'd be shy, probably because she was so young, but instead, she was sensual and eager, which was a massive turn-on.

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