Page 48 of Inked Obsession

“Yes, but it’s fine. It was cute.”

“I’m so awkward, Beckett. As I was saying, I wanted to have sex. With you. I didn’t actually think I would come to Florida and have sex with someone. I did think maybe I would breathe and flirt and just be okay with everything. I know that it might have worked out completely different than what I had first thought this week could be, but I’m glad. I can’t walk away with regrets. I won’t. The more I think about it, the more those regrets might just hurt everything. I have remorse about so many other things in my life. I can’t have this be one of them.”

“Damn it, same here. I tried not to think about you over the years.”

It was my turn to frown. “Really?”

He nodded. “Really. I tried. I mean, you were married.”

“You’re allowed to find a married woman attractive. But you didn’t say anything.”

“How could I? I always tried to be there to help you when you were alone.”

“I will forever be grateful that the Montgomerys never let me dwell. You never made me feel like I had to beg for help, either. Because there are some things I can’t do on my own.”

“We were always there for you. We always will be. Even if I completely fucked up our relationship.”

“You didn’t. If you did, then I did, and I’ve already fucked up too much in my life. I really can’t add this.”

“So now what? What do we do?”

He squeezed my hip and then shifted to sit up. The sheet dropped down slightly, and I saw his naked hip. I groaned. I couldn’t help it. He looked at me, his gaze smoldering.

“I really wish I could just pull that sheet down and have my way with you, but we’re having a serious conversation.”

I nodded and tugged the sheet up over my chest as I sat up.

“We’re going home,” I said. “Once there, are we never going to talk about this again and just try to make sure our friendship works? Because you are my friend. Annabelle and Brenna and Paige might be the closest thing I have to sisters, but you’re my friend, Beckett. You’ve always been there, even if we did our best not to think about each other like that.”

“You were married,” he said again softly.

I swallowed hard. “I only had eyes for my husband.”

“I didn’t think about you in any way beyond that I thought you were hot until well…until recently. Then you were grieving, and I was dealing with shit.”

“You slept hard last night,” I whispered.

“It might have been because of you. Or because of this bed.”

“This bedisvery comfortable. I kind of want to bring it back to Annabelle and Jacob’s.”

He snorted. “Jacob makes enough money, I’m sure he could afford it.”

“Well, I’ll put it on the list,” I whispered, teasing.

“What are we doing when we get back?” he asked. “I’m not good about this. Feelings, relationships, taking the right steps… I came here to breathe, and I sure as fuck did.”

That made me laugh. “Same. I don’t think I expected this. Or you.”

“It’s all up to you. You make the decisions.”

“Now that’s a cop-out.”

“Fine,” he said gruffly, then shoved his hands through his hair. “I want you. I want you again. Once wasn’t enough for me.”

“We both came more than once,” I teased.

“Fine, onenightwasn’t enough. I don’t know if you’re ready for that. I don’t even know if I am. I don’t know if I’m ready to deal with our family,” he said dryly.

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