Page 30 of When We Dare

“Now,” he whispered as he nipped my earlobe.

My climax ricocheted through me, the pleasure so intense I was trembling, my hands flexing where they curled over the edge of the wall. He pumped slow and deep once more before he went taut and shuddered with my name on his lips.

I held still with Hudson curled around behind me, trying to catch my breath, trying to come back from the pleasure. Somehow, I managed to stay standing as he withdrew. We stumbled into my bedroom and he pulled me into the shower after he tossed his condom in the trashcan.

He carried me to bed, and we fell asleep together again with Butter curled up at our feet. I woke during the night, feeling safe and secure with one of his arms banded around my waist where I was curled against his side like a little barnacle. I told myself I wasn’t falling for him, not yet. But even then, in the darkness in my sleepy thoughts, I knew I was lying to myself.

Chapter Twenty-Three

STELLA

“You’ve got this,” Tiffany said, her tone far more confident than the way I felt inside.

I pushed my glasses up on my nose. “What if it’s weird?”

She shrugged. “I think it’s guaranteed to be weird at first. You have a half-brother who you didn’t know existed. On the positive side, he reached out to you. He obviously wants to connect.”

My cheeks puffed out when I released the breath I’d been holding. “Maybe we should’ve met somewhere else.”

Tiffany reached across the table for my hand. She had suggested meeting for lunch at the Gallery Café. Aside from it being a public location, there was a gallery connected to the restaurant, so we could walk around if we wanted.

She squeezed my hand before releasing it. “You miss one hundred percent of the chances you don’t take. I don’t know who first said that, but it’s completely true. Maybe you’ll meet your brother and never talk to him again. Maybe it’ll be awkward, but you’ll get to know each other. I saw the message he sent your mom. It seemed pretty straightforward. It’s not like he wants to connect because you have money or anything shady. You’re a struggling law student trying to pass the bar exam.”

I laughed softly at that. “Excellent point. I grew up poor and I’m still poor. I hope to not be poor eventually, but that’s how it is now.”

Tiffany’s smile was warm. “He’s a hotshot firefighter. He’s not rolling in the dough, but he has great benefits.”

I snorted. “Excellent point.”

“While we’re waiting, can I persuade you to adopt a cat?” she asked.

“Hudson’s cat runs free in the duplex, so I need to check.”

Tiffany clapped her hands together lightly. “Butter! Hudson got him from the rescue.”

“Huh?”

“Wes’s mom runs the local animal shelter. He helps out there. As a result, I help out too. I’m always trying to pawn animals off on anyone I know. I’d like to add that having a pet is excellent for your mental health. If you get a dog, you walk a lot. What about a doganda cat?” She smiled encouragingly.

I burst out laughing. “One at a time, Tiffany.”

I was still laughing when I heard, “Stella?”

Glancing over my shoulder, I saw a man who matched the photograph he’d texted me, Parker Grayson. Tiffany told me she and Wes had already met Parker at the station since they were both hotshots. That helped convince me to do this.

Parker glanced toward her. “Good to see you, Tiffany.”

I swallowed. This felt more nerve-racking than meeting someone for a date.

“Hey, Parker,” she said warmly.

I practically jumped out of my chair and thrust a hand out. “Hi!”

Parker looked as nervous as I felt and that actually helped me relax a tiny bit.

I brushed my palms down the front of my jeans before sitting back down.

Tiffany gestured to the chair across from me. “Sit.”

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