Page 57 of Totally Off Limits

“For each other,” she breathed in his ear and he lost it, letting out a small groan. That was all it took for Sierra to hit the top again as well, and her legs pulsed against his sides as he slowly drove himself deep inside her one more time.

And, just for a split second, Sierra felt like all the world had melted away…and she might be in love.

CHAPTER20

Lying in his arms, Sierra should have been supremely happy. Orgasms came few and far between, and the dopamine flowing through her system should have had her riding high for an hour or two if nothing else.

Instead, her conscience gnawed at her.

No, it was more than that. Of course, itwaspartly due to feeling guilty because she was playing with Mickey for selfish reasons—because she wanted one last fling before becoming the dutiful daughter. It was also because she couldn’t bring herself to tell this man the truth about his child.

Most of all, though…it was because she was starting to feel way more than she should. Her heart couldn’t tell that this was just for fun, and her head was in the clouds at the moment. And the more she toyed with Mickey, the worse it was going to get.

She had to call this off.

Now.

Well, maybe after tonight. The way Mickey held her close up against his chest was nice. He was warm, solid, and smelled good, and she just wanted to enjoy him a little longer. Tomorrow, if he wanted to get together or do something else, she’d have to come up with an excuse. He’d be leaving Winchester soon, so it shouldn’t be too hard to pull that off.

Tonight, though, she would try to etch every detail in her brain so she could cherish this memory for the rest of her life—and when Mia asked about her daddy, Sierra could tell her what a good man he was and even how she’d loved him.

They were just friends anyway. It was stupid that she was agonizing over a little friends-with-benefits action. Surely Mickey felt the same way. And, besides, even if he didn’t, he should. He would be absolutely miserable becoming part of her family. Even as just friends, she loved Mickey enough to not want to subject him to everything that was her mother. At least Austin already knew how to handle her.

Hell…he maybe even handled Rebecca Hayden better than Sierra ever could.

As the minutes ticked on, Sierra knew one thing for certain: she needed to cut things off with Mickeynow. Her heart was dangerously close to something it shouldn’t be, even though she tried to convince herself otherwise.

His soft voice pulled her out of her head. “Goddamn, Sierra. We should do this shit every damn day.”

Oh.Maybe it alreadyhadgone way too far.

Which meant Sierra, sleepy or not, had to think fast. “You don’t live in Winchester anymore, Morton.”

“Morton?Since when do you call me by my last name?”

Since I had to push you away.Out loud, she tittered a bit, hoping her mood sounded light and playful. “You’re missing the point. We can’t exactly do this kind of thing if you’re halfway across the country.”

The man had no answer. Instead, he simply made a noncommittal noise and ran his hand over her hair. Finally, though, he said, “One thing I’ve actually figured out in life: if you want something bad enough, you figure out a way to make it happen.”

Yeah, and now he was getting way too close to why she would never let it happen. But this provided an opportunity to divert him without being so damned obvious about it. “You’re living proof. Back in high school, did you ever think you’d be in a huge band making music and touring the world?”

He was quiet again for several long seconds before speaking. When he did, Sierra almost had to strain to hear him. “No way. I was just intent on surviving.”

Holy shit. Had it been that bad? “Surviving? What do you mean?”

As Mickey shifted in bed slightly, Sierra lifted her head for a few seconds before resting it back on Mickey’s chest. She considered turning so she could see his face but got the idea that Mickey might talk more if he didn’t feel like he was under a microscope. “I don’t know how much I’ve told you about my childhood.”

“Nothing.” And she’d never pressed him for details.

“My mom…she left before I can even remember. For the longest time, I hated her for that. I mean, what kind of mother abandons her kid? But as I got older, I figured it was because my dad was gonna kill her if she stuck around. And maybe she thought because I was a boy and was my dad’s kid that he wouldn’t beat me like he had her. Still…a phone call or a letter now and then would have been nice. I don’t even know if I have cousins or grandparents on my mom’s side.

“But I just tell myself she didn’t give a shit, like my dad. It’s easier that way.”

Mickey grew quiet again, and Sierra chose not to speak. Instead, she drifted her palm in a small circle on his belly, hoping he found it soothing.

Caring.

“Anyway…my childhood was spent doing everything my dad told me to, staying fucking quiet, toeing the line, busting my ass around the house just so I wouldn’t incur his wrath, ‘cause I never knew what would set him off. It could be something as insignificant as not dusting the dirt off my jacket when I walked in the house or not finishing a cheeseburger on my plate. Other days, his mood would be fine and maybe he’d take me bowling or fishing or something. But usually it was either just being ignored or getting the shit beaten out of me.”

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