Page 21 of Love to Stay

“I love how you say my name when you’re turned on.” There goes that love word again. I haven’t really had time to process that both of us professed our love for one another earlier. “Say it again,” Mick demands. I push all of my thoughts to the back ofmy mind, wanting to stay in the moment with him. I don’t need to be getting inside my own head right now.

“Mick.” I moan as he starts to move again inside of me. This time it’s slower. Both of our hands roam over each other, our mouths trailing against one another anywhere we can reach. When I come, Mick is right there with me, holding me close.

He rolls, taking me with him so I’m sprawled out on his chest. I feel a tear slip free. “Hey.” Mick’s hold on me tightens.

“I’m okay,” I whisper against his chest. “You didn’t hurt me,” I add, knowing that is where his mind will go. “I’m just kind of overwhelmed.” I sniffle.

“Because you’ve been alone too long.” I nod. He gets it, but he always did get me in ways no one else ever did. “That shit is over, Josie. I’ve been playing nice. Now that you gave me a taste of us, there is no going back. You’ll see what I’ve been holding back if you fight me on this.”

“I didn’t know you felt the same way. I mean, maybe when we were in high school but not now.”

“What the hell has changed from high school except for your tits getting bigger and your hips filling out? Driving me more insane.” He mutters the last part, making me laugh.

“I didn’t think you knew I had tits!” He never checked me out. That I recall. “You’ve always been a gentleman.”

“You wouldn’t say that shit if you knew the things I fantasized about with you always in the starring role.”

I keep my face pressed to his chest. The darkness allows me to speak more freely. “If you’ve always felt this way, why didn’t you say something?” All these years.

“Because I was a bumbling poor kid who lived next door. While you were the hip girl that drove all the boys crazy.” I roll my eyes even though he can’t see me. I wasn’t rich either, but Mick always worried about money. My father wasn’t always the best, but I had the basics.

“I did not. In fact, some hated me.”

“Yeah, because you kicked their asses at video games and wouldn’t glance their way.”

“I always kicked your ass in video games,” I point out.

“That you did. I only learned to play to have the pleasure of you doing so.”

“The pleasure of me beating your ass?” I laugh harder.

“Those dumbasses got mad. I was playing the long game.”

“The long game.” I shake my head at him.

“Look where it got me.” His hand slides to my bare ass, giving it a slap.

“You’re terrible.”

“That so?” He flips me over to my back, caging me under him. Jesus, he can move quickly. “Let's see how terrible I really am.” Mick slides down my body, settling in between my legs. His mouth brushes against the top of my mound. “I won’t stop until you're begging me to,” he promises before burying his face between my thighs, proving he’s the furthest thing from terrible.

In fact, he’s pretty fucking spectacular.

Chapter Seventeen

MICK

“You two heading for Vegas?” the waitress asks as she pours Josie a coffee.

“How’d you guess?”

“Nothing much on this road but people traveling to and from Vegas. Getting married, are you?”

“Um, no.”

The waitress laughs. “If that’s your story, stick to it.” She winks as she leaves.

I keep shoveling pancakes into my mouth. Yes, it’s dinner time and yeah, I’m eating breakfast food. It’s delicious.

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