Page 93 of Restrictions

“So just going back to friends?”

She takes a deep breath. “Yes. Who live together and take care of an adorable little toddler.”

I don’t want this.

I don’t think she does either, but we both know it’s the only way. We can’t continue to have sex when she has feelings for me that I can’t return.

“And it’s still your home...” I eye her suspiciously. “So if you have to have someone over?—”

“I won’t.” I cut her off. I won’t do that to her.

She puffs out a relieved breath through her luscious lips. “Okay. No bringing anyone else home?”

I nod my head. “Either of us.”

“Rules I can live with.”

My hand rests on her hip, and I bring her body closer to mine, I had intended to bring her into a hug, but instead our lower halves are pressed together, my body always wanting to be joined with hers. “One last time.” I breathe against her lips as I brush my mouth over her. missing the way she tastes already.

I feel her hands smooth over my chest, and I think just maybe she’ll grant me this. There’s a strangled cry in her throat as her lips press against mine and she breathes her answer against them. “I can’t.”

My eyes flutter closed as my chest clenches, missing her. My handmoves to the back of her head as I press my lips firmly against hers, begging her for one last kiss.

And her mouth rewards me by opening for me, her lips moving against mine in the most heartbreaking kiss I've ever experienced. Our mouths mingle and our tongues caress as her salty tears join in the mix and her sob enters my mouth, and I catch it, trying to kiss it away.

My hands tangle in her hair as she cries into our kiss, and it moves from a kiss into a hug where I wrap my arms around her, her face buried in my chest as she sobs and I try my best to comfort her.

To tell her we can make it through this.

But we both know it’s a lie.

40

VIVIENNE

SEVEN MONTHS LATER

“Baz! Come on, sweetheart!”

I run down the stairs and look under the couch for my other sandal. I could have sworn I put it by the front door, but Baz loves to play with my shoes.

“Where the hell is my shoe?”

I feel something pressing against my ass and turn around, looking at Asher’s smiling face as he presses my shoe against me.

I climb up from the floor and sit on the couch, taking my sandal from Asher and placing it on my foot. “Thank you.”

He laughs. “No problem. Where are you going?” He flops down on the couch, and my heart clenches slightly in my chest thinking about the answer. Not wanting to lie to him.

Somehow after the night I sobbed in his arms for what seemed like hours after confessing my love for him, we managed to move forward.

We truly went back to where we started. We’ve been friends.

Yes, I'm sure he has hooked up with plenty of chicks since then because that’s what Asher does, but he’s been respectful.

He hasn’t had any girls over here, and we don’t talk about it.

And we haven’t fallen back in old habits either. I’ve actually been fairly smart, and I know without a doubt that I can’t let him touch me.

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