Page 78 of Lotus

His laughter near my ear rumbles through me, causing my legs to tighten around his midsection, hard arousal pressed right between my thighs. Oliver lifts his head until we’re face-to-face, my hands resting clasped at his nape. His eyes are glassy, reflecting lust and reverence and weakness and passion—everything I’m feeling from the inside out. Our smiles still linger when he leans in once more, crushing his perfect mouth to mine. My lips part to let him in, and when our tongues meet again, I melt, I wilt, I surrender. Our pace is less hurried this time, a delicious slow burn, and Oliver’s fingers grip my waist so tight, it’s like he’s physically trying to hold himself back from losing control.

There is something wildly sexy about that notion.

Just as our kiss deepens further, a groan passing from one mouth to the other, the wetness between my legs rubbing against his erection and causing him to tremble in my arms, there’s a light knocking at the bedroom door.

We break apart just as Poppy’s small voice can be heard on the other side. “Auntie Syd, are you in there? Grandma is looking for you. She needs help getting dessert ready.”

I almost choke on a gulp, my words trickling out frazzled and rushed. “O-Okay! Be right there,” I call back, my hands sliding down Oliver’s arms, our moment snuffed out.

It’s for the best.

Oliver loosens his hold on my waist, his forehead dropping to mine again when Poppy’s footsteps disappear down the hallway. He exhales a flurry of thoughts and feelings I can’t even begin to decipher. “Are you all right?” he asks again, careful and kind.

I respond with a nod, my chin lifting to place a kiss against his hairline.

Oliver sighs when he pulls back, and I unlock my ankles to free him from my hold. He runs his fingers through mussed hair, his skin flushed bright as he glances away with the faintest of grins. “I rather like mistletoe,” he says.

My laughter triggers his grin to grow, and our eyes connect for a powerful beat, brimming with more emotion than I can handle.

As I lead him out of the bedroom with bee stung lips and soaked panties, hoping to God my family members don’t notice anything amiss, I can’t help but wonder where we go from here. I’d like to saythiswas when everything changed… but I know that’s not true.

Everything changed the moment he came back.

N I N E T E E N

ALITTLE AFTER TENP.M.we make our way back home, Clementine in the driver’s seat and Sydney in the back with a sleeping Poppy. My head twists around to catch Sydney’s gaze every so often, my fingers itching to reach out and hold her hand. The alcoholic beverage has worn off, effectively subduing me, while leaving me with more questions than my tired brain can process at this late hour.

When I spare Sydney another glance, there’s a reassuring smile in her eyes that quiets my disheveled thoughts for the time being.

“Poppy seemed very taken with you today, Oliver,” Clementine states over the low hum of radio music. “You have a sweet disposition with the little ones.”

The compliment touches me. For a good portion of the evening, I was in high demand amongst the assortment of young cousins and the two Labrador Retrievers that resided in the home. It was a pleasant feeling to be favored. “Thank you,” I say. “She’s lovely. We had a nice time reading together during our last visit.”

Clem hesitates before responding, “You’ve met her before today?”

“Yes. Sydney was providing childcare for Poppy and another neighborhood girl, and I stopped by.”

“Oh, I didn’t realize.”

“Sydney needed to retrieve cat food, so I stayed with the children while she was gone.”

Sydney chimes in through a yawn. “Oliver was so good with them. A total natural.”

A silence settles in, and it’s the heavy kind of silence—the kind I’ve discovered to be venomous. I look to my left, awaiting Clementine’s response, but she appears to be deep in thought. Distressing thoughts, it seems. Her hands grip the steering wheel a little tighter, the lines in her face hard and taut. After another moment of tension passes, she aims her reply at Sydney. “You left Poppy alone with him?”

We are both taken aback by the hostility in her voice, and Sydney and I share a startled look. I can’t help but feel a bit offended by the inquiry.

Sydney falters, as if she’s trying to piece together her words. “It was only for ten minutes. The girls were perfectly fine.”

“I left Poppy inyourcare. Not Oliver’s.” Her tone is pointed and clipped. “What were you thinking?”

“I was thinking I needed cat food,” Sydney snaps back. “What’s the big deal? I trust Oliver. He was amazing with them. All they did was read some books together.”

Clementine releases a brittle laugh, shaking her head. “And I trustedyou.”

I’m feeling very lost and slightly uncomfortable. Shifting in my seat, I clear my throat to intervene. “I assure you they were both well-cared for. We enjoyed our time together.”

She glares at me through a tight jaw, enhancing my confusion.

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