Page 65 of Shea's Hero

Then he lifts my hips and sinks deep again, filling me even deeper than before. He hitsthatspot, the one I used to think was a myth, and?—

Oh.

This.

I fly over the edge. Not falling, but into the sky. Into space. Galaxies burst to life around me. Stars supernova.

My body goes rigid as the sensations surge through me, more incredible than I even remember.

As I convulse around Oliver, he lets out a rough shout and rockets right into space with me. Going impossibly harder, he pulses inside me, filling me with his heat.

And it’s just how I dreamed it would be. Us. Together again, experiencing the most beautiful thing in the world. In the universe, really.

Even as the aftershocks are still working through us, he rolls over so I’m draped across him. I tuck my head under his chin, my favorite spot, as his hand strokes down my back. Resting my hand over his heart, I trail my finger along the little scar he got on one of his jobs, something that terrified me at the time. But now I see it as proof of his bravery. His strength.

“Shea, I’m sorry.”

What?

My head jerks up, almost whacking him in the chin. “Why are you sorry? About this?”

“No.No. Not this. Never. I just meant, we didn’t use anything. I didn’t think?—”

Oh.

Phew.

“It’s okay.” I sag back against him. “I’m on something. And I haven’t… There hasn’t been anyone since you.”

His hand stills on my back. “Shea. There hasn’t been anyone for me, either.”

Unexpectedly, tears threaten. Bittersweet ones, for the time we lost. But also grateful ones for the chance we got back. “I missed you so much. Thank you?—”

“No, Shea.” His voice is thick. “Thankyoufor coming back to me.”

CHAPTER 14

OLIVER

I almost feel like I should be knocking on wood.

That’s what my mom used to do whenever things were going really well. Like when my dad won a trip to Disney at work, and it just happened to coincide with me and Maya both getting straight As on our reports cards. Or when I made the varsity soccer team as a freshman at the same time Maya was accepted into the gifted and talented program.

She’d make this silly little smile before finding the nearest piece of wood and announce,“Well! What good fortune! We’d better knock on wood!”

Back then, Maya and I would laugh at her. Not in a mean way, but the way you do when you’re a kid and for some reason, think you know so much more than your parents.

Now? I’d give anything to see her knock on wood one more time. But her luck ended ten years ago, when her failing heart finally gave out. Although, she might consider that good fortune, too. Not leaving us, she was crushed about that, but getting to be with my dad again.

My mom would love Shea almost as much as I do.

I haven’t said the words to Shea yet—not this time around, at least. With everything that’s been going on and the newness of our rekindled relationship, it seems like a better idea to wait until things have settled a bit. And I don’t want Shea to feel uncomfortable staying here with me if I tell her I love her and she doesn’t feel the same way.

Ithinkshe does. But I’m not sure.

Shea cares about me, though. That I’m certain of.

And it’s beyond amazing being with her again. Living with her. Seeing her in the morning, all sleepy and rumpled and cute. Cuddling her against me as we fall asleep—Shea stayed in my bedroom the first night we made love, and she hasn’t left since, which is more than okay with me.

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