Page 264 of By His Play

“You do too.”

“This is it now. You’re never going to get rid of me.”

“Thank God,” I laugh. “I learned recently that I don’t do very well without you.”

“I’m sorry. I?—”

“Stop,” I beg, pressing my fingers to his lips. “We’ve both apologized. We’re moving on now. Looking forward to the future.”

He nods before capturing my fingers and sucking them into his mouth.

I clench my thighs together, and somehow, he notices the slight movement. His eyes darken.

“Dirty whore,” he muses the moment he releases me.

“Your dirty whore,” I correct.

He steals my glass back before dragging me beneath him on the couch and kissing me senseless. He doesn’t let me up for air until my buzzer goes off, announcing the arrival of dinner.

Iwalk into the office the next morning with a smile on my face and a bounce in my step that I don’t think I’ve ever had before.

I’ve barely had any sleep, but it doesn’t matter.

My adrenaline is pumping, and I’m ready for what the day holds.

Last night and this morning were just amazing.

It was everything we had for those few days in St. Louis and more.

This time, there is no deadline.

No rush to fit as much in as possible before time runs out.

Now, we have forever.

Reaching up, I run my fingers over the angel wings of my necklace, my smile growing.

Grams did this.

If it weren’t for her being ill, for the lie I told to make her happy, none of this might have happened.

I’d still be perpetually single, and Kieran would be…

Yeah, the less time I spend thinking about that, the better.

My cell buzzes as I step into my office.

Pulling it free, a laugh tumbles from my lips.

Kieran: I miss you already.

He insisted on driving me to work this morning. He has no plans today, so he could have easily stayed in bed, or on the couch watching shit on TV, but he didn’t. He wanted to be the best boyfriend he could be and drive me to work.

My heart flutters.

Kieran Callahan is my boyfriend.

Effie: I miss you too x

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