Page 89 of The Liar's Reckoning

“Given the fact that all you had to say was I’ll see you tomorrow or in a few days or next week, it feels like exactly what you’re saying.”

“I feel like shit, Silas,” he says sharply as I’m pulling on my sweats.

“For which part?” I ask.

He doesn’t say anything for several seconds. Not until I turn to face him, impatient.

“For wanting to be with you.”

“Great. That feels amazing to hear you say that. Thank you.”

“Stop it.” He drops his head into his hands. “I don’t want to fight with you.”

“Why all of a sudden would you think I don’t want this? You’re giving me an out? Why?”

“Because I care about you. Is that not blatantly obvious? I’mnot trying to take this too far, but I don’t want it to end. I want to be with you, but?—”

“Then be with me,” I nearly shout. “Tell me when I can see you again and be with me when you’re able to. I’m not asking for more.”

He winces.

He didn’t like that. I don’t get it, though. Why would he want me to give him some ultimatum? I understand what he’s dealing with. Ishelooking for an out? “Do you want me to ask for more?” I ask, trying too hard to read between the lines.

To quickly he says, “No. No. Of course not.”

I raise my brows. “Of course not. All right. I won’t ask. For the record—I haven’t.”

Should I?Or would I only be setting myself up for a harder fall? I hesitate to ask for anything while he’s trying to knock up his wife, though. As long as he’s determined to do that, I’m on borrowed time with him. Granted, married men with kids cheat on their wives, too, but somehow, I don’t see Graham being one of them, even if it kills him inside.

But if Avery knew about us…maybe…

“No. You haven’t,” he says bleakly. “You don’t ask for anything except…” He gestures toward the front door.

I put a knee on the bed, contemplating getting closer to him. I’m not sure about it yet, though. “Why are you making it sound like that hurts your feelings?”

Our gazes meet. “Maybe it does.”

I crawl toward him, landing with my hands on his knees. “I want you to be happy.”

He tilts his head, brow drawn in confusion.

I go on. “If it makes you happy to keep me around, I’m not going anywhere. If it’s making you more miserable?—”

He catches my cheek in his hand. “You don’t make me miserable.”

“I’ll take you, you know? Wife, babies, politics, and everything.”

Graham nods, his thumb brushing across my lips as he stares at their movement beneath his touch.

“I trust you,” I say, which is part of the truth.

“And?”

Asshole.I take a deep breath and close my eyes. “And Icare…about you, too.”

“Silas,” he whispers.

I press my mouth to his. He opens immediately for me, and I go deep, loving him with my lips and tongue if not my words. He grips me hard, like he’s trying to reassure me thatI’mwhat he wants—what he would take for his own if he could.

---