“Thank you…” Her voice trailed off. “I… I always thought something was wrong with me. But now… I’m thinking maybe I wasn’t the problem.”
I tipped her chin up, forcing her to look at me. “You were never the problem,” I echoed.
Her eyes searched mine, and then she nodded.
I leaned in and kissed her again, soft and slow this time. This kiss wasn’t like the others. It wasn’t fueled by urgency or desire.
It was sweet, delicate—just like her.
And I melted into it. I melted into her.
All the reasons why we shouldn’t do this, why this could end badly, screamed in the back of my mind.
But for once, I didn’t listen.
A bigger man might hold back. A better man probably would. But all I could do was hold her tighter and kiss her deeper.
I knew that I might be scared shitless doing it, but I was willing to forcibly silence that noise in my head that screamed this would end badly.
TWENTY-FOUR
Noah - August
WIND UP MISSIN’ YOU - TUCKER WETMORE
My mind was already replayingwhat had just happened—me propped up on my elbows, looking down at him on his knees.
It was ecstasy. Static sparking through my veins, setting a wildfire in my soul. His touch was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. The coolness of the truck bed beneath me contrasted with the heat building inside, as he kept pushing me higher.
Dorian now stood between my legs, his eyes full of desire. But before he could say or do anything, the sharp sound of footsteps on the uneven ground interrupted us.
A flash of light streaked across us, and Dorian moved instantly. His hand pressed my legs together as he moved in front of me, blocking me from view.
“Woodstone County Police,” someone called out, the words firm but not harsh. A tall figure approached; their features mostly hidden in the dim light.
Dorian stood his ground, his shoulders loose as though this were an ordinary encounter. “Oh hey, Henry,” he said, calm and unhurried.
“Dorian?” Henry stopped a few feet away. His mouth opened, then shut, before he raised an eyebrow. “What the hell is—” His head tilted slightly as he glanced down, his gaze snagging on Dorian’s pocket—where my underwear peeked out, half hanging over the edge.
Well, that’s just great.
Dorian cleared this throat. “Busy night at the bar,” he said, his tone giving away nothing.
Henry let out a short exhale through his nose, the corner of his mouth twitching upward in something between disbelief and amusement.
“Right. Busy. And I’m guessing you didn’t think to pick somewhere less obvious?”
I shifted behind Dorian, every inch of me burning under Henry’s scrutiny. “We’re sorry, sir,” I muttered.
Henry’s head turned toward me, his brows knitting together for a moment before he let out a resigned sigh.
Henry’s hands landed on his hips, and he rocked back on his heels. “Look, I’m not writing you up for anything, but maybe take it somewhere more… private. If it were anyone else patrolling…” He let the sentence hang, shaking his head.
Dorian tilted his head slightly, one hand moving to rub the back of his neck. “Noted,” he replied, his tone casual, almost too casual. “Thanks, Henry.”
Henry waved a hand dismissively, but his eyes narrowed slightly. “Yeah, yeah. It’s the least I could do. Just… keep it professional, Doctor James.”
I bit down on my lip and nodded again, unable to trust my voice.