Page 83 of Deliver Me

“It was time,” Lilly said with an unapologetic shrug. “She’s made everything as difficult for us as possible for too long. I wanted the chance to prove myself, to giveherthe chance to be a better person, but that’s obviously not going to happen.”

“She was just biding her time,” Mia said. “We gave her enough chances—probably too many. I should never have asked you if you wanted me to kick her out. I shouldn’t have put the burden of that decision on you, made you have to be the one to speak up. As soon as I saw her for what she was, I should have told her to leave.”

Lilly’s eyes were wet with unshed tears as she pulled Mia in for a tight hug. “We all did the best we could,” she said. “Next time our best will be better.”

“I can’t believe I did that,” Mia grumbled as she walked into their apartment. She was still riding high on the rush of adrenaline and couldn’t stop smiling.

“Did what?”

Gabriel listened with rapt attention as she explained the events of the evening. “Wait, what did you say to her that had her so upset a few weeks ago anyway?’

“I told her you had a big dick,” Mia mumbled.

Gabriel laughed as she hid her face in her hands.

“I think she was mad that I wasn’t afraid of her anymore.” Mia mused.

“She’s exactly like Richard,” he countered. “She’s mean and spiteful to those she can hurt and a smiling face when the world is looking. She uses people and their faith to her own advantage because she’s cruel.”

“I needed to stand up to her.”

“It was time and I’m so proud of you.”

She shivered at the praise and kissed him softly as she grasped his shirt by the hem and lifted until he helped her guide it over his head, then pressed another kiss to his chest.

His eyes widened as she sank to her knees, pressing a lingering kiss to the skin just above his waistband, where a trail of dark hair ran from just below his navel to disappear under the fabric of his slacks. He flinched, his skin jumping in surprise when she followed the kiss with a small, painless bite.

“I love you.” His voice was strangled and when she found the courage to look up at him, he was watching her with a reverent expression that she’d only ever seen before on the faces of her father’s congregation when they were lost in the rapturous love of God.

“I love you, too,” she said, suddenly embarrassed at the intensity of his gaze as she struggled to undo the buttons of his slacks.

“Fuck it,” he said roughly, pulling her to her feet and then up into his arms as he crushed her mouth under his and carried her to the bedroom.

“Hey,” she protested. “I was doing something.”

“I saw that, and it was hot,” he said as he laid on the bed and began to strip the clothes from her body as quickly and efficiently as possible. “You can do it again later.”

She laughed as he nipped softly at her shoulder and threw her bra across the room. “I didn’t even do anything.”

“You looked incredible,” he argued. “Fucking breathtaking on your knees like that.”

“Maybe next time I’ll actually get my mouth on you.”

He groaned and buried his face in her stomach. “You’re gonna be beautiful but that’s not what I need right now.”

“No?” she asked and let her knees fall open, letting him see that she was already wet and ready for him.

“Mia,” he breathed. “Have I told you how perfect you are?”

“Once or twice,” she teased. “Tell me again.”

“Fucking perfect,” he said, pushing his pants off over his hips and starting to kiss his way up her legs. “The most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.”

The awkwardness of their first time was a long-forgotten thing of the past as he moved over her and pushed them both closer to the edge of oblivion with each thrust. When she shattered, her body felt like it carried more than just pleasure beneath the surface of her skin. It was belonging and certainty and home.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Spring

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