Page 93 of Steps

Breathing heavily, I ease away and look around.Then I take his hand and lead him to a tree nearby.

Varen backs me up against it, lifts my dress, andkneels before me. Hunger for me radiates from his body. He lifts my leg overhis shoulder, runs his tongue along my thigh, then shifts my panties, andbegins licking me.

“Mm,” I pant from pleasure and rake my fingersthrough his dark strands. “Varen…”

He straightens before I come, slides down hisjeans, and pushes his penis inside me. We have sex right there against thetree, grunting as we cling to one another like crazed animals.

We experience ecstasy together; both our bodiesquivering as his warm semen fills my vagina.

Settling, we fix our clothes and compose ourselvesas we come down from the high.

Varen regards me with undeniable affection. Hehauls me into his strong arms and kisses my cheek. “You mean so fucking much tome,” he whispers at the side of my head.

I joke, “Of course you’d say that after havingwild sex with me against a tree.”

He chuckles and moves back to look at me. “I meanit, Toya. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” My heart thrashes withanticipation as he parts his lips to say something else. “I—”

“Toya! Varen!” Daniel bellows in the distance,interrupting us.

“Damn it,” Varen hisses, seemingly annoyed that wehave to separate and go back to pretending. “As soon as this is over and we’reback in Baltimore, let’s tell them.”

I brush his handsome face with the back of myhand.

“I’m serious, Toya. I’m done hiding.”

“Okay.”

He smiles halfway then motions for us to go.

When we emerge from the trees together, Danielwrinkles his forehead at us. “What were you two doing out there?”

Fucking.

“I was just showing Toya Nana’s garden,” Varenexplains, staying calm.

I manage a smile. “Yeah, it’s so beautiful. Thisentire place is breathtaking. Can’t believe you grew up here.”

Daniel sticks his hands inside his pockets andshrugs in a modest way. “It’s great here in the summer, especially. We shouldvisit more, so you and your mom can enjoy it.”

“Sounds great. I’d love that,” I say happily.Although a part of me knows there’s no way I’ll come back here once we tellthem about us.

“Well, come along, you two. Let’s have an earlydinner.”

He pivots and starts back to the castle. Varengives my hand a sweet squeeze before letting go and walking ahead. I fall instep behind him.

Following dinner, we spend the evening learningabout Daniel’s parents and their family.

Then Grandpa Kirby plays the piano for us whileDaniel and my mom waltz in the entertainment room. They can’t stop laughing,even when nothing is said between them. They’re on this freakishly happy high.

Varen stares across to me and smiles. He dips hishead to his phone before anyone notices.

I resume looking at a photo album with Alison andher grandmother on the antique sofa. As she flips through, Grandma Kirby sharesstories about each picture.

Grandpa Kirby finishes playing his romantic songon the piano, and Mom and Daniel draw our attention.

“We have something to share with you guys,” Momsays, beaming.

Daniel holds her hand lovingly. “We were going towait until after the wedding, but we just can’t keep this to ourselvesanymore.”

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