Page 105 of Impending Consent

"But?"

"But I'm scared, Sky. I've never felt this way about anyone. I've never been this vulnerable."

"Welcome to love, sis," Skylar said softly. "It's terrifying."

"How do you do it? How do you trust someone with your whole heart when they could destroy it and you?"

"That's the thing about trust, it's a choice. Just like love. You've spent your whole life avoiding this kind of stuff, Sail. You had to be the coldhearted, cutthroat one in the family. Maybe it's time to take the leap."

I closed my eyes and smiled. “God, you and Teej are really the experts on this?"

"Not an expert but I learned a few things when I stopped fighting what I felt for Gray and let him love me. I was scared too, you know. After everything with Conrad, I didn't want to risk my heart again, but Gray showed up, day after day. He proved himself worthy of my trust."

Show up. Show up. Show up. That seemed to be a recurring theme…

"Yeah…"

"Has Rival shown up for you and proven himself worthy?"

The answer came without hesitation. "Yes."

"Then maybe it's time you showed up for him too. Really showed up, Sail."

I knew she was right.

"I should let you go. It's late and you clearly have some things to think about."

"Yeah," I agreed, climbing out of bed. "I'll talk to you tomorrow, Sky. Love you."

“Love you too, Sail.”

After ending the call, my mind was made up and I didn't stop to overthink. I grabbed the first clothes my hands found, mismatched sweatpants, an oversized T-shirt, and slides. Ididn't bother fixing my hair because it didn’t matter. I just needed to get home to my husband.

The elevator took forever to reach the lobby and when the doors finally opened, I stepped out, planning the quickest route to his house,our house. Then I stopped dead in my tracks and smiled.

Rival was still here, slumped uncomfortably in one of the leather chairs of the lobby with his head tilted back against the wall, clearly asleep. He hadn't left.

I crossed the lobby quietly, studying his face, noticing the tension in his jaw and the way his brows were pinched because of me.

Without hesitation, I climbed into his lap, straddled him in the deserted lobby, and pressed my lips to his. He shifted but his arms instinctively wrapped around me before his eyes even opened. He knew it was me.

Chapter 26

Rival

I woke to the feeling of warmth, weight in my lap, and soft lips pressed against mine. My arms lifted to steady the body against me and when I opened my eyes and smiled, Sailor's face was inches from mine.

"Hey?"

"What are you doing here?" she asked with her hands resting on my shoulders.

After leaving her apartment I made it as far as the lobby before deciding I couldn't leave her.

"My wife is here. You needed space, so I gave you space, but my job as your husband is to be wherever you are. So I wasn't leaving."

The smile that spread across her face was so fucking beautiful. "You were going to sleep in the lobby all night?"

"If that's what it took. I wasn't going to force my way back into your apartment, but I wasn't going home without you either." My hands settled on her hips.

---