Page 52 of Dream with Me

“Shit. It upset you. I didn’t mean for it?—”

“No. S-s-stop.” I inhale deeply and try to calm myself. “It didn’t upset me. It’s the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me.”

A sexy chuckle escapes him. “I don’t know about that, chiclet.”

“I do,” I whisper. Neither of us say anything for several long seconds. “I didn’t want to wait to thank you since you probably thought I found them days ago.”

Even across the phone lines, I hear him clear his throat. “You’re welcome. I appreciate that. Well... I guess?—”

No. I’m not ready to hang up yet.

“How were the kids tonight?” The question sounds rushed, like the attempt to keep him on the phone that it’s meant to be.

He pauses for a few seconds.

“Good. Lincoln and Ben came over and Ben wore Chase out while Lincoln insisted on teaching Chels and Owlie how to play Yahtzee.”

“Yahtzee?” A giggle escapes me. “What is he, eighty? He’s such a nerd. Who woulda thought Shyley would be the one to marry a dork and nerdy me would be the one to marry the sex?—”

Shit.

He says nothing at first, then, “Go ahead, Shan, finish what you were going to say.” His voice is low.

“No. It was a slip of the tongue. You know I say crazy stuff when I’m super stressed. I just need to relax enough to go to sleep.”

“Yeah? You need to relax?” The roughness in his voice causes a stirring between my legs. Ilovewhen his voice sounds like this.

“Stop it, Troy.” I’m not fooling anyone. I don’t want him to stop.

He says nothing at first. Then, seconds later, “Okay. I’ll stop if you want me to.” The gravelly sound of his voice has me gripping the sheets with my free hand: Jesus, this man.

I wait and see if he’ll say anything else, and he doesn’t. Disappointment consumes me.

“I don’t.” My heart starts racing. “I don’t want you to stop.”

There’s only about two seconds of silence before he speaks again. “No? You want me to help you relax?”

I know exactly what he means.

“Y-yes, please. You, too, though.” We’ve not done this in years. I want him to participate with me.

“I can’t, babe. Not likethat. The kids are in the other room. But believe me, I’d love nothing more than to help get you there right now. Will you let me do that for you?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat. “Yes. Will... will you listen?”

He groans on the other end of the line. “Fuck yes, I will. Jesus Christ, you’re so fucking sexy. Do you know that?”

“N-no, I’m not.” My insecurities start to creep back in.

“The fuck you aren’t. Do I lie to you, Shannon? No matter how hard something is, do I lie to you?”

I wrack my brain. No. I honestly can’t think of an instance where he has.

“No.”

“Good. Now listen to me. You’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen. No one comes close to you. You got it? I want to hear you say it. I want to hear that you believe me.”

I hesitate. Can I? Believe him, I mean.

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