Page 38 of When We Break

When I pull my lips from hers, I gaze down into emerald pools and feel my heart stutter. “I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll pick you up.”

“You don’t have to?—”

“I’ll pick you up, Irish.” I kiss her once more, and then tear myself away before I lift her up and carry her back inside, straight to her bedroom, and lose myself in her for the rest of the day. “Have a good afternoon.”

“You too.” Her fingers are on her lips as she watches me climb in my truck, and just as I’m about to pull away, I see her in the rearview mirror, standing there, and I can’t resist her.

I throw the truck in park, push out of the vehicle, and march up to her. As I approach, her arms open wide, as if she already knew what I was going to do. With my hands planted on her ass, I lift her, and she wraps those strong legs around my waist, her hands dive into my beard, and I kiss the fuck out of her.

She moans, and my dick hardens. Jesus Christ, I want her more than my next breath.

“Beck,” she whispers against my lips.

“Yeah, Irish?”

“Tomorrow feels far away.”

I grin and nip at her lips once more, and she moans, pressing herself closer to me as she wraps her long arms around my neck, holding on tight. I bury my face in her neck, hugging her close.

“I know. It’s already killing me. What time are you done with classes?”

“Four,” she says against my skin.

“I’ll be there at three fifty-five.”

Skyla nods, and I release her, letting her slide down my body to her feet. Her eyebrow quirks at my hardness pressed against her.

“I’ve been touching you for fifteen hours,” I remind her. “It’s fucking torture, but it’s worth it.”

She laughs and leans in to kiss my chest, right over my heart. “Drive safely, Mr. Blackwell.”

“Have a good day, Ms. Gallagher.”

I return to my truck and pull away from the house, sure not to look in the rearview, so I’m not tempted to stay with her. I have too much to do at the farm, and I can already tell that twenty-four hours are going to be too many without her.

Before I head home, I stop at a tractor supply store and load up on things I’ll need for Riley if they spend a significant amount of time at my place. It may be presumptuous, but dammit, I want them at the farm with me as much as possible.

And so, with all of the gear Riley could need loaded up in the truck, I set off for home.

ChapterTen

SKYLA

“Well, this is unexpected, my friend.” I usher Riley inside and close the door behind us, setting the alarm. “I think I have a huge crush on my best friend’s brother.”

I wrinkle my nose at that, then let out a little laugh. Riley stomps his feet as if he thinks it’s funny, too.

“You like him. You’re relaxed with him here, and that’s very telling.” I lean down and kiss the top of Riley’s head, then give him scratches behind his ears. “You were a very good boy in those restaurants. That means you get a special treat.”

His ears perk up at that, and I gasp as if I’m excited, too.

“Yes, you do. What a good boy.” Riley follows me into the pantry, and I get him one of the chews that he loves. It only takes him fifteen minutes to devour it, but he still loves them all the same, and with it proudly in his mouth, Riley scampers off to his favorite bed to enjoy his treat.

With thoughts of a shower in my mind, I walk down the hallway to my bedroom, and Riley follows, then curls up on his bedroom bed to continue working on his chew.

He’s been trained to always stick close to me, and I love that I have him nearby. He’s like a security blanket.

Before I can take my shirt off, my phone rings, and I smile.

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