Page 4 of Top Shelf

Or maybe it’s the fact that it’s me and Tyson. And this time could beourtime.Finally.

I turn my body toward him and press up onto my knees.

He raises an eyebrow, nudging me gently with his shoulder.

“Hey,” he whispers, “what is it?”

I don’t say anything at first. I let my eyes scour his face, soaking in all the things I’ve had to admire in silence before. The dark brown of his eyes, the copper that speckles his mostly black facial hair, the long lashes that fan his cheeks when he blinks.

The lips.

God, those lips.

“Why did you take me away today?” I ask him. The question surprises him. His eyebrows jump, then knit together.

“What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I asked. Why did you take me away today?”

“Because you needed me to,” he says. I swallow and nod. I move my hand on top of his, covering it, then I lift my eyes to his again.

“Did you want me to marry him today, Ty?” I whisper.Please tell me no.His expression is pained, his eyes darting back and forth.

“I…I just want you to be happy, Sade. I—”

“Tyson,” I say, my voice hard now, “did you want me to marry him today?”

His eyes meet mine, trapping me in a gaze that shoots a chill down my spine and makes it so that I can hear my own heartbeat.

“No,” he says, his teeth almost gritting together.

“Why?” I ask him. “Why did you take me away today?”

For the love of God, please just answer me the way I need you to. The way I have wanted you to for a decade.

His jaw ticks as his eyes drop down to our fingers, interlocked now. I give his hand a squeeze, taking his other one in mine now. I’m pleading to him with my eyes. I’m begging him to say what I need him to say.

“Because you don’t belong with him. Or anyone else. You belong with me, Sadie. And I took you away because you should be withme.”

Holy fuck.

That’ll do it.

I feel my pulse reverberating through my whole body.

I press up onto my knees and slide my hands up his chest, pressing my palms against him. I lean forward so our lips are just inches apart, and I can feel his breath on my skin.

I press my lips to his lightly, just long enough for the tension in the air to slowly start to dissipate.

“Tell me again, Ty,” I whisper to him. His eyes widen. “Tell me who I belong with. Who I belong to.”

I feel his hands slide up my back as he presses me to him, devouring my lips in a kiss that leaves them swollen and puffy.

“You belong tome,Sadie Blackwell,” he growls, and my stomach flips.

I kiss him again, this time letting my tongue dance around his, my fingernails digging into his shoulder.

“Show me,” I tell him when we come apart. His eyes widen again as he stares at me.

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