Page 116 of Wicked Sin

If I give her space, she’ll let me be a part of it, too. “Whatever you need.”

Putting the car in gear, I head to her end of the city.

We stop for groceries, then I escort her up to her apartment, both of us painfully vigilant. That will pass in time, but it’s hard right now.

I kiss her senseless in the kitchen as we put away the food we bought, and then hold her on the couch for a long time. Kiss her again after dinner, many times over.

But we don’t have sex. We talk. We sit in silence. We talk more. For the first time since our chemistry spilled over into explicitly needing each other, another need has taken top priority. A sweet, dependable shoulder to lean on.

I want to be that, too.

She starts yawning early, which is my cue to leave. Once she’s tucked into bed, I take my leave. “I’ll call you once I get home.”

“Good. I want to hear you say good night one more time.”

“You like that?”

“Love it.”

I brush my lips against hers. “Good night, Princess. Tomorrow, do you want to go the beach? Go dancing? I still have a few days left in my vacation.”

“Yes.” She yawns as she tries to say something else, then she scrunches up her nose. “Okay, I’m tired.”

“You are. Go to sleep.”

“Call me when you get home! I’m not going to sleep until you call.”

I grin the whole way to the car. It was a long day, and a rough day. Brutal for her in so many ways. But that bit right at the end had been pure sweetness, and it carries me all the way home.

It takes me fifteen minutes to get up into the canyon.

I have my phone out as soon as I’m in the garage. Time to say goodnight to my girl.

36

Taylor

I’m smilinglike a dope as I answer the phone. “You made it safe and sound?”

“Yep.” Luke’s voice is low and warm in my ear. “Now close your eyes. It’s dreamland for you.”

“Night,” I murmur.Love you.

He doesn’t answer.

“Luke?” I blink my eyes open and realize the call has disconnected. Maybe he hung up after I saidnight. Did I fall asleep as I imagined sayinglove you?

Wait, did I actually say it?

Mortified, I sit upright in bed. Oh, shit.

My fingers shake as I dial him back. He doesn’t answer.

Fuck.

But that doesn’t make any sense. This is Luke.Luke. Mr. Talk Shit Out. Mr. Feelings Are Fine.

There’s no way he’s ghosting me because I said something too emo, and I’m not even sure I said it. The more I think about it, the surer I am that I didn’t.

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