Page 50 of Coerced

“Did I— Did I do something wrong?”

“No, angel. Everything you’re doing is too right.”

“Huh?”

Guess we all have to grow up sometime.

I moved my hands to her hips and pulled her bottom tight against me and bit back a groan at how good it felt. I had to fight to keep from rocking against her to soothe what ached, but things would get complicated quick if I did.

Her shocked eyes flew up to mine.

“Sorry.” I moved back. “I let this go too far too fast.”

She got to her knees and looked downthere, her cheeks redder than I’d ever seen.

“Does that happen a lot?” she asked.

“Every time I touch you.”

“Why haven’t I, uh, noticed before?”

“I usually hide it from you.”Mycheeks were getting red now.

“Why?”

“I don’t wanna embarrass you or make you feel pressured into something.” I shrugged. “Now stop looking.”

“I can’t.” Her smile was pure trouble, but she raised her eyes to mine.

“See what happens when you invite your boyfriend into your bed in the middle of the night?”

“You know you’re my first boyfriend and theonlyboy I’ve ever invited—”

“Yeah, angel, I know.” I took her hands in mine.

“My first and only.” Her soft eyes told me that what she was saying went deeper than the words. “The only one ever, Kerry.”

She’d said the same thing a couple of weeks ago when I’d finally come clean about the biggest reason why I didn’t like to be touched. I hadn’t wanted to, but she deserved to know everything she was getting into by dating me.

And she’d cried as she’d told me that I answered for my choices and my choices alone. Not the demon’s or anything it had forced me to do. At the end of the day, I was responsible only for my decisions and their consequences.

Some of the guilt had lifted that day. My sins weren’t absolved - never would be - and the taint wasn’t gone - again, never would be - but I’d felt a little lighter for her words. A little lighter, and a bit more hopeful.

Now, looking into her shining eyes, I smiled and squeezed her hands.

“And you’re my firstchoice, angel. My first and only choiceever. And now you should get some sleep. Morning’s gonna be here before you know it.”

“Stay with me?”

Oh, no. Not puppy dog eyes!

“Grr. Okay, but no more kissing or touching. I mean it, Gemma. I can only take so much. I am not made of stone.”

“Could have fooled me.”

Her grin was so sassy, I wanted to suck it right off her lips. Strangling a little, I spun, unzipped the tent, and reached for my boots.

“Don’t go, Lab Rat. I’ll behave.”

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