Page 166 of The Off-Limits Play

She giggles and rolls over as I lie down on the bed, lifting my arm so she can tuck herself against me.

I let out a satisfied grunt when she drapes her leg over my thighs, then lets her arm flop against my chest.

Pressing my lips to her forehead, I then tuck my free hand under my head while lightly caressing her back and hip.

“I missed you so much.” She kisses my left pec. “It was a really long month.”

“Yeah, I know.” I swallow. “But I needed it. I didn’t want to need it, but…” I shake my head, losing my words.

“Tell me about it. What have you been doing?”

I close my eyes, hating this but also knowing it’s important. If I can’t tell the woman I love, then what was the fucking point of all those counseling sessions?

Taking a long, slow breath, I swallow my sigh and go for it.

I lay it all bare while she strokes my chest and draws circles and slow winding patterns with her fingers.

When I tell her about the edge of the cliff, she goes still against me, and then when I get to the part about visiting her dad at four in the morning, she squeezes me around the waist. Then I get to the part about my mom’s visit, and she sits up on her elbow, smiling down at me.

“I’d like to meet her too.”

I brush the hair over her shoulder and run my fingers down her arm. “I don’t know when she’s coming back.”

“Why don’t we go and see her?”

My upper lips curls, and she laughs at me.

“Oh, come on. I can charm Johnson. You may not know this about me, but I have a special power when it comes to difficult people.”

The laugh that pops out of me is gruff and loud. “I definitely know that about you, kitty cat. You charmed the pants right off me.”

“Yeah, well, you made it easy.” She simpers, brushing her teeth over her bottom lip.

“And the guy you were dancing with, I bet you could have charmed his pants off too.” I narrow my eyes at her.

“Probably. If I’d wanted to. Which I didn’t, and I made that abundantly clear.” She raises her eyebrows at me. “He was just trying to make me feel better.”

My stomach clenches, my thumb brushing over the pulse in her neck. “I’m sorry I hurt you.”

Her eyes glow with a tender smile. “I forgive you. I’m just glad you came back to me. Because I seriously hate living without you.”

A warm glow that’s starting to feel just a little familiar pulses in my chest. “You won’t ever have to again.”

“Good, because I’m gonna follow you wherever you go, caveman.”

“And I’m gonna let you, kitten.”

She snorts and nestles back against my chest. “How are we not finding kitten and caveman totally lame?”

“I don’t know, but I don’t think we can stop now.” I play with the ends of her hair, wanting this day to draw out and last for-fucking-ever. Because lying naked in bed with this woman is the epitome of awesomeness.

CHAPTER66

NYLAH

It’s early Monday morning, and I’m snuggled up in bed. Peeking my eyes open, I peer across the room at the lump in Jolie’s bed. Her hair is splayed across her pillow, and I can hear her softly snoring. She’s a deep sleeper, so if I get up, I doubt I’ll disturb her.

The problem is… I don’t want to get up.

---