Page 60 of Finally Home

“Ready to talk about it?” As much as I want to say no, I know that it’s just putting off the inevitable, and we are literally on a countdown since I leave in a few hours.

“So I got a call today,” I repeat. “It was a woman, Brynn Murphy, who needs a photographer for her Pilates studio opening. It’s an entire wellness retreat week to celebrate the opening. She had my business card from a friend of hers that I had met once.”

I tell him more details that Brynn had shared in her email, leaving out the most important detail.

“Holls, that’s amazing. I hope you said yes.”

“I did.” My voice is barely a whisper.

Ollie hops up, startling me. “Damn right, you did. My girl is fucking amazing at what she does.” He pumps his hand in the air but freezes with his back to me before slowly spinning to face me. “Wait, why are you sitting here crying and not celebrating? What aren’t you telling me?”

“Well, that’s the thing. The event starts on Saturday, as in—”

“The day after tomorrow,” he finishes. “Or, well, I guess tomorrow since it’s after midnight.”

“We were supposed to have one more week together, now we have mere hours.” My voice breaks.

“Hey, shhh.” Ollie once again scoops me into his arms. “It’s okay. It’s okay,” he reassures me because the words fall on deaf ears.How could this be okay?

His arms wrap tighter around me as I press my face into his chest and unleash the emotions threatening to consume me.

I don’t want to leave here, leave him. But can I really just come out and say that?

Before I let the words travel from my brain to my mouth, Ollie stands with me still in his arms. I assume he is leading me to thebed, but he carries me into the bathroom and sets me down on the vanity.

I look up at him through wet lashes. His blue eyes shine in the light with unshed tears. “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen or known. The brightest star in the sky. The world is not prepared for your talent and grace. I—” He pauses. “I, I umm—”

What is it you’re trying to say? Tell me to stay. Tell me you want this. That you want me.

“I don’t want to spend the last of our time together talking.” Lacing his fingers in my hair, Ollie pulls my mouth to his. Even with the possessive grip he has on my head, this kiss is the gentlest kiss we’ve ever shared.

The only time his lips leave mine is when he pulls both of our shirts off and tosses them to the ground. Oliver Mosby is the picture of sin and temptation and even if just for a few more hours—all mine.

In a blur, we’re both completely bare. Slipping his hands under my ass, Ollie lifts me into his arms. On instinct, I wrap my legs around his waist. I’m not even sure either of us blinks as he carries me to the shower and turns the water on. When the water is to his liking, he carefully walks us into the shower.

Ollie places me on my feet, and while he adjusts the shower curtain, I lean back, feeling the warm water run down my hair and back. The water eases the tension coiling my muscles, and a soft moan slips from my lips.

Ollie chuckles, and I open my eyes to find him leaning against the shower wall, his arms crossed and that damn smirk on his lips. My eyes rake over his body, and I pull my bottom lip between my teeth when I land on his erection.

“I love those little noises you make.”

He pushes off the wall and reaches down to grab his shampoo from the shelf. He squirts a dollop in his hands and stepseven closer so our chests press together. Instead of bringing the shampoo to his hair, he massages it into my scalp.

God, that feels amazing.I hum approval.

Ollie guides me to tilt my head back to rinse the shampoo before he repeats with the conditioner.

“I love running my fingers through your hair.” His voice is husky against my skin as he presses his lips to my neck.

The only sounds in the shower are the water beating against our bodies and our heavy breathing until there’s a click of another lid. I know it’s his bodywash when the scent of sage and cedarwood fill the small space.

“Turn around,” Olie commands, and I listen.

My body relaxes against his chest. Ollie moves my hair to one shoulder before pressing a kiss to the bare, wet skin. I shiver as he drags his scrubby across my skin. First my collarbone, then down to my breasts, being sure to pay special attention to my nipples, making circles around them till they jut out just like his cock against my ass. Before traveling any lower, he moves to my back.

I feel his lips travel down my spine as he continues the circular motions, washing my back. He drops to his knees behind me. But when I try to turn around, his free hand keeps a firm grip on my hip, keeping me in place. The rough material of the loofah against my smooth skin teases me as he drags it up one leg and down the other.

Wetness gathers at my center, and I’m not talking about the water dripping down my body.

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