Page 82 of Trusting Tanner
He brushed his lips over hers. “They’re great. I know they’ll love you.” He paused, thinking about what it would feel like to bring her home to meet his parents, to have them welcome her into the family.
“Tanner?”
“Sorry.” He smiled. “My dad works on Wall Street. That’s how he made so much money so early on. He’s great at buying low and selling high. My mother used to be an independent grant proposal writer. But once Ryder was born, she gave it up to be a stay-at-home mom.”
“I always wanted siblings. When my parents were alive, I liked being an only child, but once they died and I was tossed into the system… I don’t know. I often wondered if things would’ve been different if I had a younger sibling. Maybe I would’ve fought harder to stay in one of the homes I’d been placed in.”
Tanner had no idea how to respond, so he pulled her closer, rested his cheek atop her head, and resumed caressing her arm. He couldn’t imagine being that young and feeling so alone all the time. Hell, he couldn’t wrap his mind around going through life being alone.
“I was one of the lucky ones, I guess. None of my foster parents ever abused me, but there were a few who saw me as a paycheck and nothing else. It was easy to get out of those homes. Act up, break some rules, and they were quick to call my caseworker to come take me back.”
“I’m sorry.”
“The last home I had, the Fergusons, I liked them. Mr. Ferguson was a major gear head. He taught me everything I know about cars. I liked the high school I attended, too. For the first time, I had real friends. I belonged.” She fell silent, her fingers tracing the definition of his abs.
Every time her hands were on him, it was with adoration, love, acceptance. He could feel it in her touch. “What happened with the Fergusons?” he asked.
Her hand stilled. “I got into trouble.”
“You got into trouble? I don’t believe it.”
She playfully elbowed him. “Trust me. It wasn’t intentional.”
That sounded more accurate. Juliana was not a troublemaker, and he couldn’t imagine her as such. “What happened?”
“I was always the outcast; the weird loner girl who didn’t have any parents and no real home. Didn’t have any friends, either, because what was the point? I’d just be shipped off to another home and another school. Attachments were an unnecessary complication. But when I was with the Fergusons, things were different, better, and I made some real friends. Or at least, I thought I had. I went to my first-ever high school party with them. Things got out of hand, and all fingers pointed to me.” She frowned. “The whole thing was stupid, really, but it was enough to get me sent away. Again.”
“I’m sorry,” he whispered.
“It probably wouldn’t have been a big deal except it happened at the same time Mrs. Ferguson found out she was pregnant. They said they didn’t want a troublemaker in their home when they were expecting a baby; they couldn’t handle the stress of both. She was high risk, so that didn’t help, either.”
Tanner closed his eyes and squeezed her a little tighter. He’d wanted her, admired her, loved her long before this weekend, but now that he knew everything she’d been through, all the heartache and struggles, his respect for her intensified. “You’re the strongest person I’ve ever known.”
“Are you close with your parents?”
“Yes.” Tanner rolled so she was on her back and his upper body was resting on hers. Then he stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I love you, Juliana, and I can’t imagine ever being without you. I’m sorry that meant you had to move yet again.”
“I’m not.”
He leaned down and kissed her. This compulsion he had to constantly be near her was beginning to consume him. How the fuck was he going to survive when they got back to campus and he couldn’t spend every minute with her? He moved to her neck and teased the soft spot right below her ear. He’d learned very quickly how much that spot drove her crazy.
“I have the best idea.” He grinned.
“What?”
“You and me staying right here all day.”
“You want to spend all day in bed? Again?”
“Mmm-hmm.” He licked his lips and took another kiss from her. Their kisses were becoming longer and hotter. His cock was getting hard, and he needed to be inside her again, like he was last night.
“What about your brothers? Wasn’t there some sort of party you’re supposed to go to tonight?”
“To hell with the party.” He moved so he was on top of her, using his knees to spread her legs, settling between them. “I want to spend the day with you. My brothers will understand.”
“That really is the best idea you’ve ever had.” Then she lifted her hips, her soft, wet lips pressing against his erection. He groaned and kissed her hard.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
