Page 101 of Open Secrets
Lyle’s mouth finds my neck, teeth grazing the sensitive skin there. The sensation sends shivers down my spine, and I arch into him, pressing my breasts against his chest. My fingers tangle in his hair, tugging just hard enough to make him groan against my skin.
I feel the tension building inside me, a delicious pressure that makes my movements more desperate. My thighs begin to tremble with the effort of rising and falling. Sweat beads between us, making my shirt stick to my skin.
I don’t break my rhythm when I lean back and rip my shirt over my head.
Lyle immediately grabs a swinging breast in his palm burying his face between my breasts, kissing the skin.
He shifts beneath me, changing the angle just enough that when I sink down again, he hits that perfect spot inside me. My breath catches in my throat. My eyes flutter closed as waves of pleasure start to ripple outward from where we're connected.
His hands slide up my back, one tangling in my hair while the other supports me as my rhythm falters. I gasp as he takes control, his grip firm against my scalp, guiding my movements with gentle pressure. Our bodies slide together, slick with sweat. My eyelids flutter closed as he pulls me down to him, his mouthcapturing mine in a hungry kiss that steals what little breath I have left.
The taste of him floods my senses—salt and sweetness and something uniquely his. I moan against his lips as he deepens the kiss, his tongue seeking mine in a rhythm that matches the movement of our bodies. When my hips stutter again, he rolls us in one fluid motion, pressing me into the mattress without breaking our connection.
The weight of him feels perfect, anchoring me as he braces himself on his forearms. His lips trail from my mouth to my jaw, then down the column of my throat.
Each kiss burns hotter than the last. I arch against him, fingers digging into the muscles of his shoulders, feeling them flex and shift beneath my touch as he moves.
My breath comes in sharp pants as he finds that perfect angle again. I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him deeper, feeling the tension building low in my belly, coiling tighter and tighter until I can barely breathe. He kisses me deeply, swallowing my moans as I shatter around him, waves of pleasure crashing through me.
My entire body pulses with release, toes curling, back arching as I cling to him. He follows me over the edge with a groan against my mouth, his body tensing above mine as he finds his own release.
We stay connected as our breathing slows, his weight a comforting pressure. His forehead rests against mine, our noses touching as we share the same air. Neither of us speaks—we don't need to. The quiet intimacy of the moment says everything.
Eventually, Lyle rolls to the side, pulling me against his chest. I curl into him, my head finding that perfect spot in the crookof his shoulder. His fingers trace lazy patterns on my skin, and I feel myself drifting, the day's exhaustion finally catching up to me.
"I love you," he murmurs into my hair, his voice thick with sleep.
I press a kiss to his chest, right over his heart. "Love you too."
His breathing deepens, and I listen to the steady rhythm, its hypnotic cadence lulling me into a state of peaceful contentment.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lyle — Thursday
The office feels smaller today. Maybe it’s the way Maria sits closer to me on the sofa. Or maybe it’s just me—the walls pressing in because I know Dr. Nina’s going to turn her questions on me this time.
“Lyle,” she says gently, notebook balanced on her knee, “I’d like to start with you today.”
My shoulders stiffen. I’ve been through debriefs, interrogations, after-action reports. This should be nothing. But this isn’t about strategy or logistics—it’s about me.
I clear my throat, shifting in my seat. “Where do you want me to start?”
“Well,” she says, “Maria has kept me apprised of the situation. I’d like to hear your side of it.”
I shrug. “It’s the same.”
She just waits. Doesn’t fill the silence. Doesn’t save me from it.
Finally, I let the words come. “I used to think I was a good partner. And then I realized—” I laugh, short and bitter. “Actually, I was made to realize—that I was selfish. That I tried to control everything without caring how the other person felt.”
Dr. Nina tilts her head slightly. “Can you elaborate?”
I drag a hand down my face. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking. Turns out… most of the big decisions in our life? They were mine. Even when they weren’t supposed to be.”
My voice gets rougher as I go. “We live in Austin because I wanted it. Even though I was barely home. Maria wanted to move to Killeen, open her clinic there. But I said no, my parents and sister were here. I wanted four kids, so we had four. And then I wasn’t even there to raise them.”
Maria’s hand shifts slightly on her lap, but she doesn’t interrupt.
