Page 34 of Becoming Us
“But do you need them?”
“It’s safer,” I admitted.
He crossed his arms again, hands clenching and unclenching.
He needs more, Noah.
It clicked, and I rushed to get ahead of it.
“My heart’s not going to just give out, Atty,” I said. “I push myself a little harder than I should. That’s why he likes to keep an eye on it.”
The worry was still there, rigid in his posture. “What does that mean? You push yourself harder than you should?”
“With the team. But it’s okay. We monitor it all the time. That exam I had with the school doctors—the one you saw? I passed it with flying colors.” I stepped closer, placing a hand on his forearm.
“Really?”
“Really. I’ll show you the results if you want. You can even ask Steve—he’ll explain it better than I can.”
His shoulders relaxed, and he exhaled softly. “I’d like that. If you don’t mind.”
“I don’t mind at all. Especially if it helps you feel better.”
“And it doesn’t feel too…” He hesitated. “Too invasive?”
“No. It’s not the same thing. You asking for proof I’m offering willingly isn’t the same.”
He paused, then nodded. “Okay then.” He stepped in, pressing a kiss to my cheek. “Are you really fine with this?” His eyes flicked toward the room, his voice low.
“If I remember correctly, you were the one who said we needed to get along. What better way than locking us in an apartment together?”
A soft chuckle escaped him. “This feels like shock therapy.”
“Maybe. But it’s fine. I have the space. It only makes sense someone uses it. Especially when the alternative is a lumpy couch.”
“Thanks again.”
“No problem, Atty.”
His lips pressed to mine, and the world righted itself again. It had been days since our tumble in his bedroom, and my body had been craving his closeness like never before—like one taste had only fed the fire.
He parted his lips and licked his way into my mouth as I curled my hands around his neck and rose onto the balls of my feet.
“You still have a mark on your neck,” he murmured between kisses.
I smiled. “Yeah, I know.”
He deepened the kiss, one hand gripping my waist as he drew me in closer. “You’re not embarrassed?”
“Not even a little.”
His laugh puffed against my lips, and it was everything. I tugged on his neck and kissed him again.
“It’s nice.”
“What?”
“The hickey. It looks nice.”
