Page 197 of Not Another Yesterday
I kiss her mouth. Her jaw. The tear that slips from the corner of her eye.
“I’ve got you,” I whisper, and she nods, curling her arms around my neck like I’m her anchor.
When release finally comes, it comes quietly, like a sigh into the night, like soft waves rolling against the shore. Cat’s warm and tight and everything. I hold myself over her, forehead resting against hers, trying to breathe through the intensity. It’s not just the way her body feels—it’s what this means. Today. Us. Still here. Still holding on.
When the aftershocks finally subside, we’re still tangled together. I’m breathless. She’s smiling. It’s all I want: to see her smile.
“So… breakfast?” I manage.
“Sure,” she giggles, but makes no move to unwrap her legs from around my hips, keeping me trapped against and inside her in the best way.
I kiss her softly. “I love you, baby,” I murmur against her lips.
“I love you, too,” she breathes, kissing me back deeply, her hands wrapping around my neck.
“Okay,” I say, laughing a little when we finally part. “You’re gonna need to let me get off you unless you want a round two.”
She laughs, her legs sliding off me. “So horny,” she teases.
I sit back and watch her climb out of bed. “It’s all your fault,” I say, grabbing my boxers and jeans.
“How’s that?” she asks, heading to the closet.
“Uh, because you’re unspeakably hot andreallyfucking good,” I say, giving her an exaggeratedduhlook.
“Butyou’rethe one doing all the work,” she muses, stepping into a navy-blue thong, then slipping into a pair of light jeans.
“Trust me,” I say. “You’re doing plenty.”
We finish getting dressed and step out of the bedroom to find Tori and Shane in the kitchen. They’re both grinning like assholes the second they see us.
Tori holds out her hand, Cat’s black lace panties dangling from her finger. “Good morning,” she sing-songs.
Cat blushes violently, snatching her underwear out of Tori’s hand with a mortified groan.
“Good morningindeed,” I say, stretching and grinning, feeling loose-limbed and thoroughly satisfied. “We weren’t expecting you guys back.”
Shane smirks. “Clearly.”
“I was gonna have Cat right here on the kitchen counter,” I say casually, “but your ass decided to walk in.”
“Ran!” Cat scolds me quietly, making Shane laugh.
“We’re heading to Tori’s parents’ house here in a minute, but we wanted to change and grab the Christmas presents,” Shane says, still grinning at us while I retrieve a couple of plates from the kitchen cabinet to finally eat breakfast with Cat.
“Right. Well, do you guys want to eat with us?” I ask.
Tori shakes her head. “We’re going to have brunch at my dad’s house,” she says. “But hey, that means youcanhave Cat in the kitchen.” She giggles, watching Cat’s blush deepen.
“I wouldn’t hate that,” I say sincerely.
“Okay, can we stop talking about me and Ran having sex?” Cat asks.
“Why?” I ask dryly. “It’s one of my favorite subjects. Hobbies. Things to do. It’s what I live for, actually.”
Shane nods appreciatively. Tori giggles. Cat rolls her eyes and flees to the bathroom.
“So, what’s the plan for you guys today?” Shane asks with a chuckle.
