Page 33 of A Forbidden Spring

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MERRICK: I love that mouth

WREN: Oh my God, what is with you? Focus!

MERRICK: I want to be in you bare

MERRICK: There’s no pressure

MERRICK: I’ll respect whatever you’re comfortable with

MERRICK: I was given a clean bill of health before I came to Montana and I’ve only been with you

WREN: Sweet talker

MERRICK: Wren…

WREN: I was a very good girl at my last appointment—all good

MERRICK: A good girl huh?

WREN: You don’t believe me?

MERRICK: I think you should prove it

WREN: Maybe…but Merrick?

MERRICK: Yes?

WREN: I’m trusting you

MERRICK: It means more than you know

WREN: You’re that passionate about no condoms?

MERRICK: No, Hellcat—you trusting me…us.

MERRICK: That means a lot

WREN: Don’t break us Merrick

MERRICK: I’ll do everything I can not to

* * *

“What is that face?”Reid asks when I collapse on Pen and Lake’s couch, my brother relegated to Harlan’s for guys’ night.

“What? What face?” I ask, looking up startled at having been caught rereading the text thread with Merrick.

Reid squints his eyes at me and points an accusatory finger at me. “Thatone.”

“There’s no face.”

“There’s definitely a face,” Pen says, and now it’s my turn to point a finger.

“I brought you coffee and donuts when you were hiding away from the world.”

“AndIdidn’t comment on your face when we saw you all starry-eyed at the bar.”

“I was not starry-eyed.”

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