Page 45 of Protecting the Boundary
I’m about to throw the last few remaining toys in the toy bin in the living room when he walks in. Taking a breath, I stand up and face him.
“Hey,” I say.
“Hey,” he says back, dropping his keys on the counter and taking off his coat.
“I was just picking up. I’m almost done.”
“Okay.” He stands there, staring at me, and that familiar tension that always seems to arc between us flares up once again.
Dammit. It’s too soon for me to be alone with him after what he said to me. I’ve never been called a mistake before, and I’d like to avoid reliving the memory for as long as possible.
I toss the handful of toys left into the bin and then look around the room. It’s all clean and nothing’s been left out. I already put our popcorn bowl in the dishwasher.
“I think I’m all done here. Have a good night,” I say with as much fake cheer as I can muster and then rush out the patio door.
He calls my name, but I don’t look back. I can’t. Not tonight. I’m too weak after Kaylee told me she wished I was her mom. I can’t deal with Romel’s emotional issues on top of my own.
But I forget that he’s an athlete who works out and can run faster than I can. He catches up to me before I can escape into the safety of the guesthouse.
“Meredith.” He says my name like a plea at my back, and I close my eyes, already knowing I’m going to give in and turnaround, even if I know what he’s about to say will probably only add to the hurt I feel.
I turn around, internally bracing myself for pain. He closes the space between us, his gaze fierce on mine. “I’m an idiot and that kiss wasn’t a mistake. Nothing about you could ever be a mistake.”
And then before I have a chance to respond, he kisses me like a man who’s been starved of affection his entire life and this kiss is the only thing that will save him from eternal misery.
TWENTY-NINE
Her lips are even softer than I remember as I kiss her deeper, wishingthiswas our first kiss and I hadn’t messed up the last one. Her hands grip the material of my shirt where it rests against my hips as her body melts against mine. I slide my fingers in her hair and lick across her lips, needing to taste her. She moans as I lick inside her luscious mouth.
My pants get tight as my cock hardens against my zipper. Damn, it’s been so long since I’ve responded like this, and I can finally admit it feels like coming back to life. It’s scary—terrifying—in the way a free fall might be. There’s exhilaration humming through my veins as I kiss Meredith with everything I have and she gives it all back.
“Wow,” she whispers when we finally break the kiss, her eyes glazed and heavy-lidded, and then her cheeks flush that bright pink color I’m growing so addicted to. She has nothing to be embarrassed about. “Wow” was exactly what I was thinking too.
Leaning my forehead against hers, I let out a heavy exhale and already regret that I have adult responsibilities whichmeans I can’t keep kissing her like I want to. “I should go back inside. I’ve got an early practice tomorrow.”
She nods but doesn’t pull away, and I love that she doesn’t. I’d deserve it if she did after I kissed her last time. “I won’t regret this in the morning,” I say, wanting to reassure her in case she’s worried.
She peers up at me and gives me a soft smile. “I’m gonna hold you to that.”
I kiss her once more, wishing I could kiss her all night, but I do have an early practice, and the last thing I need is to be dragging tomorrow because I stayed up late kissing my nanny.
I can just imagine the way the guys would tease me.
The next morning, I’m down in the kitchen when Meredith walks in through the patio doors. Her hair is up in a messy bun and she’s wearing skintight leggings and a loose top, similar to what she wore last night. She looks beautiful.
“Kay still asleep?” she asks, looking around.
“Yeah, she must be going through a growth spurt or something. That’s the only time she really sleeps in.”
It’s already after six a.m. I can’t remember the last time Kaylee slept past five thirty.
“I need to head out.” I glance up at the stairs to make sure Kaylee hasn’t woken up and might be coming down the hall, but the coast is still clear.”Can we talk more tonight after Kay goes to bed? About us?”
She keeps her face carefully neutral, but there’s still some caution in her tone. “Is there anus?”
“I’d like there to be.”
Her dark brown eyes flick back and forth between mine. “Okay,” she says, her voice low. I hope I can convince her to letdown her guard, even if I know it’s my fault it’s up so high in the first place.
