Page 133 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

She kissed the top of his head and rubbed her hands over his back in circles, feeling the muscles strain beneath his T-shirt.

Finally, he lifted his head. “I need to say it again. I’m sorry. I’ve dated some incredible people. I’m fortunate that most of them were also good people. I’ve made two mistakes. One with a couple who then went to the press. And Ollie is the second. And I have this overwhelming fear that I’ll bring you more trouble, the bigger this all gets.”

Zoe didn’t catch every word, but she didn’t need to because she felt those she couldn’t lipread. She caught his chin between her fingers. “Listen to me. In those romance books I work on, there’s always this thing called the dark moment. Heavy shit happens and the couple split. But then they realise there is nothing they won’t do for each other. They realise everything else would be pointless without the other person to share it with. So, they somehow make it back together. A big gesture, like, he buys her the animal shelter she’s been trying to save. Or in one of my books, he bids on his sub in a charity submissive auction where she offers blow jobs only because she can’t stand the thought of sex with anyone but him.”

“That’s a thing? A submissive auction?”

“In the romance book world, it is for sure. But let me make my point, King. They end up back together. So can we just skip this black moment? It’s not your fault Ollie was infatuated. How could he not be? You’re you. And you’re damn impressive, even if your eyeliner always looks better than mine. It’s not your fault he has no sense of boundaries. I don’t blame you for this. I place the blame where it belongs. On Ollie.”

Alex kissed her cheek. “Jesus, Zoe. I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”

She smiled. “You were a good human being.”

He climbed to his feet and offered her his hand before pulling her to his feet. “Can we start looking for a new place to live tomorrow?”

“I’d like that.”

Alex slid his fingertips beneath the hem of her T-shirt, circling them gently on her skin. “You gonna come upstairs and let me show you just how much I love you?”

“I have to head over to Chaya’s to get ready for tonight.”

He glanced at the time on his phone. “I’m pretty sure you have plenty of time.”

“Yes, but we’re having Prosecco and making homemade pizzas and—”

He cut her off with a kiss and pressed her up against the living room wall. She could feel his erection hardening against her thighs.

“I am such a sucker for you,” she said.

“Yeah? Because I’m such a… Fuck me.” He let her slide to the floor and straightened her T-shirt as she felt the front door slam shut.

Jase wandered into the room and said something she didn’t catch but it made Alex laugh. When he disappeared up the stairs, Alex turned back to her.

“Cerys forgot her outfit for after the show, so he came to get it and is offering me a lift back with him.”

Zoe eyed him cautiously. “That can’t be all of it because you two were laughing.”

“If you must know, he also said I need to wait until he’s moved out before I fuck you against the wall and to let me know that he and Cerys already did it on the sofa.”

Zoe put her hand to her mouth and let out a laugh. “We so need our own place.”

“I can’t wait to find it with you, Rocky. And thank you. You ease me in a way no one else ever has.”

“You’re welcome. You tie me up in a way no one else ever has. Knots and in every other way.”

He kissed her as Jase’s footsteps stomped down the stairs. “I have to go.”

“I know.”

“I’ll be the guy on the stage looking straight at you.”

“And I’ll be the girl on the front row dancing to every song while checking out your butt.”

Alex grinned. “You know, we didn’t talk role-play, but if you want to bring that home with us later…”

“Why wait until we get home. More oral sex and trashed lipstick in stadium dressing rooms. Trying to fuck dirty while hidden in public places. Weren’t they on your list?”

“Fuck,” he groaned, kissing her again. “I look forward to a lifetime of this with you.”

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