Page 64 of Tempt

I nod, because I am barely hanging on. I am not a crier, I stopped crying over things when I realized that no one was coming to save me when things were bad. But Garrett seems to bring out my weakness and vulnerabilities. Somehow with him I feel like I can fall apart, and he’ll hold me up.

Moving in close he wraps me in his arms, and we stand there on his front step, in the night air, and he holds me while I fall apart. Rubbing my back, swaying me gently from side to side, kissing the top of my head, he healing something inside of me that had been broken for years.

Garrett is giving me back that part of me that was stolen as a child.

“Let’s go inside,” he whispers near my ear. “We’ll order something if you're hungry, and talk if that’s what you need.”

“All I want is for you to hold me,” I am almost desperate for it.

“I can do that,” he says without hesitation. “I can do it for as long as you need me too.”

“Forever,” I smile at him, and he leans in to kiss the tip of my nose.

“You got it,” he says before kissing the corner of my mouth.

Turning me around he walks me to the door and reaches around to unlock it.

Together we walk inside and after he takes a quick shower we curl up on his couch where I fall asleep in his arms.

The last several weeks, the constant stress and anger solidifying within me, has been draining. In Garrett’s arms, my body gives in, with the need to recover.

CHAPTERTHIRTY-SEVEN

Garrett

I stand backwhile Kyra moves in closer to see the baby wrapped in Chloe’s arms. Immediately I hear an awe, and then Landon chuckles.

He moves in to my side. “It’s like a drug,” he says. “They see babies and I swear their ovaries get a mind of their own. Better watch out.”

I smile, though I know that Kyra and I are a long way from that point, the idea of babies with her doesn't scare me.

“She is beautiful,” Kyra leans in. “And those lashes, my goodness they are so long and gorgeous. I’m envious.”

The two of them ooh and ahh over the sweet little one wrapped snugly in a pink and yellow blanket.

Allayah Leann,born at 1:39 a.m. after many hours of labor, weighing seven pounds and three ounces, came into this world and already has her dad wrapped securely around his finger. The way that Landon is watching his wife and their daughter tells me everything that I already knew, what they have is what I want.

* * *

“You want pizza?” I ask Kyra as I sit down on the couch at her side. “Or Jimmy’s Barbecue,” holding my phone. I wait for her to decide.

“Hmm,” she holds her finger to her lips like she is deep in thought. She stretches out and places her feet on my lap. Immediately I wrap my palm around one and offered a little squeeze which made her giggle.

“Ticklish,” she tries to pull it away, but I hold on tighter. Her body wiggling around as she tries over and over to get her leg free from my hold.

Her laughter echoing over my apartment is a sound I love. she has tears of joy, as she thrashes around, but I can’t let her break free because it's addictive.

Her back arches, and I grab her ankles pulling her down on the couch farther. The cushions fall to the floor and I’m up on my knees climbing over her body.

With one arm on each side of her head she looks up at me and her chest is heaving as she tries to calm herself. I can’t stop looking at her, because frankly she is the most beautiful woman, whatever state she is in, she makes my heart race.

I lower myself over her, loving how she feels pressed against me.

She places her hands on my sides, her fingertips making contact with my bare skin, and it momentarily takes my breath away.

“What about dinner?” She asks breathy.

“I can feed you,” I dip my head closer and kiss the corner of her mouth. “What are you wanting?”

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