Page 49 of Learning to Run

That could’ve been what made Brady crazy about all of it,but I’d thought Gareth’s question had been hypothetical.

Hadn’t it?

“Ready.”

I was so deep in thought that Gareth’s voice seemed to comeout of nowhere and made me nearly rocket off the couch. I must’ve looked insaneas I flopped back because he frowned and actually looked serious again. “Wedon’t have to tie you up if you don’t want to.”

“No.” Shaking my head as I tried to keep my heart in my chest,I forced myself to my feet so I could go kiss his worries away. “I was lost inthought and you just scared the fuck out of me.”

One eyebrow shot up, but he hugged me tight as I curled intohim and stretched up for a kiss. Being short sucked but I had to admit, most ofthe time I liked the feeling it gave me when he had to lean down to kiss me.

His lips softly brushed mine, but I could see he was stillworried as he straightened. “Are you sure? You jumped a foot.”

Ugh.

“I got distracted thinking about the comment you made aboutthe action figures. I guess I was just thinking harder than I realized.” I feltridiculous having to explain, but it was worth it when it chased his frownaway.

“Oh, yeah, sex is distracting. I get it.” Gareth’s answerwas sweet, but I did my best to ignore Bates’s giggles coming from the bedroom.“We just need a plan and then you won’t have to think so hard.”

I wasn’t sure a plan would help, but I nodded anyway. “Thankyou for taking care of me.”

It was definitely a copout, but it made Gareth smile and itgot me another kiss. “I like being able to take care of you. You and Bates arealways taking care of me.”

And he wanted our relationship to be fair.

Thinking back to our first kisses with Bates made me smileand I felt lighter. “You take great care of me.”

He always had.

And he’d given me real family and a constant push to keepgoing.

Even with our fucked-up relatives, I’d never felt alone withhim and bringing Bates into our family just made that feeing even stronger.“Are you ready to show me my surprise?”

That shifted his sweet smile into something eager andnaughty. “Oh yes.”

But just as my nerves settled, he threw me for a loop. “Butwhat are your thoughts on a tiny bit of pain?”

“I…” Swallowing, I took a second to find an answer to thatquestion. “I put on my lists that I was okay with trying mild pain.”

It was the easiest response to get out, but it made Garethfrown. “That was kind of confusing.”

Probably.

“I don’t know.” Shrugging, I ended up curled up against hischest feeling smaller than normal. “I like how much you like it and I’m kind ofcurious. It’s just…new.”

I wasn’t sure if that made enough sense, but he was sweetand nodded anyway. “New is hard and being curious is hard too. But you know,being curious is what brought Bates into our life, so I think you should focuson that part and not the scary thoughts.”

And he had another good point.

“I’m glad you were curious.” I wasn’t doing terribly well atgiving Gareth a lot to go on, but he seemed content with that response becausehe kissed my head and led me back toward the bedroom without me having toanswer anything else.

Probably because my answers were driving him crazy.

He’d consider it rude to actually mention that, but hedidn’t seem frustrated or confused when we finally got back to the bedroom tosee Bates sitting on the end of the bed. “He’s ready.”

Gareth seemed confident about that and got a smile fromBates. “I’m glad.”

They were both insane.

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