Page 2 of Secret Triplets for Christmas

His head cocked to the side, his brows pulling together in a quizzical expression. "I am here. I'm just down the hall."

I shook my head. "No, I mean here, with me."

He scanned my room, but I wasn't sure why.

When he turned his attention back to me, he said, "I suppose I could drag a chair in here or something."

I was pretty sure that Oliver wasn't a virgin, but sometimes, he acted like one. It was sweet that he worried about sharing my bed.

I smiled. "No, right here." I patted the bed. "It's okay. I promise I won't attack you in your sleep."

A reddish hue flushed over his cheeks. He hesitated, and I could only think it was because he’d think it was wrong of him to spend the night with his brother's ex-girlfriend. But in this moment, I needed him more than I needed the guilt over trying to forget Liam and using his brother to do so.

Finally, he acquiesced, standing from the edge of the bed and walking around to the other side to lay down on top of the covers next to me.

I turned over, looking at him, our faces close, so close I could see the spark of gold in his green eyes. "Do you think the nightmares will ever end?"

His fingers brushed along my cheek as he stared at me with such tenderness. "Someday. I suspect that once the case is resolved, we’ll be able to put it behind us." He shook his head and then leaned forward, giving me a kiss on the forehead. "It kills me that you had to find him."

“I still can't figure out why he was here. Maybe I should've changed the lock, but he had no reason to be here that I can think of."

"You’ll make yourself crazy trying to figure Liam out. He was changed."

"The police think he might have startled an intruder, but I don't think that's true."

He shook his head. "I don't think so either. And by now, I doubt the police think that as well. They're well aware of what Liam was into."

A shudder went through me to think that a man I had once loved could let himself get lost in organized crime.

"Right now, you need to think good thoughts. You've got a great family. You've got a great job. Your future is bright."

I gave him a wan smile because his words warmed all the bitter, cold places of my heart. I snuggled closer to him and was thankful when he held me, making me feel tethered to the world when only moments before, I felt it falling away.

I tilted my head to look up at him. "Thank you for everything, Oliver." I rested my hand on his cheek, feeling the stubble that grew there. "I don't know how I would survive all this without you."

"You’re a strong woman, Lindsay. You'd be fine. But I'm glad I can be here for you. To be completely honest, I'm the one who needs you. Liam was all I had, and I failed him."

My heart squeezed tight, aching for Oliver. At the same time, I felt guilty at my selfish grieving and relying on Oliver while not paying enough attention to his loss.

"You didn't fail him. You went above and beyond, but in the end, Liam made his own choices."

His lips twitched up, but his expression was still sad. "Thank you for saying so." For a moment, we stared at each other, and I felt a calmness come over me as I looked deep into his green eyes.

"Do you think you can sleep now?" he asked.

I nodded. "But promise me you’ll stay here."

He smiled. "I'm not going anywhere. I promise." He leaned in again, pressing a soft kiss to my cheek. It was tender and sweet, and this time, my heart ached for a whole other reason. And because it did, I kissed his cheek back. And then for no reason except for the fact that I needed him, I pressed my lips against his.

For a moment, his entire body tensed. Mortified, I started to pull away and hoped he’d still stay after I apologized. But then his lips softened, his arms around me tightened, and the kiss deepened.

He pushed me back, and my entire body shuddered in anticipation. I needed this. I needed connection. I needed something to fill the darkness in my life.

His hand slid under my night shirt, cupping my breast. I arched into him, moaning at the sensations rushing through me. My hands roamed his body, tugging at clothes until he and I were both naked. I felt out of control. Not wild, but just lost in sensations and need. He must have too because didn’t say anything, didn’t look at me as he explored my body. His lips trailed down, stopping only to suckle my nipples, making me writhe beneath him. Then he continued down, down, pushing my thighs apart.

My pussy clenched in anticipation. Yes. I needed this. Wanted this. Wanted Oliver. Only now had I realized just how much I wanted him. How I’d been wanting him for some time.

Guilt at betraying Liam tried to intervene, but I blocked it. I was done with living my life according to what Liam wanted or needed.

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