The house is quiet. The girls were exhausted and went down easily. Leia is spending the night here, and I’ll come back tomorrow. I’m not sure how much longer we can play this game of separate houses.
Bennett asked me to stay and have a beer on the front porch, and I made the mistake of laughing at one of his stories, leaning into his arm. One story led to another, and I can tell we’re both dodging the one story that will shift the vibe of our night.
It’s after midnight now, and Bennett suggested popcorn, so I’m perched on the edge of the kitchen counter, bare feet swinging. He stands between my legs, his palms flat on my thighs, while the popcorn pops in the microwave.
“You always were a night owl,” he murmurs, his voice a low rasp that makes my stomach flip.
“You’re mistaking that for you keeping me up at night,” I shoot back, smirking.
His eyes drop to my mouth. “My favorite thing to do.”
Our eyes lock, and that familiar tension snaps into place between us, meaning we’re about to forget all about the conversation we need to have.
“Kristie came to see me right before you did that day.” My eyes search his, and all I find there is surprise. “She asked that if you didn’t fight for me, that I let you go.”
The microwave beeps, and he takes the popcorn out, dumping it into a bowl.
“She told me about her family and her parent’s divorce. How she wanted to give her daughter a normalcy she didn’t get growing up. I was confused and upset, and then you came over.”
“And I didn’t fight for us.” His voice is quiet and laced with regret.
“I don’t want to go over all this again. It’s over and done with.”
“Why would she do that? How did she even know where you lived?”
I tilt my head, and he sighs. It’s not hard to find people nowadays.
He looks away from me, almost as though he’s ashamed of his next words. “I told her I loved you and that I was happy, but she begged and pleaded. I understood it. My responsibility to my unborn child.”
I hop off the counter and put my hands on his cheeks, turning him to look at me. “Exactly. And I understand too.”
He nods.
“We move forward. Nothing good is going to come from us constantly looking back. We leave the memory of Kristie alive for Wren, but everything else stays back there.”
He nods again, and I raise up on my toes, pressing a kiss to his lips.
“It’s us now. Where we are now is all that matters.”
His hands grip my hips, and I press my lips to his once more. The tension hums between us, growing heavy.
Bennett picks me up and places me back on the counter. “You’re amazing,” he whispers. His fingers brush my knee, sliding up as if he’s testing the line.
“Keep talking.” I laugh, but his eyes are heavy with lust.
“I want you.” His voice is thick.
I’m not sure if it’s because of Kristie being the center of our conversation, or if it’s the fact she came to see me reminding us of what we gave up, but if he needs me, he can have me to remind him that I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere.
I tilt my head, lips parted. “Take me.”
That’s all it takes.
He steps between my knees. His hands grip my hips as his mouth crashes into mine. It’s messy and hungry and claiming. I wrap my arms around his neck, and he steps closer, grabbing my ass and bringing me to the edge of the counter.
His tongue finds mine, transitioning our kiss to slow and deep, and when I roll my hips against him, his groan vibrates through my chest.
“Upstairs,” he breathes against my mouth.
