Sugar Pie by Victoria Pinder

29

Kerry

I rocked on my feet, thanking goodness he’d gone to take a quick shower. My heart raced.

I’d almost told him the same, but it was impossible. Blood rushed through my veins.

He loved me? He couldn’t love me. He couldn’t know me. I wasn’t even sure who I was.

I fixed his breakfast and lunch. When he came out, I pivoted, and he came right over and kissed me.

Steam rose through me, and I forgot my fears in that second.

The moment ended, and I stepped out of his arms. “Look, I’m not capable of loving you right now. I can’t be who you want.”

He tilted his head and glanced at me. “You already are.”

I swallowed and bounced on my feet. “I’m… hoping you and I can keep whatever this is between us as only physical right now.”

I couldn’t offer my heart to love him back when I wasn’t sure I was built to feel those things or how I would be if I did. He cared about me, but thinking on that was like touching hot stones.

He hugged me. “I’ll give you whatever you want, and I can wait for more.”

“I’m a mess, Warren.” I met his gaze. I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t. Then my eyes fluttered closed, and my lips tingled. His lips met mine, and I forgot the world.

“I love you.”

I trembled but tugged him into the living room. The Berber rug was all we had, and it was fine. I stripped off our clothes.

As he brushed against my chest and kissed my nipples, I realized it was impossible to bottle my feelings. Tears formed in my eyes.

He said, “I’m making love to you.”

I nodded and knew that was the truth. He put on a condom, and as he entered me, I arched to let him go as deep as he could. We both knew we belonged together.