Chapter 40
—Reed—
Nine. That was the precise number of times I itched to kiss the hell out of her. Nine moments where the world faded, and I couldn’t breathe simply from looking at her. And nine times I resisted sealing my lips over hers and claiming them. Barely.
We had lunch at the LP, where Wendy and Saul had welcomed her like the long-lost friend she was. I shared stories, and she listened in rapture, yet all the while we pussyfooted around the one subject that I desperately wanted to talk about.
Posie.
The most precious piece of us that came out of the worst situation.
I glanced at Kasey riding shotgun in my car, hair blowing in the wind from the open window, and her head relaxed against the headrest. My heart burst with affection so profound it brought a lump to my throat. What if she never remembered me and never grew to accept Posie as a part of her life?
The ache in my throat increased, and I grunted to rid the restriction. I saw Kase glance my way in my peripheral and felt her studying my profile as I drove.
“Are you okay?”
I hoped my smirk didn’t look as forced as it felt. “Never been better, babe.”
Lies.
“You?” I asked.
“Yeah. Tired, but I’ve had fun today.”
My hand found her knee out of pure muscle memory. We both held a collective breath, determining how the other would react to the contact. When Kasey smiled and set her hand on top of mine just like she used to, my soul breathed a sigh of relief.
Maybe my girl was coming back to me. Just maybe.
Taking the fragile chance, I worked my tongue back and forth across my lower lip. “Want to do something scary?”
Her fingers flexed against mine. “Depends. Like adrenaline scary, or…”
“The other scary.”
Kasey’s gaze searched mine within seconds of my glance. “Depends. What are you thinking?”
I’d shown her all around town and taken her to spots we used to visit or socialize, but there was one place missing from that list.
“Come home with me. Hang for a bit with me and your parents all together.”
See our daughter, I left unsaid.
All optimism evaporated the instant she released my hand like a hot poker. “I dunno, Reed…”
I recoiled and danced my fingers on the gearshift, berating myself for pushing too damn hard.
I forced a smile. “It’s fine, darlin’. Another time.”
While my thoughts reeled, Kasey looked out the window, shoulders angled away and fuck off vibes radiating off her in thick waves.
“Stop the car.”
“What?” I snapped a little too harshly.
Kasey looked over her shoulder with wild eyes. “Pull over, please.”
I did a double take. “Now?”
“Yeah,” she sassed, giving me an attitude that had my hackles rising.
I took a deep breath to shake it off. “I don’t want to end this on a sour note, ba—”
“Pull the fuck over, Reed!”
The desperation in her tone had me cursing and making a hasty swerve onto the shoulder. As soon as my tires had stopped rolling, Kase flung the door open and all but threw herself from the passenger seat. I gaped and stuttered in disbelief as she rounded the hood.
If looks could kill, Jesus Christ I’d be a dead man and cremated on impact.
My driver’s door was unceremoniously wrenched open. Kase savagely sank her claws into my shirt and pulled. “Get out of the car.”
“What?” I laughed in shock. “You can’t kick me out of my own damn car, darlin’.”
“Get out of the car, Reed!”
My fingers scrambled to disengage the seatbelt. “Fine. I’ll humor you.”
Once standing, I towered over her and crossed my arms over my chest. “Now what, you savage little b—”
Kase threw herself at me, cutting my words off at the root. Her arms circled my torso and squeezed hard with an air of desperation. Taken off guard and filled by a sordid mixture of annoyance and arousal, I pulled my arms free, then claimed her mouth with mine. I kissed her like my next breath depended on it.
My fingers tangled in her hair to hold her hostage while devouring the sweetest taste I’d ever known. Following her lead, I danced my tongue across hers, then spun her around to press her against my car.
The breathy gasp she made as I sucked her lower lip sent hot chills down my spine. Possession lit, stoking and burning hotter with each swipe of her tongue across mine.
Kasey’s breasts thrust higher, pressing harder against my chest as she tightened her squeeze around my torso. Polished fingernails raked down my flanks, sending me back months to when we loved hard and recklessly.
I ground my hardening dick against her, unable to stop now that I’d succumbed. Months of longing and craving and loneliness pushed me too easily past the breaking point.
Behind me, a car sped past, honking and revving with a group of young guys cat-calling out all sorts of shit from the open windows. Awareness slammed home as I eased the kiss to an end.
“Shit,” I breathed out against Kase’s lips.
I’d fucked up. Taken blindly without care for the repercussions and the fragile progress Kase and I had clawed at to get.
I expected her to shove me away and stab me with a concealed weapon. Instead, her arms stayed around my waist, and I wrapped her in a protective hug, anchoring her to me while squeezing my eyes closed with gratitude.
“Thank you for today,” she murmured against my chest.
I couldn’t suppress a chuckle. “You had to bully me out of my car to tell me that?”
Her squeeze tightened. “I wanted a hug.”
Grinning like a goddamn fool, I kissed the top of her head. “And you stooped to thug-tactics to get one.”
The giggle against my chest made my heart soar. “It worked though.”
“Fuckin’ A it did.” I planted another fierce kiss among her floral-scented hair. “I’ve missed kissing you.”
For the longest time, we stood wrapped in each other’s arms on the side of the road, not uttering a single word.
Kasey started to fidget, then stated, “I’d like that.”
I tucked my chin back to look at her. “Like what?”
Her unusually shy gaze lifted and met mine. “To come to your place. If that’s still okay? Just for a bit?”
An unchecked groan left my mouth as I hugged her harder. “Of course it is, darlin’.”
I’d do anything for her. Anything for both my girls, and if I had to be bullied from my car just to have them both willingly under one roof this afternoon, then I was okay with that.