Mrs. Franklin smiled when she opened the door. “Promise me you won’t run away.”
Heat filled my cheeks. “No matter what happens, I’ll stay.” If the building caught on fire I wasn’t leaving her apartment.
She moved aside and Lance and I entered her home. She hugged me and then her son, and we followed her into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and gave us each an ice-cold beer. “Nothing fancy tonight. I ordered a pizza, and we can just chat and drink while we wait.”
“Sure.” I sipped my beer, glad we weren’t having a big meal. I was nervous about finally sitting down and getting to know her better.
We followed her into the living room, and we sat across from her. Lance’s leg pressed mine, and I forced myself to relax. “Thank you for having me over again.” I grimaced.
“I hope you don’t mind, but Lance filled me in.” Her smile was sympathetic. “I’d have probably run out too if I’d discovered what you did. It was a terrible shock, I’m sure.”
I nodded and Lance patted my thigh. “It was.”
She cleared her throat. “My husband was a compassionate man. I’m sure it’s hard for you to know that after how you met him. But I can assure you, he’d have been gutted to know he’d been duped.”
“Garrett was very convincing.” My voice was soft.
“We only knew Garrett as a child. We saw him once or twice before Tom moved his family to the west coast. Tom was Garrett’s dad.”
I nodded. “I saw him at the trial.”
She bit her lower lip. “My husband just assumed Garrett was being honest. He couldn’t discuss the case with me, obviously, but I knew he’d agreed to take Garrett’s case as a favor to Tom. I wish there was something I could say that would help take the pain away.”
I swallowed hard. “I don’t think words can do that.” I met Lance’s gaze. “But the only person who is worthy of my anger is Garrett, and I hope I never see him again.”
“I’ll kill him if I ever see him,” Lance growled.
“No, because then you’d be in jail.” I frowned.
Bernadette studied me. “You’ve come out on the other side, right?”
I nodded. “Yes.” I hoped I sounded confident. I had days where I felt like I was going to be fine and days where I felt like I was fooling myself. Being with Lance helped me have more good days than bad. “I’m doing much better.”
Lance shifted. “Because of me. There’s nothing like the love of a good man to set you straight.”
“As much as I hate to feed your ego, in this case you’re right.” I held his warm gaze as I smiled.
“You know, Lance, you weren’t exactly doing great before Scottie either.” She leaned toward me. “He liked to play the field.”
My lips twitched. “Yeah. I’ve heard.”
Lance’s cheeks were pink. “How about we focus on you for a moment, Mother dear. Have you and Sam played tennis yet?”
Now it was her turn to look uncomfortable. “Yes.” She avoided our gaze. “We even had dinner after.”
I met Lance’s shocked expression.
He widened his eyes. “You did?”
“It was just tennis and a meal.”
“Right.” He nodded. “But that’s great.”
“Do you really like him?” I asked softly.
“Yes.” A little blush tinted her face. “He’s nice.”
Lance squeezed my leg. “Do you like him, like him?”
She straightened her shoulders. “Well, I didn’t sleep with the man if that’s what you’re asking.” She stood and went in to pour herself some more wine.
“I didn’t think you’d jump into bed with the guy. But… wow… I’m proud of you, Mom. It’s about time you started dating.” Lance stood and followed her into the kitchen.
I stayed where I was because Bernadette looked so rattled I didn’t want her to feel like we were ganging up on her or anything.
“Well, I’m not sure what will happen with Sam. But he’s a good man, and he makes me laugh.”
“That’s awesome.” Lance grinned and hugged her. “I really am proud of you for putting yourself out there again.”
She patted his back and smiled weakly at me over his shoulder. “Thank you, dear.”
He let her go and returned to me, plopping down next to me. He grinned. “The Franklins are finally getting their shit together.”
“I played tennis. Calm down.” She jumped when the doorbell rang. She hurried over and paid for the pizzas, and then she carried them over to the coffee table. “Lance, get plates and napkins, please.”
He did as she asked, and we spent the next few minutes helping ourselves to the gooey, cheesy pizza. Once we were settled, Bernadette fixed her gaze on me. “Lance told me he’s trying to get you to move in with him.”
I was in the middle of swallowing and I started coughing. I patted my chest and eventually forced the bite of food down. When I felt like I wasn’t going to choke, I met Lance’s warm gaze. “He’s mentioned it.”
He snorted. “Mentioned it?” He shook his head. “I bring it up five times a day.”
I sipped my beer and then said, “I don’t want to move in, and then you decide you prefer living alone.”
“I’ve told you a million times that’s not going to happen. Besides, you’re at my house every day, and you spend almost every night with me. I’m not sure why you’re paying rent in Brooklyn.”
“It’s a big deal moving in together, Lance. Don’t pressure him.” Bernadette sent me an encouraging smile, and I gave her a grateful look.
Lance sighed. “We love each other. This isn’t a casual affair.”
“I know.” It wasn’t that I didn’t want to move in with Lance. I just wanted to be sure he really wanted that. Nothing would be more damaging than making that grand gesture and having him change his mind.
“Not to take my son’s side, but I will say this: Lance is a new man since meeting you.”
“It’s mutual,” I said quietly.
“And I already told you I don’t want you to pay any more toward the rent than you pay now. So don’t try and use money as an excuse to avoid me,” Lance grumbled.
“I’m not trying to avoid you.”
“Huh.” Lance rolled his eyes.
I nudged his arm. “Don’t roll your eyes. This is a big decision. We should take our time in making it.”
Lance set his plate down and faced me. “I don’t want to take my time. I want to live my life. With you. Now.”
I swallowed. “It’s a big step.”
He looked toward his mother. “Mom, help me here.”
She laughed and held up her hands. “This has nothing to do with me.”
“Tell him how you knew on your second date that dad was the man you were going to marry.”
She grimaced. “Well, I mean, that is true, but I don’t know that Scottie cares about that.”
I flicked my cautious gaze to her. “You knew that soon?”
“Oh, yes.” Her expression became melancholy. “I never regretted one day I spent with him either.”
“See? It can happen fast when it’s meant to be.” Lance’s voice was coaxing. “You’d be closer to work too.”
“True.” I took another bite of pizza and fell silent. I was relieved when Bernadette changed the subject.
The rest of the visit was spent talking about Lance as a kid and laughing and joking about lighter subjects than me and him moving in together. By the time we were ready to go, I felt much more comfortable with Bernadette. She was extremely warm and accepting, and I had little doubt the more I got to know her, the more I’d like her.
When we got back to Lance’s place, he was quieter than usual. I stripped down to my boxers, and I got under the covers while he showered. When he came to the bed he was naked, and he pressed up close to me.
He kissed me softly, and then he just held me in his arms. I was a little surprised he didn’t push for more. He usually did. I could feel his heart beating beneath my ear faster than usual.
“Is everything okay?” I asked softly.
“Sure.”
“You seem quiet.” I glanced up at him, and his jaw was tense.
“Everything is fine. Go to sleep.”
I sat up on my elbow, and I studied his emotionless face. “I know something is bugging you.”
He exhaled and stared up at the ceiling. “It doesn’t matter.”
I smoothed my hand over his chest. “Tell me.”
He hesitated, and then he rolled on his side and faced me. “I feel like I’m more into you than you are me.”
I bugged my eyes. “What?” I scowled. “How can you say that? I spend every minute over here.”
“I always have to ask you. It’s never your idea.”
I swallowed hard. That was true, but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to be with him. “It’s your place. I don’t want to invite myself over. Maybe you want a quiet evening alone or something.”
“Or maybe you want that.”
I shook my head. “I don’t. That’s not true.” I leaned toward him and kissed his lips. “I love being with you.”
He didn’t really respond to my kiss.
“Lance, what’s going on?” I frowned.
He bit his lower lip, and his thick lashes hid his expression. “I’m scared.”
I grabbed his wrist. “Why?”
He looked up and his eyes were dark with worry. “This is terrifying.”
“What is?”
“Feeling as strong as I do for you.” He grimaced. “I want to be sure you’re on the same page as me before I fall even deeper for you.”
I felt awful that I’d somehow made him think I wasn’t as in love with him as he was me. I moved up to him and pushed him onto his back. Then I leaned over him and kissed him until he moaned and responded like he usually did.
I lifted my head, and I whispered, “Don’t be stupid.”
“What?” He gave a half laugh.
“I’m in love with you. Don’t you dare doubt that.” I clenched my jaw, and then I continued. “I’ll move in with you tonight if that’s what it takes to convince you.”
He narrowed his heated gaze. “I don’t want to have to force you into that.”
“You’re not forcing me,” I said incredulously. “Not even close. But I know you’ve enjoyed your freedom these past two years. I don’t want to rush into this and have you change your mind. It would kill me.”
The tension left his body, and he wrapped his arm around my waist. “I’m not ever going to change my mind about you. This is real. This is not a fucking game to me.”
“Well, me either.” My tone was indignant.
He grinned suddenly and my heart tightened with relief. He looked like his old self again. “Okay, then.” He sounded short of breath. “Then it’s settled? You’re moving in?”
Yes.” I slipped off my boxers and moved to straddle him. He looked surprised but not displeased. “I’ll move my stuff in tomorrow.” I bent down and kissed him soundly. His cock stiffened against my stomach, and mine did the same. “I want to live with you. I promise.”
“That’s more like it.”
“You sure you can handle waking up next to me every morning?” I rolled my hips and our dicks rubbed together with a delicious friction. “I almost always have morning wood.”
He moaned and dug his hands into my hips. “I can help you with that.”
“Yeah?” I thrust my hips again and our cocks slid against each other, nudging a soft whimper from deep in my throat. “In fact, I have evening wood at the moment.”
His eyes glittered with lust. “You want to fuck me?”
I nodded, surprised he’d offer that. “God, yeah.”
“Then do it.”
I moved to grab the lube and a condom from the nightstand. My fingers trembled as I tore open the wrapper, and I slathered my cock with lube. “You sure?” I stroked a slick finger over his hole, and he sighed and nodded.
His eyes sparked with salacious emotions. “Yeah, I’m sure.” He opened his thighs to give me better access. “I don’t want a bunch of prep. Just get inside me.”
He didn’t have to ask twice. I settled between his legs and pushed the head of my cock to his puckered entrance. I held his gaze as I pushed in, and we both groaned. His ass clutched me so tight I almost burst going in, but with concentration, I held off.
He threw his head back, and he arched his back when I entered him. “Oh, fuck.” He panted and groaned again.
I covered his body with mine. I wanted to feel every inch of his flesh against mine as I took him. I flexed my hips and sank in deeper, and he gasped and clenched his teeth. “You feel me inside you?” I whispered.
“Fuck yeah,” he growled, clenching his ass on my cock.
“I love being inside you. It’s like we’re one person.” I hissed because it felt so good as he clamped like a vise on my dick. I rocked into him deep and slow, and his eyes practically rolled up in his head. The slick glide of my cock inside him had me breathless and needy. My thrusts picked up speed as my lust grew to uncontrollable levels.
“Scottie.” He sounded desperate as his hips rose up to meet my thrusts, and his eyes were glazed with desire. “Fuck me.”
Animalistic pleasure radiated through my body as the need to come took over my brain functions. The bed creaked as we rolled and bucked against one another, seeking our release. “I’m not gonna last,” I wheezed as I fucked him deeper and rougher. “Shit, you have me too turned on.”
He wound his legs around mine and nodded. “Yeah, finish me off.”
I slammed into him, my hips moving fast as sweat trickled down my cheek. “I love you, Lance.” My voice shook because I needed him to understand the depths of my feelings. “I need you so bad.”
He squeezed my ass and groaned, his eyes bright with a sexy loss of control. “I love you too. Fuck, Scottie, I love you.” His face tensed, and an explosion of pleasure rolled across his contorted features as his cock jerked and spilled his release over his stomach and chest. His body shuddered and convulsed as he climaxed under me.
I kissed him, swallowing his moans as I came hard, rolling my hips deep and unevenly until my cock was spent. With a groan, I collapsed on top of him, my body shaking from the strength of my orgasm. His arms encircled me, and we lay like that for a few moments, just listening to the sound of each other’s breathing.
Eventually I found the strength to roll off him, falling into a heap next to him. Our hands found one another and our fingers tangled.
“That was incredible,” he said with a short laugh.
I smiled. “I told you I was into you.”
He squeezed my hand. “I’m sorry I was insecure.”
“You should leave that to me. I’m better at it.”
He smirked. “Okay.”
I turned my head and studied his strong profile. “Are we okay now?”
“Yeah. Better than okay.” He sighed. “I woke up this morning and you weren’t here, and I started panicking about what life would be like without you.” He licked his lips and glanced over at me. “I didn’t care for it.”
“It’s not that I didn’t want to move in. But I think I don’t really have any choice in the matter because I hate not being here with you.” I sighed.
“Good.”
“Plus, my roommate decided to start a support group for people who suck at Overwatch and our apartment is even more depressing than usual.”
“Don’t negate the nice thing you said by throwing in the thing about your roommate,” he grumbled.
I winced. “Sorry. Force of habit.” I turned on my side and kissed him softly. “I’m moving in because I love you and I want to be with you as long as you’ll have me.”
“Then you’re stuck with me forever.” He smiled at me as a dark lock of hair fell over his forehead, giving him a rakish appearance.
My heart ached at the love I saw in his eyes. I didn’t have to run anymore. Until I’d met Lance, I’d thought the scars on my body were what kept me alone. Now I realized it had been the scars on the inside that had almost destroyed me.
I thought about our first night together and the pink sunset we’d shared. It really had been a new beginning for both of us, and only a fool ran from the kind of happiness Lance offered me.
And I was no fool.