Total pages in book: 119
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114284 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 571(@200wpm)___ 457(@250wpm)___ 381(@300wpm)
River threw their last duffel into the bed of their truck. They had a long journey home, but I doubted they had any complaints. According to Shay, they were gonna extend their vacation so that they got home just in time for our out-of-town friends to arrive next weekend.
January was gonna be kinky as fuck in our community. I couldn’t wait.
“Am I missin’ a story there?” Walker asked quietly, nodding toward Ty and Lane. “I assumed it would be a quick good-bye and a ‘see you for our date when you get home’ sort of thing.”
“You’d think.” I folded my arms over my chest and leaned back against the car. “I don’t know Ty’s story, but Lane’s gonna make himself miserable now. He doesn’t let anyone in—no matter how much he clearly likes Ty.”
“Hm.” Walker rubbed his jaw and sent me a sideways glance. “You must’ve done somethin’ right. He let you in, didn’t he?”
I lifted my eyebrows. “Not really. There’s a lot he won’t talk about. He runs away from commitment, and if you mention ADHD, he goes rigid.” I watched Lane as he reached up and kissed Ty briefly. They were both putting on a show, as if they didn’t have a care in the world. “I think the reason Lane and I work so well is because I told him from the get that I can’t offer much.” I paused and thought about it. The attraction between us had struck hard and fast, and I’d discreetly asked for his number when Corey had been in the bathroom at my restaurant.
That was how we’d met. Corey had brought Lane to my restaurant for a meal, and I’d been blindsided by how fucking gorgeous he was. Flirty and fun too.
“He said he couldn’t offer much either,” I continued. “And in retrospect, it allowed us to relax and lower our guards. Just enough for feelings to get involved—but a different kind. We care about each other a lot.”
“I can tell,” Walker murmured. “I suppose the lack of deeper love makes it easier to only want what’s best for your partner.”
Exactly. I couldn’t stress that enough. That was precisely how it was. Without that hardcore connection, the adoration we shared flowed free and sans fears. No insecurities to hold us back or selfish motives to fuck something up.
The love I had for Walker was the overwhelming, consuming kind—and it wasn’t painless. It came with worries, higher risks, and… I sighed. Obviously, higher rewards too. The kinds that made one feel like they were walking on air at times.
And Walker understood.
“It means the world to me that you get it.” I snuck closer to him and kissed his jaw.
He smiled softly and took my hand in his.
If it weren’t for the changes I’d already witnessed in Walker’s entire approach to our marriage, I’d probably be a nervous wreck right now. Because the mountaintop we had to climb in order to make it… It was going to be a messy ascent. All the uncertainties we’d harbored last time would have to disappear. We needed to be brutally honest with each other and tackle each fear together.
“We ready to hit the road?” Reese asked his two.
Lord knew I was. I needed AC. It was hot as hell today, and I wasn’t dressed for South Florida. I was dressed for DC.
Lane and Ty wrapped up their goodbye as the Tenley triad went to thank Ty again for a fantastic week. Reese was very excited to have Ty in our community, and they’d made plans to meet up soon. A new year meant a whole lot of sitting down to schedule demos and events to fill our calendar, and if I knew Reese, he’d want Ty’s two technical cents. We’d all discovered how resourceful Ty could be on the island because most of the tech had been his.
Reese was going home with a shopping list, in short.
A few minutes later, the Tenleys drove away, and it was my turn to say goodbye to our sexy host. My turn to at least put a thought in Ty’s head.
Lane faked his smiles and got in the car, and Walker shook Ty’s hand.
“You have my number. We’ll do a guys’ night in my studio when you get home,” Walker said.
“Absolutely.” Ty was on board.
Next up was me, and I went in for a hug instead. And all I said was, “Lane is worth the chase, Sir. Just so you know.”
I’d add him as a friend in our online forum as soon as we were in the car, and I’d make sure Lane signed up for an account too. I wasn’t letting them get away.
Ty smiled politely and took a step back, then rubbed the back of his neck.
Shit. I hoped I hadn’t crossed a line. He wanted more with Lane, didn’t he?