Page 128 of The Reason I Married Him
He tugs on his hair. “That was . . . fuck, that was too much.”
“Oh,” I say, feeling foolish.
He’s right, that was too much.
Right, this isn’t a situation where I should want this or accept it. This is . . . business. What was I even thinking getting lost in his mouth and his hold and everything else that I was just lusting over? “Yeah, I’m sorry too. I don’t know what came over me.”
“Don’t apologize.” He shakes his head. “You did nothing wrong.”
“Well, it takes two people to kiss.”
“It does,” he says. “But I’m the one who slipped you the tongue.”
“And I slipped it right back.”
“Well then, I guess we’re both horny motherfuckers who’ve lost their minds.”
I know it’s a line that’s supposed to make me laugh, but I can’t seem to muster up the enthusiastic laugh he deserves. I just smile instead because moments ago, I was feeling something. I was feeling alive.Which is much more than simply horny.“I guess so.”
He lies flat on his back and takes a deep breath. “Fuck, I’m sorry. It’s been a while for me, and I think I just got lost in it.”
A while? That seems hard to believe.
“How long is a while for you? Because I bet you it’s been longer for me.”
“Now that you say that, I think my answer will make you mad.”
I turn toward him and prop my head on my hand. “Tell me.”
“Over a month.” He winces while my mouth falls open.
“Oh my God, that’s nothing. Try years, Wyatt.”
“Years?” His eyes widen. “How is that possible? You’re. . .you’re you.”
“Exactly, I’m me, and there aren’t a lot of people lining up to be with me.”People leave me, pity me, and mock me. . .but do not show sexual interest in me.And when this man beside meshowed interest in a mere kiss, he pulled away and apologized. I think that about sums up how appealing I am to the opposite sex.
He sits up as well to look me in the eyes. “Don’t downplay yourself like that, Aubree, as if you wouldn’t make any man happy. You’re so fucking smart, and loyal, and protective. You’re a hard worker and thoughtful.”
“Yes, all attributes that scream desire to have sex with me,” I say, which makes him flip a switch from complimentary to mad.
His brows turn down.
His face frowns.
And he grows tense as he says, “Those attributes make you sexy, and if a man can’t see that, he’s a fucking moron. But if we have to relate your physical attributes to what makes you sexy, then you have the nicest, bubbliest ass I’ve ever seen, your tits are firm and perky and look amazing without a bra, and those lips, Aubree, fuck me can they bring me to my goddamn knees. Your beautiful face? It stuns me, especially when I’m rewarded with one of your hard-won and glorious smiles.”
I glance away because I was not expecting that at all. How do I process what he just said?
He hooks his finger under my chin, though, and forces me to look at him. “In case you need me to spell it out for you, it isn’t you, it’s them.”
I swallow, my nerves shaking, my body wanting to curl into him and say thank you...my brain wanting to deny everything he’s saying. “It’s nice of you to say that, Wyatt. But look at what you’ve had to do to even get me to stop pushing you away. You’ve had to physically insert yourself into my life. Any other guy would think that’s too much trouble.”
“Then he’s not the right guy, and he doesn’t deserve you.”
I smile softly, knowing we won’t agree on this, so I drop it and turn away from him.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” he says, clearly not getting the hint that it’s the end of the conversation. “That’s fine.” He wraps his arm around me and pulls me into his chest. “Looks like I’ll just have to prove it to you.”
