Page 156 of Forever Defiant
It was gentle. Unrushed. Nothing like the ones that made my knees weak and my thoughts scatter. This one was soft — a quiet promise instead of a challenge.
He kissed me as if he was trying to anchor me, wanting me to feel steady again. His lips stayed just long enough to slow my heartbeat and remind me that I wasn’t alone in this, that the world wouldn’t cave in if I made a mistake.
It didn’t feel strange to me that he kissed me when no one was watching. We shared plenty of hand-holding and kisses in public, but he kissed me now when it was just the two of us. Like yesterday in his kitchen.
It hadn’t been for anyone’s benefit except ours. He walked me home afterward, holding my hand, and up to my apartment door. He kissed me there for a good while before I asked him if he wanted to come in. He said maybe another time, and I wasn’t pissed off and didn’t feel rejected. It was more like he wasn’t rushing this.
We’d had sex. Now it was as if he were trying to get to know me. And I liked it.
When he pulled back, his forehead rested against mine. “Okay?” he asked simply.
I noticed movement at the corner of my eye and squeaked. I actually squeaked. Dustin grinned.
“You saw my mom?”
“Her first impression of me is making out with her only son in his car,” I hissed at him.
“At least it’s not the picture of your lips inches from my dick.” He pecked me on the lips. “Come on, Peterson, let’s go meet my family.”
I got out of the car, smoothing down my black slacks and hoping Savannah was right, and that slacks and a sweater were the casual but smart look I needed for Sunday lunch with my fake boyfriend’s parents.
Jesus Christ. This was going to be a disaster.
Dustin took me by the hand and led me up the four steps to his house. He dropped my hand and wrapped his mom in a bear hug. She screamed with delight as her son picked her up and basically swung her around like a rag doll.
“Dustin put medown!”
When she was on her feet, she turned to me, pressing her hair with her hand. “And you must be Hadley.”
“Hi.” I extended my hand, and she shook it. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Slater.”
I saw the quick sweep of her glance, and she smiled, but it was the smile of a woman reserving judgment.
“Dad inside?” Dustin took my hand and pulled me through the door. “Is Naya here? Thatsquirtbetter be here,” he yelled up the stairs.
Conscious that he’d pulled me past his mom, I looked back to apologize, but she had her back to me and was closing the door. I took in my surroundings as I was led to the kitchen. His house was opulent but also homey. I liked it.
A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair was drinking what looked like a scotch. He grinned when he saw Dustin. “My boy.”
They embraced, and I noticed how relaxed Dustin was with his family. He was always kind of loose, but he was just so at ease within a few minutes of being inside; it was nice.
“Mr. Slater,” I shook his hand.
“Marvin,” he corrected me. “We’re relaxed here.”
His wife made a sound behind me, and I didn’t comment that Mrs. Slater hadn’t offered me the same courtesy.
Footsteps thundered on the stairs, and then a girl came rushing into the kitchen. I realized I recognized her from the bar the night I met Dustin again. She stopped suddenly when she saw me.
“Oh my fuck, you are fucking beautiful.”
“Naya Slater!”
Naya ignored her mom. She looked me up and down. “Wow. You are...” She looked at Dustin. “Him? Seriously?”
I couldn’t hold back my laughter. “Yeah. Afraid so.”
Naya assessed her brother. “But he’s Dustin.”
