I look down at the papers on my desk, trying to hide my face. He can be so sweet sometimes.
“Awww,” she claps her hands together. “You guys are so cute. Okay, about the barbeque . . .”
Sure enough, after five minutes, Nicole got her way and I’m hosting this stupid party with Milo coordinating it. Does everyone around me enjoy tormenting me? I’m sure the answer is yes. I can’t wait for Ava, Milo, and Nicole to be together . . . said me never.
“Explain to me your friends’ . . . whatever-you-call-it party?” Milo asks as we sit on my couch.
His arm is draped across the back, allowing his fingers to graze my arm. “It’s something we started when I moved into this house. We get together, eat, drink . . . it’s not a big deal.”
“Then why the fuss about doing it?”
“It’s . . . complicated.”
“Because of your husband?”
My eyes meet his and fill with regret. “Yes. A little.”
Milo scratches his cheek, seeming to ponder something. “Did you not want to tell me that?”
“I’m trying not to talk about him. I know we’re in this new relationship and . . . he’s gone.”
Milo moves closer. “He was your life. You have children together, and whether I like the fact that another man existed before me, is irrelevant. I’m not jealous of Peter.”
My throat goes dry and I place my hand on his. “I don’t know what to say . . .”
“Look, I may not know anything about dating, but I know something about honesty. Have I made you feel as though I’m bothered by it?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Not at all. I just know how you talking about Kandi made me feel, I don’t want Peter to be that way for you.”
He gives me a slow smile. “Kandi was here and a possibility. Peter is gone. He has your past. I can’t ever get that time. But if another bastard wants to try to come in now and take you away from me, I’ll kick the fucking shit out of him.”
“Good to know,” I giggle.
“But seriously, it hasn’t been that long since he was killed. You’re in the middle of his murderer’s trial, and it would be rather unfair of me to expect it to be as though he was never in your mind, don’t you think?”
The feelings I have for Milo grow deeper each day. It’s crazy how much he’s managed to locate the cracks in my heart and find his way through.
“You like me,” I sigh and rest my head on his arm.
“I do. Quite a bit.”
“I like you too.”
Milo leans forward and kisses me. “I know.”
“Do you now?”
“It’s rather clear.”
I lift my head. “How so?”
His smirk makes me want to both slap him and kiss him. “First, you can’t stop looking at me, not that I blame you.”
“Ass.”
“Second,” he continues on without replying to my insult. “You kiss me any chance you get. Again, not that I can fault you there either.”
“Oh, Lord. Is there more to this?”
Milo chuckles and brushes his fingers across my cheek. “Lastly, you had me come over when both kids are at sleepovers tonight, and you’re not wearing your wedding ring anymore,” his voice drops low and husky.
“I took it off the other day,” I admit.
“I noticed.”
Of course he did, he notices everything. “I thought it was time. I . . . I want this with you, and I want my past to feel resolved, you know?”
He nods. “I didn’t want to push you, Danielle.”
And he didn’t. That’s the thing. It wasn’t him, it was me. I was ready. “Maybe you were right about me liking you, huh?”
Milo grins, his finger slides against my jaw. “I have a feeling you want to show me just how much you like me tonight, don’t you?”
My stomach clenches and my heart begins to race. He’s right. As soon as I knew both kids would be gone for the night, I called Milo to come over. Since the desk sex, we haven’t been together. He’s been sweet and hasn’t said a word, but I’ve been dying.
“Maybe. If you behave,” I say.
“I’m not sure I know how to do that.”
I smile. “I’m not sure you do either.”
“Are you hungry?” he asks.
“For what?”
Milo’s grin turns mischievous and he grabs my legs, pulling me flat to the couch. He hovers over me. “Why don’t you tell me what you want and I’ll do my best to accommodate your request.”
I lift my fingers, grazing his face, loving that he shaved yesterday but the dark stubble is already there. “You make me feel these things,” I confess.
“What things?”
He’s been open regarding his feelings, and now, I’m going to do the same. Milo gives me hope again. It’s something I cherish, crave, and I want him to know what it means to me.
“My heart races when you’re near. My mouth goes dry when I see you for the first time in the morning at work. Everything feels easier when you’re around. Since you came into my life, I’ve smiled again. You make me happy, Milo.” Tears form, but I hold them back, not wanting to feel even more exposed.
His lips touch mine in the sweetest kiss. “I’m trying so hard not to fall in love with you.”
I look up, our eyes mirroring the same thing. “I’m trying too.”
“How are you doing so far?”
“Not very good.”
Milo smiles. “I’m not either.”
I move my thumb across his bottom lip. “What do you think we should do about it?”
He gets to his feet, hooks his one arm under my legs and the other cradles my back. “Which way to your room?”
My arms wrap around his neck and I smile. “Upstairs.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Danielle
Milo sets me on the bed and I tremble a little.
In my office, it was one thing. That’s not my home and it sure as fuck wasn’t a bed. This is a place where I shared my life with someone. My kids live here, and I’m welcoming him into that in some ways.
“You understand this means something?” I ask, giving him an out.
“I do.”
“We don’t go back from this point. We’re a couple or whatever you want to call it.”
Milo leans onto the bed with his arms on each side of me. “I’m not going anywhere.”
I really hope not.
“What about your job? What do we do about the fact that you can’t continue to work for me?”
“Danielle,” Milo’s voice is soft. “No more talking.”
My pulse is pounding like a drum in my ear. “Kiss me.”
He takes his time, unlike before, measuring each inch as he gets closer. My breathing quickens as the anticipation builds. If he doesn’t kiss me soon, I’m going to lose my mind.
I move toward him, gripping the back of his neck tenderly, and close the gap.
When our lips touch, I moan. He kisses me softly but still ardently. I can feel the desire coming off him in waves.
“Fuck, you’re bloody perfect,” he says and then pushes me back toward the head of the bed.
Milo crawls his way toward me. I lie there as his weight settles on top of me. I can feel his cock against my center and my head spins.
I remember how good he was before, and that he most definitely knows how to use it. I’ve craved his touch since that day, and I’m hoping I get plenty of it tonight.
“No, I’m not.”
He pushes my hair back. “You are to me.”
My heart swells and I bring my lips back to his. I love the way he tastes, smells, and feels against me. I love how when he looks at me, I feel strong and wanted. I love that Milo is sweet to me but remains professional with the others. It’s crazy because if I told people what he’s like, they’d never believe it.
Only I get the real him.
There are no walls between us. He is who he is, and I can be me.
Relationships like that don’t happen to many people, let alone twice in one lifetime.
He breaks the kiss, looking down at me. “I’ve never made love to anyone, sweetheart, but I want to tonight.”
I smile. “I want that too.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
Milo pushes up to his knees, and pulls me with him. My fingers slowly undo each button of his shirt, and then push it off his shoulders.
He lifts my shirt, exposing my breasts, and makes a low groan from his throat.
I watch him climb off the bed. “Stand up,” he orders.
My chest is tight, but I do as he says.
“Take off your trousers,” Milo tells me.
“I’d rather take yours off.”