Page 133 of Trust Me

Chapter 35

Dean

By the time we got back to the house, Oli had gone quiet again. I wasn’t sure why it kept happening, and I didn’t know how to stop it.

“Are you hungry?” I asked.

He lifted one shoulder. His arms were wrapped around himself, and it tugged at something in my chest.

“I’m going to clean up in here tomorrow,” I noted, glancing around. “I want to make sure there’s nothing they need to do when they get back.”

“I can help.”

“You don’t have to. I’ll make my brother chip in. It’s his job too.”

“I don’t want to be useless while I’m here.”

“It’s up to you. Hopefully Blake will take the stick out of his ass before then.”

He didn’t respond, and I watched as he brought his thumb to his mouth. When he started chewing on the nail, I grabbed his wrist.

“Stop,” I said.

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you sorry?”

“I know how important your family is to you.” He dropped his gaze. “The last thing I want is to get between you.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake.”

It was obvious he was going to say something else, so I grabbed his jaw and started backing up. He came along without question, his eyes burning while they stayed locked on mine. Reaching behind me, I opened my bedroom door. He kicked it closed once we were inside, and I held him in place, keeping my face inches from his.

“Don’t say stupid shit like that,” I told him firmly.

“But—”

“My parents love you already, and when I tell them about us, they’ll be goddamn ecstatic.”

“Are you sure?”

His voice was so small, that characteristic doubt finally creeping in. I softened my grip and ran my thumb along his lips.

“Can’t you see it?”

“No.”

“Then trust me. Can you do that?”

His throat bobbed against my wrist. Suddenly, a smirk formed on his lips. “Oh, Broku, you’re hella far behind if you have to ask that.”

Something about his response made me tug him forward. When his lips met mine, I felt the weight of the day slip from my shoulders, giving way to the fire that awakened the moment I’d given in to my feelings for Oli.

I dropped my hands to his thighs and gripped them tightly as I lifted him off his feet. He laughed against my mouth and wrapped his legs around me. It was a little awkward with his size, plus he was heavy as shit, but if I wanted to hold Oli, I was going to fucking hold him.

“I feel like a princess,” he said. Throwing his arms out to the side, he tipped his head back, nearly making me drop him. “I am Moana!”

“Shh.” I tucked my face into his neck to smother my laughter.