Page 88 of Lovestrung

She shrugged. “Maybe, one day, we’ll celebrate the union of two souls who’ve known each other since they were children right here at this very house.”

I opened my mouth, but I had no fucking clue what to say to that.

Did she just give me her blessing to marry her daughter? The very idea made me dizzy, but then warmth spread in my chest, and I blinked when I realized how badly I wanted that future.

Fuck me.

“Close your mouth or you’ll catch flies, honey,” Vivian chuckled. “Don’t mind me. But, please think about what I’ve said tonight. It’s important.”

Struck mute, I couldn’t do anything but nod when she placed her hand on my jaw.

“Good boy.” She suppressed a yawn and pulled her shawl closer. “Now, I’m going to head back inside. Are you coming, or do you need to be alone again?”

“I’ll be in in a minute,” I muttered.

She gave me another small smile and then left me alone.

Mind reeling, I rubbed a hand across my eyes.

First Max warning me off, and now Vivian giving me her blessing? What the fuck was I supposed to do? My body trembled, and I hung my head, feeling more confused than ever. I didn’t know what to do, or where to go from here. Did I ignore the advice from one and follow the other’s?

“Fuck,” I whispered, too confused to make sense of everything that had happened tonight. But one thought stood crystal clear.

And that was that one day, after I’d gotten my degree and was settled on my path to success, there was an important girl in my life who deserved a good man. Whether that turned out to be me, well…that remained to be seen. But come hell or fire, I’d always be there for her, whoever she chose. Because if there was one thing I knew without a shadow of a doubt, it was that I couldn’t lose my sunshine. I would become whatever she needed me to be, and I’d respect her decision.

I had to. The world would be an unbearable place for me to exist in if I didn’t have her in one way or form, and that was unacceptable. I only hoped that, when the time came, Vivian would be right. That if I worked hard at reaching my dreams, they’d come true.

The brightest dream of them all had always been her.

And it always would be.

23

Surprises

Present Day

“Did you have a good time with your parents today?”

We were cuddled up on my couch, the sound of the TV hanging on the wall in front of us turned down low and the dogs snoring on the big carpet next to the coffee table. I’d dimmed the lights after we’d finished dinner, making the apartment feel less like a bachelor pad and more like a home. Penelope was wearing one of my shirts, and it sent unfamiliar possessiveness through my entire being to see her wearing my clothes. She was tucked into my side, half of her body on the couch and her legs stretched across my thighs. I couldn’t stop running my hands up and down her bare legs, and it struck me then and there that for someone who used to abhor being touched, to be intimate with someone else, it felt so natural with this woman.

It shouldn’t have surprised me. I thought back on the years I’d known her and realized that it’d always been that way with us – being close to Penelope was as easy as breathing. When we were just children, we’d often sit together, our bodies close, and after I’d gotten over my instincts to run in the early days, I’d gotten used to it. I’d stopped thinking it was strange. Even then, my body seemed to recognize Penelope’s somehow, trusting her not to hurt me. And now, my heart did the same.

Year by year, Penelope being the kind of girl she was – open, honest, and caring – had made me feel whole. I’d lost my aversion to physical intimacy – I’d never have been able to work at Privé if I hadn’t – and I was grateful for her.

“I did, yes.” She fiddled with the drawstrings of my sweats, and I had to force my dick not to react. Fuck, it was hard – no pun intended – but we needed to talk. I needed to let go of my past fears and trust her; she deserved that much.

She raised her head. “Are you going to tell me you’re okay with them knowing about us, or are you worried?” The serene smile on her lips reassured me that everything was fine between us, but I gave her question serious thought.

I sighed and rested my head on the back of the couch. “I’ll get used to it, I guess. I don’t really mind them knowing, unless it means your dad will hunt me down and beat me to a pulp for seducing his baby girl.” I frowned, only half teasing. “Do you think that’s a possibility?”

She giggled and cuddled closer, her arm around my neck. “I doubt it, baby, but don’t worry. I’ll save you if he comes knocking.”

“Much obliged.”

“They just want me to be happy,” she whispered against my neck. The touch of her lips against my skin set me on fire. It was sheer torture, having to keep my control in check, when all I really wanted was to flip her on her back, lose myself in her body, and make love to her until she was hoarse from screaming my name.

“Sure they do,” I murmured.