Page 119 of A Love Like Candle Light

“I’ll let her know.” His chest vibrates with a chuckle. “Oh man.” His arms tighten around me. He’s biting the insides of his cheeks and not meeting my eyes. There’s something else he’s hiding. But I stop prying. If he wants to tell me, I’m sure he will.

“Kylie?”

“Mm-hm,” I hum.

“Can we talk?”

I tense. I’m not sure if I like where this is going. “Sure,” I say carefully and sit up a little straighter. “About what?”

“Relax. It’s only… so many things are up in the air, and I kind of want a little security about us.”

“What do you need from me?” I wriggle in his lap until I’m facing him, caging his thighs with mine. “You’re my boyfriend, right?” He nods. “Which makes me your girlfriend.” A smile tugs at his lips. “What else do you need more security about?”

“We’re both in this for the long haul, right?” His eyes dart from my mouth to my eyes. “Because I love you. I want this for the long haul.”

Oh wow. There’s something about the way he looks at me, the thick layer of emotion in his voice that make, or maybe I’m feeling sentimental. Whatever the reason, his words hit me like a freight train.

“I love you too,” I squeak and let my forehead fall to his shoulder. Thank God it was the positive kind of ‘can we talk?’

“But?” When I draw back, he raises his eyebrow in question.

“No buts.” I lift my fingertips to the crease between his eyebrows, smoothing it out. “A part of me keeps telling me you’re too good to be true and is waiting for the other shoe to drop. Which logically I know is dumb.”

“Don’t worry.” His hands wander up my thighs until they come to rest on my ass. “I’ll remind you how dumb it is.”

“I appreciate it. Still, the voice might rear its ugly head sometimes. The downside to dating a divorcee. Just a warning.”

“There’s no downside.” One of his hands tangles with my hair and he pulls me down for a kiss. “Only upsides. As long as it’s you.”

“You’re such a sweet talker,” I mumble against his lips. “Does this answer your question?”

“It does. But I have one more question for you.”

“Hit me with it.”

His fingers run through my hair and I find myself leaning into the touch like a cat.

“Will you come visit my dad with me tomorrow? I have to tell him about Lilith, and I’d like to introduce you to him.”

Of course, it would be a lie to say I don’t feel a little apprehensive about visiting someone in jail. Ultimately, he seems like a guy trying his best who made a dumb decision, though. What a contrast compared to the criminals I usually read or hear about.

“I’d love to meet your dad,” I choke out and clear my throat.

“No, you don’t.” Erik chuckles before he kisses my temple.

“I so do.” I pout.

“You can tell him all about your little ghost roomie. He believes in that stuff.”

“You don’t?” I arch my eyebrows at him. “Because you seemed pretty convinced when my cupboard slammed closed on you.”

“I am open to the idea,” he declares with a chuckle. I’ll take it.

“No lies, Erik. I’m excited to meet him. And ask him about all the embarrassing things you did when you were a child.”

“Okay.” He chuckles and shakes his head. “I’m sure half the prison knows those stories at this point.”

“Yay.” I giggle and nudge my face into the crook of his neck and take a deep breath. “Seriously though, I can’t wait.”