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I nod against his head. I already figured as much.
“I get that, and hell, if anything it just makes me that much more in love with you.”
He stills.
Pulling back, I cock my head, and run a thumb over his cheekbone. “You’d never ask me to put you before my daughter.”
He scowls as if the mere idea offends him, and I find a smile creeping up my cheek.
“Instead you tried to take yourself out of the equation, so I wouldn’t have to choose.” I pause, ensuring he’s hearing me. “I’m pretty sure that right there cancels out any inclinations of selfishness.”
He frowns, shaking his head. “But you’re here. You came after me.”
“Well obviously.”
“You should be with your daughter. Not worried about me. I—”
This time, I shut him up by kissing him.
He stiffens at first, but is quick to melt against me, his lips parting, granting my tongue entry.
It’s a slow, lazy kiss, with soft glancing touches of our tongues, and gentle brushes of our lips.
When we pull back, we’re breathing heavily, but evenly.
“You did what you had to do,” I tell him. “You got out of what felt like an unsafe situation. You found a quiet place to go to ride it out. Right? You told me that’s what you’re supposed to do if you have no other choice.”
He nods.
“I just hate that…well, I feel like I could’ve prevented this.”
He smiles sadly. “You can’t always prevent them.”
“No, but it doesn’t mean I can’t take accountability where I should,” I tell him firmly. “If I just…communicated better. Was honest with Melandyou…”
“It caught me off guard,” he admits. “Her knowing who I was, but…”
I nod. “I fucked up. I should’ve told you.”
“I was just… I was afraid she’d want me gone.” His gaze drops to my chin, and his cheeks darken. “Especially if I lost my shit there.”
“Ah.” I nod. “That’s…that’s very valid.”
His features tighten.
“But guess what?”
“What?”
I shrug. “She doesn’t want you gone.”
He stills.
“And, even if she did…” I let the words trail pointedly, and I wait.
Finally, he chances a peek up at me through his lashes.
Emotion sears my eyes when I cradle his face in my palms once more.
