Page 193 of Just for the Cameras
“Well, if you ever need me to go with you, I can wait in the car while you visit and then hold your hand after. You just let me know. I hate that you have to go through that alone.”
I feel my breath constrict in my chest because…shit, I’ve never had anyone go with me. Not even when Mom was first admitted to her living facility. My nanny would drop me off, and I would go in by myself, so this…this is different. Do I want her there? Do I want her to see the devastation that sinks into me when my mom doesn’t recognize me?
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said that. Don’t feel like you need to answer,” she says before I can respond. She lifts up to look me in the eyes. “I’m just…I like helping and—”
I press my thumb to her lips as I cup her jaw. “Don’t apologize.”
“But I overstepped.”
“You didn’t.” I shake my head. “I was just surprised is all. No one has ever visited with me, ever.”
“No one?” she asks as she straddles my lap now, my hands falling to her waist, keeping her in place. “Not even your dad?”
“Especially not my dad. Not sure he’s even aware what the facility looks like.”
“That’s terrible.”
“That’s him, though, a terrible human being.”
“I’m sorry you have to deal with that. You deserve so much better.”
“Maybe that’s why you’re here,” I say, looking her in the eyes. “Maybe the universe decided to grace me with someone beautiful in my life to make up for all of the ugly.”
Her expression softens. “Well, I’m here for as long as you want me, need me.”
“That’s going to be a long time. I’m having a hard time getting in my fill. Not sure it will ever be topped off.”
“Good.” She leans forward and kisses me, letting our lips mingle for a few moments before she pulls away. “Are we headed to your apartment after this?”
“What the hell do you think?”
She chuckles. “I think you’re wishing this boat would dock a whole lot quicker.”
“That’s exactly what I’m thinking.”
CHAPTER 36
GRAYDON
Maple sits right next tome, curled into my side. My arm is wrapped around her, and my other hand is gripping the steering wheel. Alex Warren is playing in the background, and we are rounding the corner, about to turn onto my street.
After we got off the boat, it took a second for Maple to balance herself, but then we thanked the staff, and I brought her to the back of my truck, where I lowered the tailgate and parted her legs just enough for my body. She wrapped herself around me, and we made out. I know it was risky because it was in the middle of a parking lot and anyone could take a picture of us, but I didn’t care. I needed her mouth on mine.
I needed to taste her.
I needed to let her know that this was only the beginning of the night.
And now that we’re closing in on my apartment, anticipation is clawing up my spine as her hand moves over my thigh, making me grow hard in my goddamn pants just from the placement of her palm against my leg.
Pathetic.
That’s me.
I’m fucking pathetic.
I allowed myself to give in, to open up to her, to let her see the man I really am, and now I feel like I have to cling to her. I have to hold her, make her mine, because by telling her about my life, I let her take me as hers.
“You know, you’re the first woman I’ve brought back to my place.”
