Page 78 of Whisper Sweet Nothings
This woman was so farunder my skin, I couldn’t see straight. I was done fighting it. She’d made some fair points last night, and if that was truly how she felt today, now that she was sober, then I was open to discussing it.
“Do you remember the conversation from last night?” I asked.
“The one where I made a fool of myself? Yep. It’s playing on repeat in my head at the moment.” Her cheeks flushed pink, and she wouldn’t look at me.
“Winnie,” I said, reaching beneath her chin to turn her face to look at mine. “What you said was very honest, and I appreciate it. I should have talked to you, but I chose to avoid you to try to make it easier. I’m glad you called me out for it.”
“I guess we know who the mature one is, huh?” She chuckled as a wide grin spread across her gorgeous face. “Listen, I stand by what I said, Archer. I like you. But I’m not looking for anything more than you are. It can be something we just keep between us, and if we kiss again, great. If we like it, great. If it leads to doing more than kissing, and we’re both feeling it, great.It doesn’t have to mean everything. I’ve tried that path, and it didn’t work out so well for me.”
“I get that. I just didn’t want to do anything to risk destroying this,” I said, motioning between us. “You’ve been really good for Melody and for me. And I like having you in my life. I just don’t want to disappoint you.”
I cleared my throat, because that was a lot.
Her gaze softened. “You have no idea how high my threshold for disappointment is.”
I had to laugh. “That doesn’t sound good.”
“I won’t be disappointed, Archie. We’ve literally talked about what we don’t want and what we do want more than I ever discussed my needs with the man I dated for years and then married. I promise, you need not worry.”
Her words struck me, and I felt my chest tightening.
Because Winnie was pure goodness. I’d recognized it pretty quickly upon meeting her.
She deserved to have her needs met.
She deserved to be heard and respected and loved.
And it bothered me that I couldn’t give her everything she wanted, but I could sure as hell give her more than she was asking for.
That much I knew.
“How about this,” I said, reaching for her hand. “We already spend a lot of time together, and we continue doing that, but when we’re alone, we do whatever you want to do.”
“And what do you want to do, Archie?” she asked as she moved closer. She climbed on my lap as I wrapped my arms around her.
“Right now, I want to do this,” I whispered before turning her in my arms and kissing her. Her fingers moved to my hair as my hands slipped beneath her loose tee and stroked the soft skin of her back.
We sat there making out like teenagers once again, and my dick raged against my joggers.
I could kiss this woman for hours and never tire of it.
Her lips were soft, and she made these little noises that turned me the hell on.
Had I ever wanted anyone the way I wanted her?
My phone rang from the nightstand, startling us both. I pulled back, and her eyes were wild with need, lips plump from where I’d kissed her.
My gaze locked with hers as my phone rang a second time.
“Get it. That might be your mom,” she said, but she didn’t slide off my lap, and I loved it.
I reached for my phone and kissed her hair before answering. “Good morning.”
“Daddy, why didn’t you pick up the first time?” Melody asked.
“Hey, angel face. Sorry about that. I couldn’t get to the phone quick enough,” I said.
“Mimi is making pancakes, and we want you and my Winnie to come eat breakfast with us.”
