Page 138 of Shattered By the Currents

“Don’t think that’s what happened.” He sucked on her neck.

She moaned. “Someone could walk in at any second.”

“Good.”

“Good? Is this punishment for watching you out there?”

“Not watching… laughing.”

“I did not laugh. I held it in.”

He lifted his head. “You can laugh at me. I can take it.”

“I’m just used to seeing you be good at everything.”

“I only need to be good at one thing now…loving you.”

Her smile widened. “You’re such a sweet talker.”

“No, I’m an honest talker.” He dipped his head and kissed her on the lips this time.

She sank into the kiss. Tasting him. Drowning in him.

The knock at the door had her gasping. She pushed him again; he still didn’t move.

“Going to Bloom,” Joel shouted. “When you’re done procreating, join us.”

Connor frowned.

While Raven laughed. “Come on.”

“They can wait.”

“No. I don’t want them picturing us doing God knows what in here.”

“Like this?” He nuzzled her neck again.

She laughed but eventually managed to slip out of his arms. When she stepped into the community center, everything had been packed up.

Man, those guys functioned like a well-oiled machine. Outside, she could already see the group heading into Bloom.

Something kicked in her chest. The small realization that a few short months ago, she’d had nothing. No money. No home.No friends. Then she’d met Connor, and he’d given her, shared with her, so much.

Before stepping inside the café, she grabbed Connor’s arm. “Wait.”

“Are you okay?”

“Thank you.”

He cocked his head. “For what?”

“You’ve changed everything. You gave me a place to stay when I needed one. You protected me when you barely knew me. And you’ve shared your friends with me.”

“Raven.” He tugged her a bit closer. “You’re thanking me for loving you. But you don’t need to do that.”

“I do.”

“You don’t need to thank me, because it was never a conscious decision I made. I couldn’tnotlove you.”