Page 150 of Almost Ours

A grin pulls at my mouth. “That sounds more like a complaint.”

“It is a complaint.” He dips his head again, kissing along my jaw before adding against my skin, “I can’t concentrate around you. I can’t think straight around you. Half the time you walk into a room and I forget what I was saying.”

“That’s very flattering.”

“It’s a nightmare.”

I laugh, sliding my hands farther up his back beneath his top. “Poor Josh.”

“Exactly.” His mouth brushes mine. “You should feel terrible.”

“I really don’t.”

“No, I didn’t think you would.” He kisses me hard, one hand catching my face while the other slides into my hair, and the force of it sends me sinking further into the mattress. When he finally pulls back, it’s only far enough to breathe, his mouth still brushing mine. “You’re a little menace, Ruby Hollis.”

“I’m your menace, Josh.”

“Yeah.” His fingers tighten slightly in my hair as he looks down at me, all the teasing gone from his face now. “You are.” He kisses me again, slower this time but somehow more intense, and when he lifts his head his forehead stays pressed against mine. “You’re mine, Ruby.” The words sink into me like honey. Before I can say anything, he shakes his head slightly, like he needs to get the rest out before he loses his nerve. “I know I’ve been really shit at this whole thing, but I meant what I said on the night of Abi’s condom fiasco. I’m completely yours. I think I have been for ages, even when I was being too much of a fucking idiot to admit it.”

God.

I grab the front of his top and pull him down, kissing him hard enough that it hurts. His hands move over me again and I don’t even care that we’re supposed to be opening presents, or that my entire family is downstairs, or that Oscar would probably commit an actual murder if he walked in right now.

“You’re mine,” I mumble against his lips.

“Yeah.”

“And I’m yours.”

“Yeah.”

“Good,” I nod, feeling my heart hammer away.

It’s not a declaration of love or commitment of a relationship, but it’s enough.

For now, it’s enough.

Chapter Thirty-Five

Saturday

December 26th 2015

Ruby:

On Boxing Day, Oscar wakes me by shaking my shoulder hard. “Ruby.”

“Go away,” I hiss, trying to snuggle more into Josh.

“Get up,” he snaps.

I crack one eye open and find him standing beside my bed, looking all serious and grim. It forces me upright, assessing my twin in the dark of the morning. “What’s wrong?”

His eyes slide to Josh. “Not in here. Let’s talk downstairs.”

“But why?”

“Ruby,” he barks. “Just come downstairs.” Oscar pauses, an undercurrent of tension on his features. “Please.”