a while.”
His eyes are shining in the darkness, and the mood between us shifts from frantic to sensual. Every movement is slow and deliberate, and no less connected. I help him put on the condom and guide him into me. We start slow together, mouths sealed against each other.
This is a different kind of passion. One that’s deep and trusting and totally open. Everything between us builds together. Breath and pleasure are totally synced, and when I fall apart in his arms, he’s there with me. We fall into our own pleasure and then each other’s, the orgasm just as deep and just as pure.
Keenan pulls me close after, wrapping us both in blankets, and I cannot remember a time that I’ve felt this safe. This seems so simple and easy. Something more than I could have imagined…
But even as I’m falling asleep, I don’t dare say the words.
13
Keenan
“You can’t just cancel a project without notice, Keenan.”
I sigh. “I’m not cancelling it, I’m deciding to move it. You were right when you asked before. We got pushback. I didn’t realize the people that lived in the building were a vulnerable population.”
Brandon is seething. I can see it as I stand in the doorway to his office. “And you were right when you said that the numbers lined up and that everyone would be compensated. The demolition is already on the books for Monday. I got them to move it up because the permits were ready and they were stellar. We are ready to roll.”
I shake my head. “That doesn’t even make sense. That barely gives anyone time in the building to find new living spaces.”
“Like I said, they’re being compensated handsomely.” He practically rolls his eyes. “I’m sure that they don’t own anything that’s actually that valuable.”
For the first time I’m seeing the truly ugly side of Brandon. Or maybe it was always there, and I didn’t notice. Or chose not to. Justine crashing into my life has given me a new perspective, and it’s a good one. I can’t play god in people’s lives, and I would never want to. “It’s the right move to delay this project indefinitely,” I say, “and that’s the end of the discussion.”
“Excuse me?”
I shrug. “This is the right call. I’m sorry that you don’t see it that way, but it’s the truth. I called to pull the permits an hour ago. You couldn’t go ahead without my okay anyway.”
“You’re fucking pulling rank right now? Jesus, Keenan. What kind of stick do you have up your fucking ass?” Brandon yells, standing up from behind his desk. “This project is one of the most profitable ROIs we’ve ever had at the company, and you’re going to throw it away over a few old people?”
I stare him down, putting ice in my glare. “This company is doing better than ever, and we have plenty of other projects to work on. Pick another one. Any one. And we’ll revisit this project when it’s appropriate.”
Brandon shakes his head. “I heard you fucked one of those activist sluts, but I never thought that she’d actually get to you.” He looks a little guilty when he sees my face, but he doesn’t back down.
If I didn’t need him to actually go along with what I’m saying, I would have a hard time not punching him in the face right now. As it is, I’m struggling to keep my hands in my pockets from folding into fists.
“Get your head out of your ass by Monday, Brandon.”
I don’t wait to hear his response. Whatever it is, I’m not interested.
The field looks exactly the same as I remember it. Justine agreed to come away with me for a weekend, and this is a stop on the way to the coast where I plan to keep her in bed the entire weekend. But this is a nice reminder, given that I was just thinking about this the other night.
“I used to come here all the time,” I say. “I would lay in the middle of the field and just watch the stars and try to find new constellations that no one had ever found before.”
“Really?” Justine says. “How did you get here?”
I take her hand and pull her further into the field. “I’ll show you. In the evening this whole field is absolutely swarming with fireflies. Or at least it used to be. I haven’t been down here in years.”
We follow the path that I used to walk, to the tiny isolated house on