ran my finger over the note and smiled at him.
He nodded toward the book, encouraging me to turn the page.
Carefully, I lifted the edge to see photos of a beautiful curvy woman dressed in a pink silk gown. Her hair flew in the wind, and her eyes lit each photo with a light of their own. Best of all were her lips, standing out with a beautiful shade of lipstick, full and luscious.
My mouth fell open. “This is me?”
He grinned, nodding, and turned the page. Photo after photo featured me, posing against the gray ocean backdrop.
“These are amazing, Becks. You have so much talent.”
He looked at his lap, then back at me. “You like them?”
“Yes,” I said emphatically. “I’ve never had anyone capture me like this. It’s always just another posed photo where they try to hide my double chin or mask my hips or only take the picture from my waist up to hide everything, but this...”
These photos worshipped my body. Highlighted it. Loved it.
I set the album down and wrapped my arms around his neck. “Thank you so much.” Tears stung my eyes, conflicted. Full of disgust for what I’d done and love for the boy who helped me see myself as I was.
“Anything for you, Cupcake.” His arms circled my waist, linking his fingers behind me.
A ball of emotions spun in my chest, growing like a puff of cotton candy. I couldn’t hold it all in, so I poured it out in a kiss. Our final kiss, I told myself.
I had to make it count. I ran my fingers through his hair and breathed in his scent. His hands moved under my jacket, working up to my shoulders and then back down, dangerously low over my hips.
I moved, straddling him on the chair, and he held me steady. Fire spread through every part of my body, engulfing and incinerating any hope I had left of withstanding what would come.
He groaned against my lips, and I moved down, dropping kisses over his neck, on to his collarbone, nipping every so often.
His fingers worked through my hair and tugged, bringing a moan to my own lips. I wanted him to pull harder, to rip the exquisite pain of pleasure through my body. I deserved every ounce of hurt that came my way. I just didn’t know I’d love it so much.
He gripped my hair and made me drop my head back so he could return the favor, scraping his teeth over my neck and then covering each raw spot with a kiss. I was putty in his hands, held firm at my hips and mane.
I fisted his shirt at his waist, holding on, because that was all there was to do while Beckett made my nerves explode with sensations I’d never felt before but longed for more of.
“It’s too...” Beckett gasped against my lips. “I need to...cool down.”
With all the heat building within me, I probably needed to slow down too, even if I wanted nothing more than to continue exploring the way he lit my cells on fire.
I moved away from him but ran my fingers over his chest, over the taut muscles of his stomach. I wanted to savor this moment, the idea that Beckett could be just as overwhelmed by these sensations as I was.
As I looked up into his smoky hazel eyes, at the heart and heat there, I wondered—was I brave enough to give this up? To shatter the fragile but powerful thing we were building together?
I couldn’t. Not now. Not without a plan.
It had to be right. I couldn’t lose him.
But time was running out, and I had to come up with something fast.
Thirty-Eight
When I got home that night, I received the usual silent treatment from my mom. Dad was working late at his downtown office, just another sign of how wrong things were.
But I wasn’t the one who had done anything wrong. So I walked upstairs, and instead of stopping at my room, I knocked on Aiden’s door.
“Come in,” he yelled.
I pushed the door open to find him with his computer out, watching Impractical Jokers.
“You’re not doing research, are you?” I teased.
Grinning, he shrugged. “You never know when a good prank can come in handy.”
I shook my head, not sure I could bring myself to ask him for help. Again.
“What’s up?” he asked.
“I’m having...I need help.”
He hit mute on his computer and pushed it away. “What’s wrong? Is it the thing with Mom and Dad? Because I’m just as confused as you