The Reality of Everything - Rebecca Yarros Page 0,123

whispered.

“Pot meet kettle. Kiss me, Kitty.” I was going to lose my mind any second.

“So impatient,” she teased, then closed the inches between us and kissed me.

I kept my groan in check, listened again for Fin’s footsteps upstairs, and sank into Morgan’s mouth.

She gasped and pushed at my chest even as she kissed me back.

“I can hear her upstairs,” I explained against her lips.

Her hands stopped pushing and grabbed instead. I gladly went where she tugged, pressing us against the half wall as I kissed her breathless. The problem with kissing Morgan was that I lost myself in the process. There was no calm control or suave moves. There was just the consuming hunger between us and my insatiable need to please her.

Fin’s footsteps thudded down the stairs, and I slid my tongue from Morgan’s mouth with more than a little regret that we weren’t alone. She whimpered quietly, and I gentled the kiss to a brush of my mouth as Fin came around the corner.

“There you are.” She huffed like she’d been looking everywhere. “Morgan, can Juno spend the night at your house?”

I reluctantly lifted my lips from Morgan’s and grinned.

She blushed bright red and gave me a good glare before turning a sweet smile on Finley. “What, honey? You need me to watch Juno?”

“She bit Mama last week.” She scrunched her face as she hefted the cat into her arms. “And then she peed in Dad’s shoe.”

Morgan stifled a laugh.

“It’s true. That cat hates me.”

“Sure, Fin. Just grab her carrier and her bowls and stuff, and I’ll take her home with me.”

Just when I thought I couldn’t love her more.

“Thank you!” Fin put Juno down and ran for the cat supplies, her unicorn backpack bobbing right along with her.

“You must really love me if you’re willing to babysit Satan’s personal feline.” I grabbed her hips and twisted her to face me.

“I must really love your daughter,” she countered with a smirk, pressing up against me. Her eyes dropped to the current situation in my boxer briefs.

“Can’t help it,” I said with a shrug. “If Finley wasn’t here, I’d have you on your back on the dining room table and your ankles on my shoulders right now.” Fuck, just the thought of it spurred my unruly dick on.

She shook her head and stepped backward, retreating. “Serves you right for kissing me in front of your daughter.”

“You kissed me, actually.”

“Semantics,” she teased with mock shock. “You’d better do something about that. Wouldn’t want the boys at the station to think you’ve got a going-away present for them.”

“Cruel, cruel woman.”

She leaned over the bar, hauled back two giant Ziploc bags, and dangled one. “Take it back.”

“Oh shit, if those are half as good as you smell, then I’ll take back anything you want me to.”

The gold in her sea-glass necklace sparkled in the light as she laughed. “Remember to share.”

I let my gaze drop to her breasts. “Never.”

“The cookies, you insufferable man.”

“Right. Cookies.”

Once Finley reappeared with the cat carrier, Morgan cajoled Satan’s mistress into the contraption and packed up the food Fin forgot into a spare bag.

She walked us out, and once Fin was in the car, I kissed Morgan good-bye long and hard outside the garage. “I love you.”

“You’re just saying that because I’m taking Juno so she doesn’t pee in your shoes.” She grinned against my mouth.

“I’m saying it because it’s true.” I cupped the back of her neck and lamented my work schedule for the hundredth time.

“Be safe tonight, okay?” Some of the light died in her eyes. She did her best to lock down the fear, but it was always there, a nail scratch from the surface.

I kissed her hard. “I will. I’ll text you if I end up flying.” She did better if I sent a before and after message, which we’d learned the week after my storm call.

“Okay.”

“I love you, Morgan.” I kissed her one last time, effectively keeping her from muttering something like I adore you.

Then I headed toward Buxton, where Vivian’s house was just a couple blocks off Pamlico Sound.

Brie answered the door with a smile. “Finley!”

“Hi, Aunt Brie!” The two hugged, and I shut the door behind me so the cool air didn’t escape.

The Beach Boys blared from the speakers, and Claire danced her way in, singing about California girls. I had to laugh. She really hadn’t changed that much since college.

“Fin!” Claire stopped dancing and raced over, sweeping Fin into a hug. “Are you ready for the best Fourth of July