Total pages in book: 69
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64366 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 322(@200wpm)___ 257(@250wpm)___ 215(@300wpm)
“What?” I whispered.
He swiped at his mouth, as if he was trying to tell me I had something on mine. I reached up and ran my fingers around my lips, but he just shook his head. Looking guilty as hell, he clasped his hands behind his back in an uncharacteristically formal manner and turned his gaze back toward the living room, where most of my family was gathered. Everyone was staring at us in a way that made me even more uncomfortable than I already was.
“Where did you two get off to?” Mom asked, getting up from the couch and coming to stand in front of us. Dad got up and followed, and I nearly buckled under their scrutiny.
Ignoring her question, I put on the biggest smile I could muster. “So I guess we’ll be going now.” It’s not even close to what I’d meant to say, but standing there facing them all, I found that I just wanted to get away.
Mom frowned. “I thought you two were going to stay the night. Jamie, your room is just like you left it, and we made up the guest room for Kage.” She stepped closer to me, cocking her head to the side and squinting her eyes right at my mouth.
Fuck. I definitely had something on my face. I ran my fingers around it once more, wishing I had checked myself in a mirror before coming out to face people.
“Actually, we’re going to have to decline the invitation,” Kage announced loudly, shifting my mother’s attention from me to him. “I only have one more night in town before I have to leave for two weeks, and we’re not going to waste it in separate rooms. Gotta get every bit of loving in that we can, you know?”
Mom swooned, and Dad literally reached over and covered her ears. Even without a mirror, I knew my face had just gone fire engine red.
“I’m sorry, honey.” Dad told mom before shooting Kage an accusing glare. “That was just uncalled for.”
Kage was adorably bewildered by our reactions, and though I was horrified, I had the strangest urge to throw my arms around him. He turned to my dad. “I don’t understand. I thought we were being honest. At least that’s what you said on our drive just a little while ago. That we were going to be straight with each other from here on out, no secrets.”
“There’s a fine line between honesty and TMI, son. Trust me, that was TMI.”
Kage balked. “I didn’t realize the subject of sex was taboo. You’re the one who brought it up to me, Mr. Atwood. You told me that Mrs. Atwood doesn’t believe in premarital sex, so the two of you don’t allow your children to sleep with their boyfriends and girlfriends under your roof. Which is fine. You’re just being honest about the way you feel. Now I’m being honest about how I feel. I think it’s pretty obvious in this day and age that two adults who are officially dating are also having sex. If I have the choice, I’m always going to choose to sleep with Jamie. According to your rules, that means either getting married or staying somewhere else for the night. And since this isn’t Vegas, where we can just run down to the corner chapel, I guess we’re leaving. I’m not trying to be rude or mean, and I’m sorry Mrs. Atwood if I embarrassed you.”
I have to say, I was proud of Kage. He’d honored my dad’s request to be honest and to not keep secrets. The fact that Dad hadn’t been prepared for the reality of that request wasn’t Kage’s fault. Not to mention he was such a man, and that was so sexy. I stepped close to his side, a silent show of support.
“It’s okay, Michael.” Mom smiled, having officially recovered from her shock. “I really wish you boys would change your minds and stay here, but I understand. I don’t get to see my son often enough.”
Kage squeezed my shoulders. “I feel exactly the same, Mrs. Atwood.”
Dad’s face had softened, and he moved to lean against the kitchen counter. “Well, don’t forget the other things we talked about.”
Kage gave an answering wink, and suddenly I was dying to get to the Rover and find out what that was all about. I’d meant to get the story in the pantry, but things went a little haywire.
After we were on the road again, I asked Kage for the details.
“We talked about serious things: the future, my intentions toward you, marriage. Real family-type shit. It was nice.”
“Yeah?” Warmth bloomed in my chest. “You said good things?”
“Very good things.” He gave me a side glance, looking so damn sexy driving our new SUV and smiling at me like he knew a juicy secret. “Of course there’s no telling how he feels about me now.”