Pieces of Summer (A stand-alone novel)(86)

He doesn’t look the least bit deterred. If anything, he looks like he’s even more steadfast than before. So I simplify what I’m saying.

“I’m a f*cking psycho,” I add, watching his lips twitch like he finds it humorous.

“You’re not psycho. How long are we going to do this dance before I convince you to come back?”

“Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to keep saying no?” I groan.

“Then say yes,” he chirps, grinning like this is a game to him. Just his smile makes me stupidly smile back.

It takes a very, very large effort, but I mask my features once again when I see too much triumph in his eyes. This is a one-way road to f*cked-up-ville, and there isn’t much of a chance for return for him.

“You’re still in love with the girl you knew, Chase. Yes, I agree that this argument is getting tired, but I’m not that girl anymore. Stop. Just stop,” I say quietly, leaning forward to rest my head on his chest again when staring into his eyes becomes too hard.

His arms wrap around me, and his hand slides up and down my back, a soothing motion that feels too good. I just got over the need for physical contact… Or at least I thought I did. I’m soaking it in right now like I can’t get enough, even though I should be putting distance between us.

“You’re the only person who makes me feel anything,” he says so quietly that I almost don’t hear it.

A tear escapes my eye, and I squeeze my eyes shut in protest of the other tears that want to join the escapee.

“I f*cked up once and let you go. Then I lived with a hole inside of me, Mika. Yeah, I know that’s cliché and cheesy, but it’s the truth. Then you came back, and I stopped surviving and felt like I was finally living. You’re still it for me. I’m not letting you go again.”

“I have so many limitations,” I admit, still trying to talk him out of this. It’s insane. “I don’t even know how to ride a bike anymore.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I outgrew my bike,” he says dryly.

I laugh and groan at the same time, and he kisses the top of my head.

“My mind only works well if I’m not agitated. Normal people get agitated in a good relationship. Do you understand I could go loco at the slightest thing?”

“You’re sexy when you’re crazy.”

I lean back and glare up at him as he smirks down at me.

“I’m literally crazy now. And this isn’t a joke.”

His smirk vanishes.

“You’re not crazy. There’s a difference in a brain injury and being crazy. But I wouldn’t give a damn if you were certifiably insane—”

“I was at one time,” I interrupt, but he goes on as though I haven’t said anything.

“I don’t care if you put ice cream in the cabinet instead of the freezer. I don’t care if you can’t ride a f*cking bike or bowl. I don’t care if you have to break shit on occasion. I don’t give a damn about all the things you have to do to cope. It’s not a sacrifice, Mika. At all.”

I study his eyes, and he moves closer, sliding his hands around my back, sparking so many feelings and desires I’ve tried to ignore.

“And what happens when I push myself too far and end up in the ER again?” I ask in a broken tone as I fight back tears.

“I have an idea, actually. But we’ll get to that later. The point is, you’re getting better and better. Dr. Stein will help us adjust, and we’ll figure it out. All relationships have hurdles. This one is ours.”

I laugh humorlessly as he grins, but in the next breath, I’m not laughing, because he crushes my lips in a surprise attack. My eyes close as his tongue slides across the seam of my lips, and my lips part for him, giving him the opening he seeks.

Heat flows through my body, and my heart pounds harder as he kisses me stupid, making me forget. My hands slide up and tangle in his hair, pulling him even closer as his grip gets tighter, more demanding.

He lifts me away from the rail, and my legs fasten around his waist as he carries me into the house. I’m only so strong.

He kisses me like he’s scared to pull back, afraid I’m going to disappear if he does, and I kiss him back with the same fear. We’ve gone through hell on our own, but I’m scared of going through hell together.

He makes some sexy, guttural noise low in his throat, and I shudder against him as he struggles to keep from bumping into the walls. I grin against his lips when he curses a table that hits his knee.

His lips come back to mine, hungrily devouring me in a way that makes my mind blank once again. Between his sounds and mine, the room is being christened with sexy.

When my back thumps against the wall, I grin again. We’re not going to make it to a bed.

He puts me down, and my shorts are getting jerked away before I even realize he’s broken the kiss.

“Get naked,” he says while ripping his shirt over his head.

Like the fool I am, I giggle. And of course I also get naked.





Chapter 52


CHASE



I’m still stripping out of my jeans, when Mika reaches for the back of my neck, pulling me back in for another kiss. My hands go to her waist, gripping her close, as I kick out of my jeans the rest of the way. I’m really f*cking thankful I skipped shoes this morning.