Unbreak My Heart (Unbreak My Heart #1)(82)

We’d had so many other children in and out of our house growing up—children with behavioral issues that made Keller’s look like nothing—that I’d learned early how to avoid any type of conflict. When it couldn’t be avoided, my brothers had always stepped in, first Alex with his charm, and if that didn’t work, then Bram with his fists.

When I’d become an adult and entered the business world, I’d learned to deal with my fear. But emailing back and forth with a disgruntled client wasn’t anything like dealing with someone’s dislike to my face.

I’d felt frozen inside that little office, my face burning with mortification. I’d never done anything to that woman, but she’d seemed to dislike me anyway. She’d made me feel small until Shane spoke up. His words had soothed me the way nothing else could have.

He’d given me a sense of validation that he’d never given me before.

I looked up to my mirror to check on the truck behind me and caught sight of him singing along to the radio, sunglasses covering his eyes. That small piece of something I’d been waiting for suddenly clicked into place.

Tenderness filled me as I pulled off the freeway and into a small gas station parking lot.

He’d barely stopped the truck before I was out of my car and making my way to his door.

“What’s up?” he asked, opening it as I reached him.

I stepped up onto the running board and pulled his face to mine, kissing him hard as he fumbled to turn off the truck.

“I love you,” I whispered into his mouth.

One hand gripped my ass as he groaned, and suddenly the other was pulling the lever under his seat so it slid backward, giving him room to pull me into his lap. I scrambled up to straddle him, and we both moaned as our lower halves met.

“What’s this about?” he asked, gripping my hair so he could tilt my head and press his lips to my neck. “Fuck, ignore me,” he gasped against my skin. “I don’t even care.”

I laughed breathlessly, pulling away from him, and looked down into his dilated eyes. “You’re so getting lucky tonight,” I said, grinding my hips down against him.

“I’m lucky every night,” he replied softly, pulling my head back down so he could kiss me again.

*



“Naked,” Shane demanded as he entered our room that night after his shower.

“Damn, you’re bossy,” I teased back, pulling my hair into a ponytail.

We’d driven home that evening flushed and turned on, but by the time we’d talked to Keller and had dinner with the kids and our mothers, the tension between us had calmed considerably.

It was still there, just under the surface, but life and family had overshadowed it for a little while.

“If you’re not naked in the next fifteen seconds, I’m going to bend you over the bed and f*ck you with your clothes still on,” he replied, dropping the towel from his waist. “I’m not picky at this point.”

I laughed softly and pushed my pants down my hips as he stared.

“I shaved my legs,” I said with a grin, pulling off my shirt. “It’s your lucky day.”

“It sure as hell is,” he breathed, looking up and down my body.

“Do you think our moms knew something was up and that’s why they took Iris in with them for the night?” I asked as he moved toward me.

“I am not talking about Ellie and Liz with you when you’re completely naked and we haven’t had sex in over a year,” he mumbled, gripping my hips to push me backward onto the bed. “The only thing you get to say is Fuck me harder, Shane, or I forgot how huge your dick is.” I laughed as he climbed on top of me. “You could pray, too. An Oh God! wouldn’t go amiss.”

“You’re so big,” I whispered huskily, a small smile on my face. “Oh Shane, however will you fit?”

“Yes. Go with that,” he muttered distractedly, leaning down to press his lips to mine.

I practically bubbled over with happiness as he came down on his elbows and slipped his tongue into my mouth.

“Mmm, you taste like garlic bread,” I mumbled as he pulled away slightly.

“Shit.” He burst out laughing and dropped his head to my shoulder, his entire body shaking with mirth.

“What?” I asked, pushing at him. “I like garlic bread!” My words only made him laugh harder, and soon I was giggling because the sound was so infectious.

“Will I ever feel cool around you?” he asked with a wide smile, once he could finally catch his breath. “I’m using all my good moves, and you’re commenting on my garlic breath.”

“Those were your best moves?” I asked stupidly, making him bark out another laugh. “I mean, of course those were good moves. Awesome moves—”

“I am so in love with you,” he said, cutting off my rambling.

“That’s good,” I mumbled, my eyes wide.

“Really good,” he confirmed, pulling me up the bed until he could move between my thighs.

“I love you, too.”

“I know.”

“So do you think—”

“No more talking, Kate,” he ordered, kissing me hard.

Within seconds I wouldn’t have been able to speak anyway because he was leaning on one elbow and using his other hand to tweak my nipples into hard, little points.