Page 45 of Split You Open

The three words are bulleted and stiff but at the same time, they’re freeing.

Santi gasps, his ass clenching around my cock as if to hold me in place. He props himself up on his elbows and stares up at me in awe.

“I love you,” he echoes sincerely.

A shudder rushes through me. Fuck, why have I been holding onto this for so long? I’ve been denying both of us the satisfaction and the comfort that comes with love.

That time in my life is over.

From here on out, I’ll make sure Santi knows exactly how I feel about him.

With that thought, I get to work ravishing the man I love.

Twelve

Wesley

My hands shake as I pick up where Santi must’ve left off before Rhett pulled him away. The pizza dough is already kneaded and flattened, so I spread the homemade sauce out on two of them and then sprinkle cheese on top.

Upstairs, the knocking of a headboard against a wall momentarily draws my attention away from the meal I’m preparing. I smile as I hear a loud moan drift through the floors. Usually, those two are more discreet.

I guess time apart has changed that.

I suck in a shaky breath, trying to wrap my head around the fact that we’re all back together. The relief I should be feeling is nullified by the uncertainty of our future. We’re all together again, but now what? Where do we go from here?

When the oven is pre-heated, I slide the first pizza onto the middle rack. Once the timer is set, I turn to another task. So absorbed in sweeping garlic butter over the crust of the second pie, I don’t hear the telltale creak of the floorboards to let me know someone’s joined me. It’s not until Blair’s arms wrap around my waist from behind that I even know she’s there. The smell of her sweet, citrusy body wash wafts over me. It feels like a secondary embrace of the woman I’ve fallen head over heels for.

Blair doesn’t let me go as I turn around and I chuckle as I wrap my arms around her. Dressed in a sleep shirt, pajama bottoms, and fuzzy socks, she looks warm and comfortable.

“There’s something I realized while I was gone,” she tells me.

There are shadows in her eyes, so dark and deep they make her look haunted. Yet, despite the things that plague her, Blair somehow finds the strength to smile up at me.

“Oh yeah? Tell me about it, baby girl.”

“I…” She gives me a small, tentative smile. “I understand if this feels sudden or sounds insane given that we haven’t known each other long, but I’ve been given this second chance with you and I need to tell you that I lo⁠—”

“Stop,” I say, a little too sharply, as I realize what Blair is about to say. “Please, Blair. Just… hold on to that thought, okay?”

I squeeze my eyes shut to savor this moment. If only Blair knew how badly I needed her. How utterly useless I’ve been in her absence. My world means nothing without her. But I can’t tell her any of that. Not yet, not when there are secrets between us.

With a deep breath, I force myself to open my eyes.

“I… I have to tell you something,” I admit carefully. “I have to tell you about my involvement with Ledger and all that’s transpired.”

Blair recoils from me—her arms dropping away as she jerks out of my hold while taking a step backward. “What?”

“I didn’t know about the hit, I swear on my life.”

Blair doesn’t look reassured as she takes another step back.

“I did know that Ledger wanted you—to an unhealthy extent.”

Blair takes another step away from me. I follow, taking a step after her, with a hand stretched out before me as I try to reach for her. It guts me when she cringes away.

“Please, baby girl, just… hear me out.”

Blair ignores my outstretched hand. “Explain, now.”