Page 380 of Wicked Brutal

“Nothing.”

“That’s not a nothing face.”

I push a strand of hair off her cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“No — I know you do.” My fingers slide into her hair. “I’m just still getting used to being allowed to say it whenever the fuck I want.”

That gets her; I watch it happen, her eyes going bright. “As much as you want,” she says.

“Dangerous thing to tell me. I’ve got years to make up for.”

Her mouth trembles into a smile. “Then you’d better get started.”

I kiss her anyway like I might run out of time. Habit. Then I catch myself, laugh into her mouth, and do it again slower.

“What?” she says against my lips.

“Nothing. I just remembered I don’t have to hurry.”

“Tragic for you. I’ve been waiting for you to get to the good part.”

“This is the good part.”

I kiss her again. Really kiss her. No listening for the hallway. No counting minutes. Just her mouth going soft under mine and her fingers in my hair like she’s allowed to keep me there. She smiles halfway through it, which ruins the angle, so I kiss the smile instead and she makes a pleased little sound that I feel in my chest.

“You’re in a mood,” she murmurs.

“I’m in my house. With my girl. On the floor of our kid’s room. Yeah. I’m in a mood.”

“Our kid’s room is a crime scene.”

“Romantic crime scene.”

She snorts. I kiss her for that too.

I roll her onto her back as carefully as the half-built crib allows and brace over her, one hand in her hair, the other sliding under her shirt just to feel warm skin. She arches into it immediately, greedy in a way she only gets when nobody’s about to knock.

“Hi,” I say against her jaw.

“Hi.”

I kiss down her throat. She tips her head to give me room and I take it, slow enough to be sweet, firm enough that she knows I’m not just being polite. When I find the spot under her ear that always makes her restless, I stay there.

“Ryan—”

“Mm.”

“That’s cheating.”

“It’s research.” I kiss the same place again. “I’m mapping.”

“You’ve mapped.”

“New house. New rules. I have to start over.”

She laughs, then gasps when I bite gently and soothe it with my mouth.