Defining Love: Volume 3 (Defining Love #3) by Elizabeth Reyes Page B

restraint as she cried out in pleasure, and then
it happened. I came with a roar, leaning over her and holding on to the desk
for dear life because any strength in my legs drained out as fast as I knew I was draining into her.
    We stayed that way for a while as we both tried to catch our
breath. Finally, I slowly lifted myself off her, kissing her one last time
before I made my way around the desk. I knew I’d thrown the box of tissue in
that direction along with everything else that flew off my desk. I grabbed it
and pulled a few out of the box then handed it to her. I plopped down on my
chair with one hand over my still pounding heart.
    I couldn’t take my eyes off her even after she’d finished putting
her pants back on. “You’re beautiful, you know that, right?” I asked, staring
at her. “I’ve been wanting to say that to you since day one, but it wouldn’t
have been appropriate. Now you’re gonna hear it from me all the time because
it’s the first thing that pops into my head every single time I see
you.”
    “Thank you.” She started to smile and then seemed to catch herself.
“About that,” she said with a wince. “I know after tonight this changes
everything, but can I ask that it doesn’t?”
    “What?” I sat up, that same worry I’d felt earlier shooting
through, only this time it was mixed with anger.
    “I mean just in front of Bea,” she said, and the anger quickly
morphed into understanding until she added, “and Edi.”
    Instantly, the anger was back but even worse this time. “ Why Edi? You said you ended that.”
    Had she gone back to pretending she could still be gay for the
sake holding on to Edi’s friendship and expected me to have some kind of secret
affair with her? It went beyond everything I believed in. In all the years I’d
been with Mia, I never once considered cheating on her. The closest I’d come
was falling for someone else while still with her, but I’d had no control of
that, and I did the right thing and ended it before even thinking about doing
anything with Henri. This was fucking bullshit. I wouldn’t go along with this.
Not even for Henri.
    “Because it’s so soon,” she explained, coming around the desk and
leaning against it directly in front of me. “That part of my relationship with
Edi is over. I promise you. I went back to sleeping on my chair bed in
the front room ever since the day we had the talk. Things haven’t actually
been as unbearable as I thought they might be. She went out with her friends on
Friday and again tonight. I think, like me, deep inside she always knew it
wasn’t going to work, and it does seem as if she’s trying to be strong about
it. I know it’s been less than a week, but she hasn’t so much as suggested we
can’t be friends anymore. But I also assured her my not being able to go
along with that kind of relationship with her wasn’t because of you.
Well”—she shook her head—“not so that I could be with you. I wasn’t even
certain about anything happening between you and me. All you said was that you
were attracted to me—”
    “I made it clear I had feelings for you.”
    “I know,” she said quickly. “But I still wasn’t sure what that
meant and you just came off this ten-year relationship.”
    “Let me tell you what it means,” I said, trying to remain calm.
“What I thought this meant.” I pointed at the desk. “You coming here
tonight to confirm that I am in love with you, and then you telling me
you’re in love with me, too, was the beginning of something. We’re together and
you’re mine now. Something I won’t be keeping a secret from anyone .”
    “I’m not asking you to keep it a secret, Aaron. Believe me. I
love that you want us to be a couple.” She smiled, shaking her head. “Are you
kidding me? I can hardly believe it. But don’t you think it’s a huge slap in
the face to Mia if she finds out that not even a week after breaking up with
her you’re with me now? You did say