Never Enough by Lauren Dane Page B

to be part of his life.” He paused, making sure she got that that was his top priority. “You’ve been good to me in making that happen and I hope I can continue to count on your help. Because Miles is my family and that means you are too. That’s just how it works with us Browns. That is separate from this other thing I also know as true.”
    “Yes? And what’s that then?”
    “We have something.” He twirled her hair around his finger, fascinated by the way her lips canted up just a whisper.
    “Do we now.” It wasn’t a question at all. It was a tease and he liked it.
    “Oh yes. Yes, we do.”
    “What do you plan to do about it?” One perfectly shaped brow rose.
    “I don’t know. This is . . . has the potential for trouble. I want to do this right.”
    She nodded, humming when he drew the pad of his thumb over the hollow just below her ear. “You’re not helping me be clearheaded, Mister Brown.”
    “Just being here with you has made me totally fuzzy headed.” And hard everywhere else. “And”—he set his glass down before scooting closer—“perhaps I prefer you less than clearheaded. Because . . .” He hesitated, his lips so very close to hers. “I think I’d love it if we could take this inside and I could divest you of your clothing and perhaps set out to make you unravel a few times.”
    “Is that so? That’s a bold statement.”
    “It is.” He nodded before leaning in to run his mouth along her jawline. “You should let me prove it, to protect my honor and reputation.”
    “I—I . . .” She groaned. “Can’t have your reputation impugned. It’s just I’m quite demanding when it comes to sex. I’ll put you through your paces. Won’t let you slack.”
    He smiled against her flesh, loving the frantic beat of her pulse against his mouth.
    “Will you grade me? Because”—he burrowed a hand under the blanket and slid it up her belly to her breast—“I have to tell you how much that appeals to me.” Made him feel like a naughty schoolboy in all the best ways.
    “It’s like that, is it?” Her fingers dug into his shirt and the muscles of his shoulder.
    “It is.”
    She pushed back a little, sitting next to him. “I am not prone to this sort of rash behavior. I’m certainly not prone to anything that could harm Miles, and this could. I think we should talk first. Set some ground rules.” She licked her lips and he forgot what she’d said for a moment or two.
    Finally, he found his words again. “Yes, yes, okay.”
    “We have to keep this”—she waved her hand back and forth between them—“separate from your and my relationship with Miles. I’m not looking for forever, but I’d like to remain low-key, especially in front of him. He’s a smart, very observant kid. He’s going to notice at some point if we do this more than once.”
    “We will definitely do this more than once.”
    She made a cute, sort of frustrated sound. “He’s going to figure it out eventually.”
    “I agree we need to be careful, especially around Miles. I’m not going to jump on you in front of him.”
    She licked her lips again.
    He groaned. “You gotta stop that. I can’t think when you do that.”
    She smiled. “This may be crass, but I’d just like to establish up front that should this end. When. If. Whatever, let’s keep that private and never let it touch Miles.”
    “Not crass at all. Responsible. You’re his mother and you put him first, and yes, of course, I agree that should things end that we never let it affect Miles. I’m asking you to let me co-parent our son. I expect us both to put him first.” Not that he had any plans at all to stop getting all up in Gillian Forrester’s panties any time soon. Still, he appreciated the reminder and, he supposed, the parenting lesson.
    “I’m a very private person. My sexuality, what I do and what I like, none of it is for public consumption. I like a space between who I am behind closed doors and who I am out there.” She