Page 8 of Hard To Love

She should know better.

We lived in a safe area, and for the most part, it was secluded, but because of that, she needed to be careful. Some creep could have walked in and done god only knew what.

About to call her name, I looked down at the bright orange plush couch and saw her.

My beautiful Sandy lay there.

Asleep with a sweet peaceful smile on her face. I kneeled in front of her as quietly as I could manage and stared at her. Fuck, Sandra Duarte had always been beautiful. Delicate features and smooth skin. My hands always itched to touch her anytime I was around her. She shifted, and I stilled. I watched her eyes open slowly. She blinked, and her light brown eyes widened when she took in the sight of me in front of her.

“I fell asleep,” she whispered hoarsely. “Shoot. I’m so sorry, Auggie.” She moved to sit up, but I shook my head. My hand dropped to her shoulder to keep her where she was.

“Tired? You doing okay?” I asked, unable to hide the clear worry in my voice or expression. She was pregnant, growing a new little person. Of course, she was tired.

“A little. Work took more out of me than I’d thought. Then there was all the, you know, excitement for tonight.” She winced when she realized what she had blurted out. “I’m better now.” She sat up. “Let me go touch up my makeup and—" I kneeled between her legs.

Which I soon figured out was a huge fucking mistake.

I looked at her, taking in what she was wearing. A sundress. A really fucking pretty one. One I had never seen her wear. It was sage green and complimented her tan skin. Her cheeks were a slight pink, and her lips might not have been glossy, but Jesus Christ, they looked so damn soft. Petal soft. I had really wanted to start us off on the right foot.

Date her. Take my time and make sure she knew I was in this for all the right reasons. But kneeling between her legs, eye level, as she sat on the couch had my brain fritzing out.

“You’re so fucking pretty,” I rasped. “Have I ever told you that?” I asked with awe just above a whisper. How many times had I thought that? How many times had the words been on the tip of my tongue yet I had to swallow them down, shoved them deep to make sure she never knew how I felt about her?

Millions.

But those days were gone, and I would make sure she never doubted how I felt about her from here on out. “Auggie.” She swallowed. Sandy blushed and shook her head. “You don’t have to say things you don’t—"

“I never say things I don’t mean. You know that better than anyone.” That blush over the apples of her cheeks spread down the line of her neck. “Damn, baby, you don’t have one clue, not one idea, about just how beautiful you are.”

My hands had a mind of their own. They rose to cup her face, careful not to hold her too tightly. My dick twitched behind my dark denim jeans when she leaned into my touch.

“I like how you touch me. Always have,” she admitted, making me feel like I was ten feet tall. I couldn’t help it. I leaned in closer, breathing in her sweet breath. Her exhale warmed my lips.

“I might kiss you,” I growled, and we both knew that was a fucking lie.

There was no might about it.

“I might like it,” she responded, breaking any kind of control I had as I closed the small amount of space between us.

Pressing my lips to hers, I was privy to watching her eyes fluttering shut. Heard the hitch in her breath and mine. Sandy’s lips were a thing of beauty, but finally feeling them against mine was what dreams were made of.

Plush and soft.

I had no idea how the hell I managed to keep the kiss soft. Slow.

Years upon years of waiting for this moment had made me ravenous for her mouth. Yet I was holding back. Trying to create the perfect memory for her. A first kiss she would remember. And when I pulled back, the look on her face told me all I needed to know.

I’d fucked it up.

“Wow. We… umm…” She swallowed and dropped her caramel eyes to the ground then lifted them back to mine. “We kissed,” she said as if I needed the reminder.

“We did.” My shoulders squared.

I held my body tight. Fuck. I’d been too lost in my head trying to make shit perfect, I’d screwed it up. She didn’t have to say a word. Not when her face said it all. “Was it, umm…” Her words drifted off.

Fuck, I’d definitely messed up.

“What, babe?” I was not going to shy away from it.