Chapter 20: Staying

Crispin's POV

I carried her through the dark apartment and set her down by the bed.

Her hands were already under my shirt.

"Rule one," she said against my mouth. "No tenants."

"Rule one is dead."

"Who killed it?"

"You did. In a laundry room."

She laughed, and I felt it in my chest.

I had meant to go slowly.

I had thought about this since Sunday, in the shower and the break room at the hospital, and in every version I went slowly.

She pulled my shirt over my head and put her mouth on my shoulder, and slow was over.

"Lacey."

"I'm here."

"I want to ruin you."

"You aren't close enough yet."

I turned her around.

She braced her hands on the window sill, and the city's orange light lay across her bare back.

I stood behind her and put my mouth on her neck.

She tipped her head to give me room.

"Crispin."

"Say it again."

"Crispin, please."

I slid my palms up her ribs and held her breasts.

She pushed back against me and made a sound I would hear for the rest of my life.

I undid her jeans.

I took my time with them, because she was shaking, and so was I.

When I put my hand between her legs she was wet and hot and ready.

She groaned my name into the glass.

"Look at that," I said, low. "You've been like this all week."

"Since Sunday," she said. "Since before."

"I know."

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