Her head was swimming through unspoken questions as she tried to catch up, but all she really heard was that he didn’t want anything from her, not even her help.
“Oh.” She turned away to hide the tears collecting in her eyes. After retrieving the listing agreement from the table, she stuffed it back in her bag. “I’m glad everything has worked out for you. I guess,” she paused, “I guess I’ll go.”
His hands rested on her shoulders while her back was still to him. Her heart sped up as he ran his hands down her arms. He leaned close and whispered, “Thank you for being willing to give up your house for me. Tell me again why you did that.”
She turned to face him, her hands clutching his shirt. “Because I love you.”
His gray eyes flickered, the outer edges crinkling as he grinned. “I’m sorry, but I think all that piano playing has made me a little deaf. Can you speak up?”
“I love you, Grey.” She wound her arms around his neck, determined to never let go. “Forgive me.”
“No more secrets?” His intense gaze had turned serious as he pulled her against his body.
“Never again. I swear it.”
“Forgiven.” He reached his hand behind her neck and pulled her into a desperate kiss.
Avery clung to him, weak from the stress of the past few days. “I missed you. I hated myself, probably more than you and Trip hated me.”
“I never hated you.” He kissed her again, slow and hot, melting her insides. “But you have to believe in this, in us, Avery. We have to put each other first, or it will never work.”
“I know.” She burrowed her face into the crook of his neck. “I swear, Grey. You never have to doubt my loyalty again.”
He squeezed her hard, both their hearts pounding. When he eased away for a second, he smiled. “Trip won’t be back for at least thirty minutes. How do you feel about make-up sex?”
“Pretty enthusiastic.” She nuzzled his neck again.
“That’s my girl.” He tugged her into the bedroom, kicked the door closed, and stripped out of his clothes.
Any reservations Avery had been harboring after making herself so vulnerable faded the minute he captured her in his arms. In that moment she knew, no matter where she lived in the future, he would always be her home.