“Sleep well,” I tell her, instead of saying the crazy shit that’s in my head. Words like stay and love and fuck. I gave her something without any expectation on her part. The fact that I want more from her… well, that’s my problem.

“You too.”

I turn around and go before she gets the impression I’m going to hit on her after today. I’ve been there for her in recent days. We’ve kissed. It’s the most I’ve ever wanted to kiss someone. But now? Tonight? I’m going to leave her be.

I’m not even halfway across the living room when quick footsteps come after me. Emily touches me a moment later, her hands sliding around my waist. I turn around and hug her back.

“Mateo,” she says.

The longing question is crystal clear in her voice.

I’ve taken her all over Disneyland Paris today. We haven’t kissed once. But now I take her chin in my hand and tip her face up to mine.

I kiss her like nobody is watching. For the first time all day, there are no prying eyes. No assholes to take photos. Nobody to ask me for an autograph. Paige is sleeping peacefully in bed. So I kiss Emily slow and deep, saying all the things with my mouth that I can’t say with words, using my body to send messages to hers. What the hell was I thinking, out there in the car? That I don’t want her? I don’t want a life with her?

I was full of shit.

She tastes so damn good. She tastes like home.

“Yes,” she whispers against my lips. “That’s what I wanted.”

“Is that all?” I murmur back, my lips brushing hers as I speak.

Emily takes a breath. “Do you think I could lay in your bed?”

“You want me to take the couch?”

“No.” A quiet laugh. “With you.”

“Yeah,” I say, my voice thick with desire. “I think you could do that.”

We go into the second bedroom. I flip back the covers. Emily strips off her T-shirt. She’s got a close-fitting tank top on underneath that’s tight around her breasts. Her shorts go next. And then, in a pink pair of panties and her tank top, she slides between the covers.

I get in next to her. Neither of us reaches for the lamps on the side of the bed, and I don’t want to. I want to lay here in the dark with her.

I also want to fuck her.

But I’m not taking this faster than she wants.

Emily scooches back against me. I fold one arm over her.