“Hmpf. Go on.”

He wanted to go to her and give her a kiss but his clothes stuck to him and now that she’d pointed out the smell it began to make him feel slightly nauseated.

“I’m saving the snuggles and sugar for after I’m cleaned up. But I’ve been running a tab.”

When he finished showering he found she’d moved many of the boxes back into the house and was in their bedroom putting his clothes into drawers.

He approached her from behind wearing only a towel and put his arms around her.

“I could have done that.” He kissed the top of her head.

“It gave me something to do. Anyway, my family made the problem, I’ll undo it. They really didn’t get most of your clothes. I was in here so they didn’t touch what was in the closet and dresser. I think they took stuff out of the laundry. I’d done a load earlier today.”

He turned her and his chest constricted a moment as he looked at her face, the features he loved so much. He could have lost her over something silly. That was untenable.

“First things first. Tate, we’re going to fight sometimes you know. But unlike what Beth might think, I’m not your mother. I’m not going to abandon you. I shouldn’t have left. I’m sorry. My feelings were hurt and I was upset with myself too, I needed a bit of space but I should have handled it differently.”

He’d moved her back toward the bed and with a flex of his hips, bumped her onto the mattress.

“If I thought you were like my mother I’d have done more with your toothbrush than scrub the tile with it. I love you, Matt, but I’m not a doormat. Even if I gave in to my father, I’m not someone you can walk all over. I won’t allow it.” She put her fingers over his lips as he loomed over her. “But that’s not what you did so calm down. I’m just saying that’s not what you did and that’s not who I am.”

Frustrated at being unable to pull her T-shirt off, he grabbed hold of the neck and ripped it down the middle. “That’s much better.” He kissed the exposed mound of each breast and her skin broke into gooseflesh.

“I’m sorry I hurt you with this whole thing about my father. I would never want to make you feel like a failure. You’re not. You’re my hero in so many ways. You do make me feel safe.” Her voice shook and got breathy as he traced along the edge of her bra cup with his tongue.

He kissed her, nipping her bottom lip quickly. He sighed, rolling off her long enough to rid himself of the towel and start yanking on her jeans.

“Venus, I love you. We’re together and we’ll learn more about each other as we go. You will stop giving that bastard money, do you hear me? I will pay the next month’s mortgage on this house. I’ve been here three months and you haven’t let me pay my share. We’ll work it out with your brothers and the school and with Shane to make sure the kids are safe.”

“It’s hard to concentrate when you’re naked and ordering me around.” She may have complained but she lifted her ass so he could pull her pants and panties off. She sat up, removed her bra and tossed the ripped T-shirt aside before pulling the blankets back.

“Tough. Now you’re naked too.”

“I noticed. Why are you over there?”

“I like looking at you laying there naked, your chest heaving because you want me so much even when your eyes are sparking at me because you’re mad.”

“You really should write all this stuff down. You could turn it into one of those books that teaches guys how to get a woman into bed. You’d make a million dollars. Oh and you’re not paying my bills. That’s not going to happen. Half the people in town already think I’m only with you for that. Although I question whether or not they’ve actually seen you because anyone with a brain knows I’m with you for the sex ‘cause you look so good.”

He laughed. His Tate was back. Their rhythm was back. Relief crashed through him as he knelt between her spread legs and skated his palms up her thighs.

“I’m paying our bills and I’m not arguing. I may be good in bed but I don’t want to be a kept man.” He winked at her.

“Well that’s good since I’ve got three dollars to my name and you’re worth way more than that.”

He frowned. “Tell me you’re going to let me pay next month’s mortgage or there’ll be no sex. I’ll withhold it and everyone knows you’re only with me for my cock.”

“I don’t want you to think I’m after you for money.” She writhed beneath him though, grabbing the body part in question and squeezing lightly. He didn’t hide his smile.

“Tate, that’s not what I think. I live here. This is my house too, right? Don’t you want me to feel at home? How can I if you won’t let me pay my share? And hello, in case you haven’t noticed, I’m a firefighter. It’s not the kind of salary my father makes. Between the two of us, we do fine. But the whole after-my-money argument is based on what my parents have, not what I have. We can talk more about how we’ll split the bills after the sex. You’ve avoided the conversation so far but this situation wouldn’t have been as bad if we’d talked more openly about finances before.”

He wet a fingertip and drew it over the hardened point of her nipple, making her arch into his touch. Pinching it enough to make her moan, he bent to kiss the hollow of her throat and across her collarbone as her free hand slid down his back.