“Auntie’s out on bail. Uncle and Mead are with her.” She dropped the bags where she stood. “And I’m here to grovel.”
My heart did that crazy flipping thing it always did whenever she was within breathing distance. Truth was, she’d had me with the luggage. Hell, even before then.
Like the moment crazy ass Hesta Bradford pulled that gun. Just the thought of never holding Shannon again made me sick to my stomach.
Still, seeing her grovel for a bit was too tempting to pass up. So I stifled a grin and kicked the door shut. “You’ve got my attention.”
Her wary eyes never left mine as she unbuttoned her jacket with clumsy fingers. She seemed to deliberate for several tense moments before ambling closer, her steps hesitant and unsure. When just three feet separated us, she said, “The only time I ever felt good enough was when I was with you, Trace. It’s been that way since we were kids.”
I just looked at her.
“You know how you’ve been telling me to stop trying to be perfect? Well, I’m taking your advice, which means—if you want me—you have to accept all my faults, just as I accept yours. For example….” She cleared her throat. “You promised you wouldn’t fight anymore, but you ended up giving Mead a serious thrashing. His nose was broken, he needed five stitches in his—”
“I had a relapse,” I said, beating back a smile.
She gave a nervous shrug. “No, an occasional relapse is fine. We just have to…to have faith that we’re both trying to be better people. Well, not better people, but—I mean…just that we’re…you know, ‘trying.’” Uncertainty shaded her expression. “Oh, God, I’m babbling. Look, I’m in love with you, okay? Hopelessly and endlessly in love. And…and after today, everyone will know it.”
I balled my hands to keep from grabbing her. “How so?”
“I’ve got three surprises,” she said matter-of-factly. “First, I want to move in with you. At least until I go to closing on the Victorian. Then, once you sell this place, I want you to move in with me. That’s if you don’t mind. You don’t mind, do you?”
Screw this. I gave up and tugged her into my arms. “Really?” She nodded and I tossed back my head and howled. “Hell no, I don’t mind.”
“Thank God,” she said with a huge sigh.
I cupped her cute little butt and squeezed. “What’s the second surprise?”
“Remember the getaway you mentioned? Well, I’ve booked us a cabin in the Blue Ridge Mountains.”
Another second and I’d have to strip her naked. “When?”
“Is this weekend okay?”
I scooped her up and spun her around. “Hell,” I gushed, setting her in front of me, “I’m almost afraid to ask what the third surprise is.”
Her mouth curved. “Sorry. You’ll have to wait a little while for that one.”
“Not a problem.” I squeezed her butt again. “I’ve got plenty to tide me over ‘til then.”
I crashed my mouth over hers in a thorough kiss that didn’t stop until both of us were breathless, trembling, and clawing at each other’s clothes. Once I’d ripped her panties to shreds, I tried to carry her to my room, but we only made it to the stairs.
I nudged her thighs apart. “You still sore?”
“I’ll just grin and bear it,” she breathed, kissing me feverishly.
“I don’t want to hurt you.” I drew back. “Are you sure?”
Shannon reached between our bodies and rubbed my cock over her wet opening. “What does that tell you?” she said in between breaths.
“That I….” I bit my lip. “That I need a rubber.”
“No. You don’t.”
I searched her face as the possible consequences floated between us. “You know what this means, right?” I asked, my tone sober, but thick with desire.
“Yes. I want every part of you.”
I hung my head for a beat. Her words had snatched the breath right out of me. “Then you got it,” I whispered, lifting my eyes. “May I have this dance, Miz Bradford?”
“You can have anything you want,” she whispered back.
I covered her mouth with mine and sank into her, inch by torturous inch. Just the feel of her tight warmth caressing me, teasing me, made me want to come. Once I’d buried myself to the root, I damn near lost my mind. Shit.
I’d have to take it easy, not only for her sake. If I went any faster the party would be over in no time. So I moved slowly, carefully, dragging my thick length in and out, giving her just what she needed—a gentle inner stroking.
I gazed down at this beautiful woman, at the flush in her cheeks, at the desire in her eyes, and my heart swelled. Damn if I wasn’t in love, as in poetry and daffodils, as in forever and a thousand days. Her voice, her scent, her mind, body, and soul—everything about Shannon took my breath away, and the thought of getting her pregnant, of her womb swelling with my child, would make my looming orgasm all the more sweeter.
“I’m about to come,” I rasped.
She clung to me, gasping and moaning. Her nails scored my back as I aimed for the same spot that had unraveled her before. The second I hit it she screamed my name and her sheath gripped my cock like a palsied fist.
That’s when I lost it.
Breaths raw and choppy, I shoved my hands beneath her and drove myself as deep as I could go. Heat squeezed my balls, drawing them up tight. The pressure surged to the back of my spine, churning and rising until it exploded. Then, with a soul-rattling groan, I found my release and splashed into her.
TRACE
____________________________
Shannon was still asleep when I awakened hours later. As she shifted beside me, I glanced at the towel by the bed. The one I’d used when I’d taken her the first time. A pink circle stained the terry cloth—Shannon’s virgin blood. The sight filled me with male pride, and possessiveness. She was mine and it was time I made it official.
The nightstand drawer gave a low squeak when I eased it open. I quietly waded through the jungle of keys, paper clips, and junk, until I found what I was looking for. Fear made my heart skip, but determination pushed me forward.
“Hey, sleeping beauty.” I leaned over, kissing her neck. “Time to wake up.”
Shannon blinked her eyes open and smiled. “Mmmm. Hey yourself,” she yawned. “What are you doing?”
“I’ve got a surprise for you.”
She stretched, then pushed herself up and yawned again. “Okay, now I’m intrigued.”
Courage fled for an instant, but I found it again when I looked into her eyes. “Twelve years ago, your mama asked me if I’d ever been in love. I told her no, but it was a lie. She was drunk and I didn’t feel like getting into—hell, it doesn’t matter. My point is….” Fear climbed my throat again. “Um, a while back you—you asked if I’d ever said the words ‘I love you’ to another human being. I told you ‘once,’ but you didn’t believe me.” I hesitated. “Well, I wasn’t lying that time.”
She furrowed her brows. “Who—”
“That ‘once’ was you.” I took her hand in mine. “Te quiero, Sombra.”
I held my breath until the memory slowly dawned on her face.
“I said those words after I gave you the necklace, but your Spanish was about as bad as my temper.” I smiled and opened my palm to reveal the old gumball ring she’d given me long ago. “Eres el amor de mi vida,” I said, then added, “That means, you’re the love of my life.”
Her eyes welled as she stared at the trinket and cupped her mouth.
“I found it the other night in the basement.” I slipped the band over the pale line on her ring finger, the place Montgomery’s ring used to be. Pride welled, but so did insecurity. “Now this is just a proxy, but the one I’ll buy you tomorrow won’t be much better.”