AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He pushes me back on the bed, and his massive body hovers over mine. “I’ve missed your smart mouth.”
“Yeah, well, I will never forgive you for what you pulled today.” I slide my hands under the soft fabric of his t-shirt and let my fingers linger over the defined ridges of his muscles.
His lips move over my cheek to the sensitive skin just below my ear. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
I tug his shirt upward, and he moves just enough to pull it off in one swift masculine motion, his warm skin exposed.
“You know exactly what I’m talking about, you big shit.” His hands find the hem of my shirt and graze the tender skin of my stomach teasingly, causing my sharp inhale. I can barely make out his smug grin. “If you ever do that to me again and then walk away without letting me say it back, you can be certain that it’ll be a cold day in hell before I will ever like you.”
Sean braces himself on his forearms, looking down at me. His blue eyes flick between mine, holding an intensity filled with longing for both me and the words he’s probably never been told.
I move my arms between us, my thumbs running over his jaw. “I love you.” He blinks, letting the words sink in. “I love you so much,” I whisper again, needing him to hear it. He blinks some more. “Do you have any idea how incredibly beautiful you are?”
That has his lips turning upward ever so slightly, but he doesn’t move. When he does finally speak, his voice is rough and ragged and sexy as hell.
“I’m hanging on by a very thin strand here, and I need you to tell me if you aren’t ready for this. I will wait however long is necessary, and nothing will change.” He brushes my curls away from my face.
Staring up at him, I see everything that he is. Gentle. Kind. Loving. Courageous. Strong. Mine.
He’s mine. He’s my home. My place. My safe and secure.
“There isn’t a place in this world where I feel safer and more loved than when I’m with you. I hauled my baby and my stuff halfway across the country for this. For you. For us. I don’t need to wait. I don’t want to.”
His lips move hungrily over mine again as his hands tug at my shirt, pulling it up over my head. His eyes move over me, and passion and desire reflect back. But also love for me, just as I am.
His bare chest rests on mine, and my hands slide up his back, pulling him to me. This. This is where I always want to be. It’s where I’m meant to be.
He trails kisses down to my shoulder as his fingers toy with the lace around my ribs.
“Sean, just so we’re clear,” I whisper. “I may love you, but liking you is still very much up in the air.”
His kisses abruptly stop. His hands slide down my arms to my wrists as he holds them, and I lay perfectly still beneath him.
“What’s it going to take? Huh?” His eyes bore into mine.
“Hmmmm,” I tease. “I’m going to have to think about it. It might take a bit.”
“Really? How long?” He glares, those enchanting blue eyes slowly disappearing.
“Well, I’m thinking forever.” I grin.
He grins back. “Excellent. Then I’ve got plenty of time to change your mind.”
Chapter 57
SEAN
I wake to the sound of soft coos coming through the baby monitor, which instantly brings a smile to my face. I lie staring up at the ceiling, wondering if this can possibly be real, terrified that at any moment, I’m going to find out it’s all a dream.
Andie’s warm hand runs across my bare chest, stirring me from my anxious thoughts and confirming my unbelievable reality. I didn’t even know it was possible to feel like this. To be so full of joy and happiness that you might literally burst.
I pull her closer, pressing a kiss to the top of her head and breathing in her minty, flowery scent. When she told me she loved me last night, I needed a second to be sure I heard her correctly.
Love hasn’t been a part of my life. My life has been a function of survival and keeping my emotions tucked away so as not to be disturbed. But for the first time, I have someone who loves me completely.
I’ve never known what this feels like, and it’s so overwhelmingly good it hurts for all the years I’ve missed this. What I know is there won’t be a single moment I’ll take for granted.
A squeal, followed by a fit of spitting, erupts, and I hear Snipe leave the bedroom and prance down the hall.
