When my fingertips brushed against her skin, I jolted, our connection unaffected by the time spent apart. Then again, the connection, the sex, had never been the problem. The lack of communication, the lack of trust on both sides was our issue.
“Please, please.” I knelt before her, hoping she’d see the sincerity in my eyes, in my heart. “Give me another chance. You can set whatever rules you want. Whatever conditions. Whatever you need is yours, so long as you’re mine.”
“You should’ve told me. But I also should’ve given you the chance to explain.” She stared out the windows a moment before meeting my gaze once more. “I talked to my dad.”
I couldn’t hide my shock, my mouth gaping open. “You did? What happened?”
She nodded. “He’d lied to me, but it wasn’t in the way I’d thought.” She blew out a breath. “I wasted so many years being mad at him. But if I’d only heard him out, if I’d given him a chance, we…” She swiped away tears, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her cry. It hit me in the chest, the force of it nearly rocking me back on my heels.
“I lost so much time.” Her eyes glittered with more unshed tears. “I don’t want to lose any more time with you.”
She joined me on the floor so both of us were on our knees. On equal footing. I cupped her cheek with my hand, needing to touch her, to reassure myself this was real.
She leaned into my touch, her eyes fluttering closed briefly before reopening. “No rules.”
I swallowed, scarcely believing my ears.
“I don’t want any rules this time,” she said. “I want our relationship to be based on something more—trust.” Everything about her was solemn. “I want trust to be the foundation of our relationship. Trust and communication.”
“And love.”
She nodded, though she didn’t say the word.
“So, we’re really doing this?” I asked, needing reassurance. “We’re going to be a couple?”
“Yes.” She smiled, before her expression turned more serious. “But if you ever lie to me again, I will cut off your balls.”
I yelped, covering them with my hands. “As important as they are to me, I would rather lose my balls than you.”
“Wow.” She laughed. “You really do love me.”
“I love you so fucking much,” I said, wishing she’d say the words back but knowing better than to hope for it.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but I silenced her with a kiss. This was enough for now. It was enough that she’d forgiven me, and she wanted to be with me.
“Don’t.” I swallowed her words, whatever they might be. “Don’t say it.” I shook my head, my nose brushing against hers. “Don’t say it unless you’re absolutely sure. Until you mean it.”
I was surprised when her eyes glittered with unshed tears. “I’m sorry, Hunter. I should’ve given you the chance to explain.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” I said, my throat clogged with emotion. “What matters is that we’re together. And that I will never,everlie to you again.”
“I know you won’t. But I also promise to try not to jump to conclusions.”
I pulled her into me, crushing her against my body. I thought my heart might beat out of my chest, leaping into hers. I loved this woman, and she’d given me a second chance. I was the luckiest man alive.
“Take me to bed,” she whispered against my lips.
I picked her up, swooping her into my arms before darting up the stairs to our bedroom. “Gladly.”
As I placed her gently on the bed, I hoped she felt the adoration, the love coursing through me. With every kiss, every caress, every thrust, I hoped she could feel just how much she meant to me. I loved this woman, and she was my home.
* * *
I removedmy hand from Lauren’s back to hold it up to my mouth. I let out a loud whistle as Preston exited the house to the backyard. Lauren cheered beside me, joining in with everyone else.
A large banner hung between the palm trees, balloons floating in the pool. A table lined with desserts sat along one side, and the backyard was full of family and friends. Alexis was holding Blair, and Preston smiled down at his daughter as Sophia came running up to them.
After six years, he’d finally graduated college. He’d graduated, gotten married, and become a dad in the span of twelve months. But this was his achievement, and it was definitely a day of celebration. A day that had been a long time in the making.
