“Baby.” He took me in his arms, dropping his forehead to mine. He felt like home. “The past few weeks have been…a lot. We’re talking now. Forgiving. Learning. Neither of us is perfect, but we are perfect for each other.”
“You’re a good man, Bennett Nash. The best. I love you.”
“I love you. You and River.” He shook his head slowly, his voice thick with emotion. “You’re my family.”
He dipped his head to meet mine, capturing my lips in a kiss that was sweet but simmered with promise. My heart lifted, stitching itself back together, mending the broken trust. Bennett loved me, and I loved him. That was all that mattered. Everything else would work itself out.
He led me over to the blanket, where a beautiful picnic was displayed. When I spied a charcuterie board with prosciutto roses, I narrowed my eyes at him. “Did Harper help you with this?”
He grinned. “Maybe.”
We talked and ate, catching up on everything that had happened while we were apart. He touched me constantly, and after we ate, we lay on our sides facing each other beneath the stars. Kissing. Talking. Laughing. Connecting.
“I love you.” Our fingers danced together as he spoke, and I was happy and full. “And I promise to always talk to you first and respect your decisions.”
I leaned forward and kissed him. “I love you. And I promise to give you the benefit of the doubt. To love you for who you are. And to remember that no one’s perfect.”
We kissed again, and this time, it turned heated. His hands searching beneath my clothes. His touch searing. I needed this man. I needed him now.
“Mm.” He hummed, sliding his hand up my skirt. “Time for dessert.”
“You brought Asher’s pastries?”
He chuckled, exploring me with his finger, circling, pressure building. “I had something else in mind.”
He kissed me beneath the stars, and I felt like I was flying. Skyrocketing through the sky as my orgasm lifted me higher and higher. Until I floated back down to the ground.
I sighed, my lips curling into a contented smile. “I missed you.”
“I missed you too.” He kissed me, and I rolled us over so I was on top of him.
His erection prodded me, and I felt daring and reckless enough to reach into his pants and start stroking him. He was panting, his eyes focused on me as I worked him. I loved seeing him like this, being responsible for it.
He arched his hips, shoving his pants down to give me better access. I pushed his shirt up, wanting to see even more of his skin. He grinned, but his mouth fell open when I licked him from root to tip.
“Oh god,” he swallowed as I moaned around him. “Oh yes.”
His hand was on my back, pulling me to him for a kiss. A breeze rustled the leaves on the vines, and I dragged my teeth along his ear, loving the way he shuddered in response. And then he was coming in my hand, and I couldn’t decide what to watch. The way his eyes clamped shut, mouth open as if to cry out. The muscles of his stomach clenching. Or the hot, white desire spurting out onto his skin. All of it was the hottest thing I’d ever seen.
“Mm.” He cupped the back of my neck, bringing my mouth to his. “Thank you.”
I laughed. “Thank you. That was fun. Now let’s go home before we can get ourselves into more trouble,” I said before remembering he’d just finished renovating his house.
“What’s that face for?” he asked.
“Well…I’m not sure that was fair of me to assume you’d want to move back in with us, considering you just finished your house.”
He lifted a shoulder. “It’s a house. You and River are my home.”
I melted a little more, my love for this man boundless.
“I know we’ve never discussed this,” he said. “And I hope it won’t upset you. But in my heart, River is my son.”
I glanced toward the sky where the stars twinkled overhead.Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Don’t… This man.
I placed my hand over his heart. “He… I…” Tears streamed down my face, and I couldn’t form words. All along, I’d know that Bennett loved my son. But to hear him say those words…
“Yes.” My heart whispered along with my mouth.
