"How utterly stubborn men are." Corina tucks her head under her husband's chin.
Theydolook cute together.
"Stubborn?" Mitchell growls. "I'll show you stubborn."
"Dad, don't say it. Don't—"
"Time for a nap, woman." He tosses a shrieking Corina over his shoulder and strides toward the door. "You kids behave out here and keep the noise down. Old people need extra sleep."
Oh, my. Are they going to do what I think they're going to do? Darting a quick glance at Amos's shaking head confirms it.
"He said it. Parents," he offers up ruefully before turning serious. "How are you, baby? Have a good talk?"
Squirming on his lap, I gather my fortitude and grab his cheeks. "If you want this to work between us, you're going to have to trust me. And I meanreallytrust me. I want my car. I want my phone. I wantmyclothes. I want to be able to go to town for food if I feel like it. If you can't give me that much, Amos, then you'll never have all of me. And don't you want all of me?"
Heat simmers in his eyes as his lids narrow. "You'd better believe I want all of you. All right, Mercy. You can have your things back, but only if you keep them at my house.Ourhouse."
Compromise, but Shay style. As usual. "Deal."
Heat turns to outright flames of fire when his finger tilts my chin up. "It's not finalized until we seal it with a kiss."
When his lips meet mine, it's more than lust.
More than desire.
It's a new beginning.
Chapter twenty-one
Amos
Thesunlightstreamingthroughthe trees flashes mesmerizing patterns as the lines on the road pass in a blur and lull us into a comfortable silence. We stayed a week and a half with my parents, the days spent watching sunrises and sunsets, holding hands, and stealing kisses when heads were turned.
Well, that's what my mom and dad did. Mercy and I did the same, but maybe just a bit more. Like some heavy petting against the barn door. And maybe even some grinding, but nothing further.
Now, after a final lunch with them, it's time for us to go home. I'd sent a text to my cousins asking for help in getting her things and car delivered to our house because I'm nothing if not a man of my word. She can have her car and she can have her phone, but not before I enable tracking on both of them. I love her and want her to be happy, but I want her to be safe even more.
And there will be no Mercy for me to keep happy if she isn't safe.
"You okay, kitten?" I can't stop myself from bringing her soft hand to my mouth for a kiss.
"Yeah."The light squeeze she gives my arm sends a jolt of electricity to my cock. These past few days have been a torment, not being able to touch her like I wanted, but the happiness glowing from her as she was completely taken in and loved by my parents made it all worth it. "I love Mitchell and Corina. They're pretty awesome. And your brother really seems to like animals."
"My parents are the best. And animals love Connor more than he loves them, believe it or not. Toto, his dog, is a huge German Shepherd and the biggest baby you've ever seen. Gets his feelings hurt if Connor goes on his delivery trips without him."
A yawn cracks her mouth.
"Sleepy?"
"No, just the sunlight and trees are makingmy eyes tired."
"Want some music?" With the push of a button, Rod Stewart comes on singing about tonight being the night. How fitting, because something very specialistaking place tonight.Her period ended a week ago, but there was no way I was going to let our first time be somewhere other than our own bed. And though I held her in my arms each night, all we did was sleep.
But soon we're going to be in our own bed in our own house, and before this night is through Mercy won't be an almost thirty-four-year-old virgin anymore.
Ever so slowly, her head lowers to rest on my shoulder as she hugs my arm to her chest. There's something to be said for the small touches that come by surprise. They can hold more meaning and intimacy than all-out sex, and she's finally giving them to me. It means more to me than she knows. We ride with the music softly wrapping around us and when we get home, I stop her from opening the door. "Hands off, baby. I'll get that for you."
Walking around, I prop an arm up and block her when she moves to get out. As tall as I am, our faces are level, even with her seat being a good distance from the ground.
