“Was that Jet?” she asks as she walks into the room, closing the door behind her.
“Yeah.” I run a hand over my hair. “He knows I’m retiring. He’s pissed.”
She crosses the room, then slips off her shoes. “And you’re okay with that? Your rehab isn’t finished yet. Maybe once you finish, you’ll want to ride.”
“I’m very okay with that.”
She goes to grab my hoodie from the dresser, but I slide up behind her, wrapping my arms around her waist.
“I don’t want to be on the road anymore. I want to be here. With you and Trace.”
I press a kiss to the side of her neck, then step back so she can lift up. She meets my gaze in the mirror. “You know I would never ask you to give that up. Your dream.”
I shake my head. “Don’t you get it?”
She turns to face me. “Get what?”
“You’re the dream, baby,” I admit, cradling her face in my hands.
She smiles, her cheeks flushing my favorite shade of pink. “You don’t have to sweet-talk me, Parker.” Her arms come up to wind around my neck. “I’ll sleep with you anyway.”
A laugh erupts from my chest. “Is that so?”
“Mmhm,” she hums.
My hands drift gingerly down to her sides, slipping beneath the hem of her shirt. I toy with her smooth skin before I slide it up over her head, then toss it to the floor. I groan at the sight of her. Her beautiful skin all creamy and taunting. Those freckles that always made me lose my mind. Her beauty was so natural. Effortless.
Her fingers work my T-shirt over my head, then it’s nothing but fumbling hands and heated gazes until we are both breathless, standing before each other.
Her in a pink lace bra and white cotton panties.
She’s perfect.
She goes to wrap an arm around her middle, but I stop her.
“Don’t hide, Laik.”
She drops her hands, but insecurity flashes in her eyes. “My body is not the same as before.” She nibbles at her lip. “I’m sure the women you’ve been with haven’t had a baby.” She laughs, but it’s riddled with vulnerability.
I need to end this nonsense now. So I interrupt.
“First of all, you’re perfect. Every part of you. I don’t see anything but a strong, gorgeous woman who experienced one of the greatest miracles of humanity.” I brush the back of my knuckles against her cheek. “And as for other women. There haven’t been any. Not since you. Not since the last night I had you in the front seat of that pickup truck sitting right out front.”
“What?” She gasps. “I…are you serious?”
“Deadly,” I murmur, tilting her chin down to show her how serious I am.
I wait patiently, watching the way her eyes trail over my arms. My chest. Then my torso. Moisture fills her eyes when she reaches out to drift her fingertips over the ink along my chest. “When did you get this?”
I swallow. “Day after I signed the contract with Jet.”
Her eyes flicker up to mine. “Fireflies.”
“You are that light in the dark, Laik. Youglow.”
She pushes up on her toes, and I don’t hesitate any longer. Lifting her into my arms, I then stride to the bed and lay her out before me. Her red hair fans against the lavender comforter, her skin glowing with want.Need.
“I missed you so much.” The confession comes out in a rasp as I drag my lips down the soft skin of her collarbone.
