Page 75 of Peaches & Pistols

Greyson’s nostrils flare and his eyes flare with heat.

“Let’s get you to bed.” He leads me by the small of my back, slowly down the hall.

But we pass my bedroom. He guides me into his room and turns on a lamp for low lighting. Greyson points at his bed, making it clear where he expects me to go.

“My room is perfectly fine,” I implore. “There’s no reason for me to invade your space.”

He huffs a laugh. “There’s every reason. Invade my space. Take anything you want. I’ll provide anything you could ever need. I’m not losing you.” His voice cracks.

“The doctor said I’ll be fine,” I try to soothe, but he’s having none of it. He backs me up and helps me sit on his mattress.

Slowly, Greyson gets down on his knees at my feet and takes both of my hands in his.

“No. I almost lost you and I would’ve done anything to get you back. You’re mine, Mia. And I take care of what’s mine.” His sincerity is jarring, my eyes unable to stay steady on his.

“Wh-what are you saying?”

I refuse to give my heart any hope until I’m sure of what he means. I’m in love with him, and it sounds like he might love me too, but I need to know.

His hands grip mine tighter, his thumbs softly rubbing over my knuckles.

“I’m saying I’m desperately in love with you and I’ll do anything to keep you.”

My heart skips a beat at his confession. Is it possible he truly feels the same way I do?

“Be mine, Mia. Because I’m already irrevocably yours. Let me love you and take care of you. Give me a chance to be a dad to Everly. I’ll give anything, be anything, you two need.”

Greyson’s large hands cup my face, brushing tears from my cheeks with his thumbs.

“Don’t cry, honey. I can’t fuckin’ take it.”

My chin quivers and I’m washed away by a wave of gratitude for this man. He already is everything we need.

“I love you, Greyson.”

“What?” he asks, eyes wide and frantic.

“I’m so in love with you. I’ve wanted to tell you but if you didn’t feel the same I didn’t want to ruin what we have,” I admit.

“Mia, honey, my heart’s been yours since I saw you on Cecelia’s back patio.”

I break. Tears pour from the depths of my battered soul.

“I was so scared, Greyson. I thought I’d never see you again, and Everly wouldn’t have a mom. Carter would take her. I could’ve died without telling you how much I love you.”

Greyson rises from his knees and crawls onto the bed behind me. He guides me to lay back on his pillows and pulls my back into his chest.

I’ve never been spooned. Even when things were good in the early days with Carter, he hated cuddling. His heart beats rhythmically, constant, soothing the ache in mine.

“I would’ve done anything to find you and thank god James found you when he did.” His fingers sweep the hair from my face tucking it aside.

He places the sweetest kiss behind my ear.

“Be mine, I’m begging you. I can’t live this life without you.” His soft kisses continue down my neck, sending the best kind of chills down my spine.

“I’m yours.”

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