Page 49 of Sullivan

She pushed on my chest, and I eased back, brushing the hair off her flushed face. “Hi,” I whispered.

“Hi.”

“Great dessert.”

She giggled, then snorted and began to laugh. She covered her mouth, but I pulled her hand away. I kissed her fingers. “I love hearing you laugh. Don’t cover it up.”

“I expected you to drag me to the bedroom, not defile your dining room.”

I shrugged. “I’m an equal opportunity sort of man.”

“That was, ah…”

“Intense? Hot? Fecking unbelievable?”

“All of the above.” She traced a finger over my face, outlining my lips. “I’ve never felt the way I do when I’m with you. Free. Wanted. Desired.”

“You forgot one thing.”

“What?”

I cupped her face and kissed her.

“Loved.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

AUTUMN

Ihad difficulty concentrating the next day. Thoughts from last night kept invading my head. The intense passion between Sully and me. The feverish sex in the dining room.

His spoken words.

He had held my face and whispered the word loved. Then as if to make sure I understood him, he held my gaze. “I love you, Autumn. I know it’s fast and I know it’s unexpected, but it’s real.”

I gripped his hands, staring back at him. There was no doubting the sincerity of his words. The truth blazed in his eyes. He had already shown me in so many ways, but now, he said the words.

I swallowed.

“I love you too.”

He wrapped me in his arms and held me close.

“Thank you,” he breathed out. “Make a life with me here, and I promise I will ensure you never regret it.”

All I could do was hold him. He knew he was asking a lot of me, but I knew he was what I wanted. He would be there for me.

“Yes,” I replied.

His kiss said everything.

Then this morning, he had leaned down to kiss me before he left, his gaze serious.

“Stay.”

“What?”

“Don’t go back to the hotel. Stay here with me.”