Page 104 of Sterling Stone

“What do you mean?” Her brows pinch like she doesn’t understand me.

I might be a little overtrained from my experience with Emerson, which isn’t exactly fair to lay on Taxi. I want to shout to that barn rooftop this woman is with me, but I also want to respect any boundaries Taxi has this evening.

“Well, you said you wanted to put us on pause. But I . . .” I scratch under my chin, feeling like I’m already turning our fun date into something heavy. “You know what, never mind. I’ll just follow your lead.”

Taxi continues to stare at me, those silvery eyes reflective in the barn lights behind me.

“I hate that I said that. Hate that you think you have to play a role with me. I don’t want any restrictions on us.”

“I don’t want restrictions either,” I admit. I want to be free to express myself with her. To be open around others about how I feel about her.

“I don’t want anyone doubting who I am to you or what we are,” she says, her voice ripe with determination.

“Oh.” My brows lift. “And who are you to me?”

“Shouldn’t you be telling me?” She holds her head higher, eyes focused on me, like she’s daring me to speak.

No restrictions. No holding back.

“You’re everything I’ve been wishing for and everything I never thought I’d have.”

Taxi stares at me, eyes still. I don’t think she even blinks, then her gaze softens and her shoulders relax.

“Stone.” Her hand comes to her belly. “You can’t say something to me like that without it meaning something.”

I step closer to her, brushing her hair around her ear and running my knuckles along the side of her neck.

“It does mean something to me, because you mean something to me.” My shoulders fall a little, and I lean toward her. “I don’t have much to offer you, Taxi. A small town. A big family. Devotion.” I cover my heart with my hand.

I, Stone Sylver, do solemnly swear to serve and protect you . . . to honor and respect you . . .

“And I’ll take whatever you’re willing to give me.”

Taxi’s hand comes to my chest, where my heart is racing within it.

“We can be Samson and Delilah. Superman and Lois Lane. Blue aliens and their conquest.”

She snorts, shaking her head. “I don’t think you’re ever going to forget that, are you?”

“Never gonna forget a beautiful woman jabbing me in the chest with a book and stealing my breath from the moment I saw her.”

Taxi shakes her head again, dipping her eyes. “I’ll never forget you either.”

She rubs at her chin, and I chuckle, remembering how we bumped heads.

“Tonight, I’d just like us to be Stone and Taxi. On a date.”

“I’d like that too,” she says, stepping closer to me, running her hands up my chest and over my shoulders. “Just be us tonight.”

I smile wide, unable to help myself. “Just be us.”

She tips up on her toes and kisses me, soft and sweet, and shredding my resolve. I grip her hips and tug her closer, deepening the kiss before reminding myself I don’t want to get carried away with her.

Not yet.

“Just to be clear,” she says, pulling away and toying with the snaps on my shirt before meeting my eyes. “You’re all I’ve been waiting for as well. And it scares me.”

Panic takes me by the throat. “Enough to run?”