Page 141 of Run to Me

“My whole life.”

The sob breaks free. “Tell it to me straight?”

“I love you, Jensen Holloway, and I wasn’t born to be just your friend. You said it yourself, I’m your everything. And you were born to be mine.”

She smiles—big and beautiful—as the truth spills from her eyes and trails down her cheeks. Tears coat my own skin, and I do nothing to hide them or wipe them away.

“I love you so much, birdie. Please don’t ask me to stop.”

“I won’t. You’re stuck with me now.”

Hands on my hips, I nod and sniff repeatedly while building the courage to ask for what I need. “Can I hold you?” Please. I need to feel you.

She shakes her head, dashing my hopes, but I recover when a wry grin plays at her bare lips. “You never have to ask again.”

Closing the distance between us, I hop up two steps and lift her with my arms around her hips. Eye to eye, I carry her inside the house.

Maisy Donovan said she loves me. This is the happiest day of my life, and I need to turn the mood around quick before I bawl like a baby.

She runs her hands across my shoulders and down my chest, smoothing the fabric of my shirt. “Green looks good on you. It makes your eyes shine brighter.”

“Freckles look good on you. They make you look like my Maisy.”

Her smile grows bigger, and I hope she never stops looking at me like I’m the reason she’s happy. “I think we’re obsessed with each other, if I’m allowed to use that word.”

“I think we are. And fuck anyone who judges us. No one gets to tell us how to love.”

“No one,” she agrees.

She steals my lips in a punishing kiss, our fight for dominance arriving in full force. I set her on the kitchen island and stand between her legs. She licks and bites along my neck, turning me all the way on, but I can’t let things go any further.

“Wait,” I say, gently gripping her arms.

With great reluctance, I pry her off me, and she groans in protest. Her shoulders slouch, and the most adorable pout forms on her lips.

Cupping her flushed cheeks in my hands, I explain. “As much as I want to rip your panties off and bury myself inside you, I think we should take things slow. Go on a date with me.”

We went from former friends to lovers overnight because I pressured her to be with me. We skipped all the building stages of a relationship. Since she’s never been in one, I want to give her the full experience and allow us to progress naturally. She deserves dinners and flowers and long conversations with no expectation for more.

She digs her heels into my ass, drawing me closer and testing my resolve. “I love that idea. Will you hold my hand at the movies? Or we could walk arm in arm through the park.”

Rubbing her thighs, because I have no plans to stop touching her, I say, “If you’re trying to start a scandal, we could share a milkshake at the café. Maybe use the same straw.”

“Now you’re talking dirty just to mess with me.” Her teasing expression turns earnest when she drapes her arms around my shoulders and plays with my hair. “I like the idea of going slow. We have a lot to work on, and we need to set some rules. I accept your apology, but you have to promise you’ll respect my boundaries from now on. If there’s anything you struggle with, be open and honest about it, and we’ll find a compromise. And I’ll work harder on being open with you.”

“I can do that.” I brush my lips against hers once, twice, three times. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being you. For staying.”

Her soft, sincere gaze imprisons mine, and I’d gladly remain her captive forever. “You’ve always believed in me, J. I’ll prove how much I believe in you too. And the best place to start is right here, where I belong.”

Excitement floods my veins. “You’ll move in with me? All the way in?”

“I packed my bags weeks ago.”

The flesh I’m kneading with my fingers reminds me of our new restriction, and I groan. “Damn, it’ll be hard to not have sex if we’re living together.”