Page 90 of Until Joy

I crossed the space between us in three strides and caught her hands in mine. “Stop right there.”

“But they were so rude, and after everything you've done for me…”

“Joy.” I waited until her blue eyes met mine. “If some biker showed up claiming to be in love with my imaginary younger sister, I'd probably shoot first and ask questions later. Your brothers love you. They're scared for you. In their shoes, I'd be doing the exact same thing.”

She bit her bottom lip, a habit I'd learned meant she was thinking hard about something. “You really don't hate them?”

“Baby, I respect the hell out of them. Any man who'd drop everything and drive out to protect his sister is good people in my book.”

The tension in her shoulders eased, and she leaned into me. “How did I get so lucky to get such a wise and understanding man?”

“I'm the lucky one.” I tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “You could have any man you wanted, and you picked the broken-down ex-SEAL with emotional baggage and no furniture.”

She laughed, the sound washing over me like warm honey. “You're not broken down. You're just… weathered. Like good leather.”

“Did you just compare me to a leather jacket?”

Her eyes sparkled with mischief. “No, I compared you to a really comfortable recliner.”

I was about to respond when her expression shifted, becoming soft and vulnerable in a way that made my chest tight.

“Graham.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I need to tell you something.”

The sudden seriousness in her tone made every muscle in my body tense. “What is it?”

She took a shaky breath, her hands trembling in mine. “I love you, too.”

The words hit me like a lightning strike. I'd known how I felt about her for weeks now. Hell, the guys were right, it’d hit me the instant I saw her. She was my boom. But knowing she felt the same way? It knocked the air clean out of my lungs.

“Joy.”

“I love you, Graham Wallace. I love your terrible morning hair and your empty house and the way you take care of everyone around you. I love that you make me feel safe and cherished and like I'm the most important thing in your world.”

Before she could say another word, I cupped her face in my hands and kissed her. It started tender, reverent, like she was something precious I was afraid of breaking. But when she melted against me, when her lips parted on a soft sigh, something inside me ignited.

The kiss deepened, became hungry and desperate and full of every emotion I'd been carrying around in my chest. I poured everything into it. My love, my need, my promise to protect her, my gratitude that she'd chosen me despite everything.

When we finally broke apart, gasping, I saw tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Don't cry, baby.”

“Happy tears.” She laughed through them, her hands fisting in my shirt. “I just never thought I'd feel this way about anyone. After London, I thought I was broken.”

“You're not broken.” I kissed away her tears, tasting salt and joy and hope. “You're perfect. You're mine. And I love you too, more than I thought it was possible to love another person.”

The words seemed to shatter something inside her. She kissed me again, fierce and claiming, and I felt my control snap.

My hands found the hem of her shirt, desperate to touch skin, and she arched into me with a soft moan that went straight to my cock. The sunset painted everything gold around us, but all I could see was my Joy. All I could think about was showing her exactly how much she meant to me.

“Graham.” My name on her lips was half prayer, half demand. “Please.”

I glanced around the overlook. We were completely alone, surrounded by nothing but trees and sky and the fading light of day. Without breaking eye contact, I shrugged out of my cut, folded it, and placed it over the seat of my Harley. Then I opened up one of my saddlebags and pulled out an old sweatshirt and t-shirt. I shook them out and laid them down on the soft grass.

“You sure about this?”

Instead of answering, she pulled her shirt over her head and dropped it beside my clothes. The sight of her in that lacy pink bra, her skin glowing in the golden light, made my mouth water.

I guided her down onto the soft material, following her until I was braced above her on my forearms. Joy looked up at me like I was her whole world.