Page 79

Chapter 27

Shane

Willow stills, frozen for an agonizing second, before melting into me. A gruff sound rips from my throat as I immediately deepen the kiss. Willow’s fingers, gripping the fabric of my shirt and tugging me closer, help soothe some of the manic buzzing behind my sternum.

Every cell in my body feels like it’s vibrating too fast. My blood rushes at a speed that can’t be sustainable, but I can’t stop. I slide one hand into her hair, moving my other to band around her waist. When Willow hooks her ankles at the small of my back, heady gratitude sings in my veins.

I’ve never needed a person like this.

I’ve never felt like my lungs would give out if I didn’t pour myself into her. If I didn’t show Willow how much her standing up for me means. I’m terrible at saying the right thing, but hopefully, she’ll understand with my actions what she means to me. Because I don’t know how to verbalize the gratefulness coating me like a second skin.

I angle my head, feathering kisses over the soft skin along her jaw. When Willow makes a low, sweet sound, I have to pause to catch my breath. My forehead rocks into her temple as a shuddered exhale leaves my mouth. Pinpricks shoot over my arms when Willow’s fingers frame my jaw, gently directing my lips back to hers.

Then the kiss shifts.

What started as a mad rush eases into something deeper, slower. Willow takes her time, nipping and savoring, and I’m helpless to do anything but return each touch in kind. All my chaotic thoughts hush into a lulling hum.

I don’t think I’ve ever felt cherished, like I was worth the effort Willow put in this week. I’ve always excelled at whatever I was tasked, but it was expected. It wasn’t something to praise as much as was required. When there were setbacks, I shouldered them alone.

There’s never been someone in my corner.

But hasn’t Willow been there from the start? Refusing to accept my gruffness at face value. Demanding friendship. Ensuring that I was equally valued in this marriage. Even when I kept trying to push her away, Willow tenaciously challenged me.

When she eventually breaks the kiss, bringing her forehead to mine with a happy sigh, I feel like I’ve just played a bruising double header. My fingers tremble in her hair; my legs shake. Still, I can’t stop myself from sucking her bottom lip between mine and giving her one last thorough kiss.

“Thank you,” I murmur, my voice rough.

“For what?”

I gently straighten her ruffled bangs. “For being on my team.”

Willow’s dazzling smile lights up the kitchen, our penthouse, the entire city.

“I am ten thousand percent Team Shane.” She playfully tugs at the collar of her red polka-dotted blouse. “One might even say I’m the president of the fan club.”

My lips brush the shell of her ear, my voice a hard rasp. “My eternal gratitude, Madam President.”

When her hands curl into fists atop her jeans, I grin inwardly. As tempting as it is to stay here and kiss her all day, Willow has an adventure planned for us.

“If you give me twenty minutes, I’ll be ready to go,” I tell her while leaning back.

“Oh, um…” She swallows, absently rubbing a knuckle over her lips. “Sure.”

Though I could grab my breakfast without touching Willow, I place one hand between her shoulder blades, bracing her as I lean across the counter to snatch my plate. She turns her face into me as we move, her uneven exhale tickling my neck. When I release her, Willow blinks hard, almost as if her brain is overheating.

I understand her confusion.

I’ve never allowed myself to be this free around her. This last week, I bantered and went along with every idea Willow threw at me, but I kept my hands to myself. After waking to Willow clanging around in the kitchen, I stared at the ceiling and wondered, “What if I just did what I wanted?”

Now, as a delicate flush pinks Willow’s lightly freckled cheeks, one thought hits me square in the chest.

I’m in love with Willow.

Instead of fighting this realization, instead of coming up with a dozen reasons why I should guard myself against this exact scenario, I allow the sensation of loving Willow to sift into my bones. Certainty tumbles around my body, settling in various places—behind my ears, low in my ribs, deep in my gut. There is no doubt in my mind that everything I’ve been through—everything I’ve endured—was so I could be here with her…now.

My hand helplessly frames Willow’s face as I bring her lips to mine once more.

I love you more than I know how to say. More than I ever thought possible.