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CHAPTER ELEVEN

BECKETT

The movie credits roll, but I don’t remember one thing about the goddamn movie. All I’m focused on is the feel of Elsie’s body locked against mine, her hair tickling my jaw as she melts into my side. The sound of her laugh, the way she rolls her eyes at every dumb joke I make, the satisfied little sigh she lets out when she realizes the animal crew has passed out in a heap at our feet.

Jesus, I want her. I want her so fucking much it’s actually painful.

The cat, the pig, and the dog are sprawled out on the giant pet bed like they’ve lived together their entire lives. Beans is belly-up, snoring so hard his bristly sides quiver. Pork has his face buried in the curve of Beans’ stomach. And Mr. Snugglebutt? The drama queen is dead center, orange fluff everywhere, one paw thrown over the carcass of a toy mouse like a villain hoarding his loot.

Elsie stares at the animal pile-up, and I watch the way her eyes go soft and shiny, the way her cheeks flush as she bites her lip to hold back a smile. Fucking hell, she’s beautiful. Her whole face glows as she drinks in the sight of our weird little family sprawled out together, like it’s the last puzzle piece snapping into place.

I can’t pretend I don’t know what this means. Not with the way my chest feels tight and hollow at the same time, the way my hands itch to reach for her and never let go.

“Look at them,” she whispers, voice cracking and sweet. “They already love each other.”

“Fuck yeah, they do,” I murmur, barely recognizing my own voice. Christ, I sound like an idiot, but it’s the truth. I can’t take my eyes off her. She looks at the three sleeping animals like she’s never seen anything so perfect in her life.

I want to lock this in. Make it permanent. I can’t fucking help myself. I tip her chin up so she has to look at me, has to see just how hard she’s got me hooked. “That’s because we’re a family now.” My voice is rough as hell, barely more than a growl. “You’re supposed to be here, Elsie. So are they. Feels like the universe finally got its shit together.”

She blinks, lips parted, cheeks flushed from the wine, or it might be from the way I’m staring at her like I want to eat her alive.

Fuck, if she only knew.

I drag my thumb over her bottom lip. Her breath hitches, her eyes so wide and blue I want to drown in them. “You know what I want?” I whisper, my voice low and rough. “I want you here. All the time. In my bed, in my house, with our weird little animal crew. I want you waking up next to me every damn day. Yeah, I know it’s fast. I don’t give a fuck.”

Her lips part, her breath trembling as she stares up at me, and I swear my heart actually skips a beat.

She blinks, lashes fluttering, voice barely a whisper. “I want that, too.”

Jesus Christ. I can’t breathe. My throat goes tight. I drag her straight onto my lap, crushing her against my chest, and pin her there so she can’t look away.

“You’re fucking mine, Elsie.” I’m shaking, I want her so goddamn bad. I fucking love her with every ounce of my soul. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t need you. Or that I want to play it cool. I don’t. I want every single part of you.”

Her breath comes out shaky, but she doesn’t hesitate. “You already have me, Beckett.”

Fuck yes. That’s all I need to hear. My heart’s beating so hard it’s probably visible through my damn shirt, but I don’t care. I haul her tighter against my chest, crushing her soft body to mine, and slam my mouth down on hers.

I’m not gentle. Not even a little. I devour her, tongue tangling with hers, pinning her to my lap so she can’t go anywhere. She melts into me like I’m oxygen and she’s been suffocating. Her hands fist in my shirt, knuckles white, and she grinds her hips into my cock like she’s trying to drive me insane.

It works. I’m so fucking hard it hurts.

“You drive me out of my goddamn mind,” I growl, dragging my lips down her jaw and nipping her neck, just beneath her ear. She lets out this perfect little gasp, all breath and want, and the sound goes straight to my cock. Her pulse kicks under my tongue, beating hard and fast, and I bite down again, just enough that she'll remember it tomorrow.

She’s melting for me. No point pretending I’m not seconds from coming undone myself.

“Beckett… please,” Elsie breathes out, her hips grinding against me as if she’s desperate for more. Hell, so am I.

I grip her waist, dragging her tighter onto my lap so she can feel every inch of me, hot and hard and already leaking for her. “You know what you do to me?” I grunt, my voice barely more than a snarl as I suck another mark onto her neck. “You make me fucking crazy, Elsie.”

“Good,” she whispers, “I’ve been crazy for you since the first moment we met.”

Fucking hell. I can’t take another second. I scoop her up and haul her against my chest, loving the way her legs wrap around my waist and her mouth crashes into mine, hungry and sweet and desperate as hell. “You’re mine,” I grit, carrying her straight down the hall to my bedroom and kicking the door shut behind us.

She’s shaking all over, breath coming fast, eyes locked on me like I’m the only thing she’s ever wanted. I lay her out on the bed and strip every inch of clothing off her perfect body. Her tits bounce when I peel her bra away, and her pale skin goes blotchy with heat as I yank her leggings and panties down her legs. She’s fucking stunning.

I tear my shirt over my head, rip my jeans off, and let my cock spring free. “Spread those gorgeous thighs, sweetheart.”

She does, moaning my name, and I almost lose it right then and there. Her perfect, silky thighs tremble under my hands as I drag her to the edge of the bed and stare down at her sweet, wet pussy. She’s dripping for me, swollen and pink, glistening like she’s been waiting all night for this.