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It was pounding, my stomach was full of butterflies, and I wanted to squeal like I had just won the lotto. I took a deep breath and relaxed next to him under the moonlight. I watched his chest's steady rise and fall, and how his lips slightly turned up in a grin every moment or two. His eyes rolled under his lids which told me he was having a dream, and maybe that little smile meant it was a happy one.
I moved closer to him, and before I lost my nerve, I intertwined my body with his. This was the first time we shared a bed, and I wanted to remember everything about it. I leaned on his chest, tucked my head against his neck, draped my arm over his waist, and tangled my legs with his. When I was settled, I realised I had never felt happier and more content in my entire life ... and it scared the crap out of me.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t analyse every little thing. Enjoy it.
I exhaled a breath and gave Dante a squeeze. He jolted a little in his sleep, then shifted his body until his arm was around me and a kiss was planted on the crown of my head. I smiled stupidly against his neck.
“Are ye awake?” he murmured, his voice husky with sleep. “Ina?”
Christ. He sounded like sex.
“Hmm,” I replied. “I didn’t think ye’d stay.”
He gave me a squeeze. “Ye’d have needed the Avengers to get me to leave once I had your body. Ye still might need them ’cause I’m not sure I want to give ye up.”
My heart skipped a beat. “Don’t joke with me.”
“I’m not.”
“I’m serious, Dante.” I sat up. “Don’t say that unless ye mean it.”
He rubbed his eyes and sat up too, his hand rising to cup my cheek.
“I do mean it. I like ye, Ina. More than I’ve ever liked anyone.”
Doubt flooded my mind and so did its bastard cousin jealousy. I knew he had a lot of experience with women.
“D’ye swear?” I asked, my voice cracking. “Because I like ye so much that it scares me. I don’t want to fall in love with you if ye aren’t ready for a serious relationship. I’d rather we stop before anythin’ real starts if that’s the case because I don’t want to be hurt. Because ye have the power to destroy me, Dante. I know ye do.”
He leaned in and kissed me until I couldn’t think straight. “I wanna be with ye,” he said against my lips. “For real, Ina. Labels. A relationship. Feelings. The whole ten yards, country. We said we’d go slow, but after tonight, I want things to be full steam ahead with ye. I want every part of ye. I want it all.”
I couldn’t believe what he was saying. It felt surreal so I pinched myself.
“Stop that,” he chided. “Why’d ye do that?”
“To make sure I’m not dreamin’.”
Dante stared at me for a moment, then he smiled. “Stupid head.”
I was so happy.
“Will ye be me boyfriend, Dante?”
He shifted closer to me. “I’m supposed to be the one askin’ that kind of question.”
“Sorry, but I beat ye to it.”
“I’ll forgive ye on one condition.”
“And what’s that?”
“Take me to heaven again.”
He rolled my body under his.
“It’ll be my pleasure,” I said. “And yours.”
A couple of hours and two condoms later, Dante said I had more than earned his forgiveness. “Ye never answered me question.” I yawned, depleted of energy. “Will ye be me boyfriend?”
“Yeah.” He chuckled softly, his lips brushing against my ear. “I’ll be your boyfriend, country.”
For the second time in the space of a few hours, I went to sleep with a smile on my face.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Date
* * *
One week later …
* * *
“Ye’ve yawned twelve times in the past twenty minutes,” Harley commented as I made a cup of tea in the break room. “Just how late did Miss Country keep ye up last night?”
Amused, I answered, “When I last checked the time, it was after three.”
Harley whistled. “Round after round, huh?”
“Been that way for a week straight since we started goin’ at it,” I said, yawning for good measure. “The woman is worse than me, and that’s sayin’ somethin’ because I love sex. I’ve awoken the fiend in her, but big brother, I am not complainin’.”
Harley laughed and punched my shoulder.
“Ye’ll never guess what?”
I was too tired to do anything, especially guess.
“What?”
“I bought a pub.”
I dropped the teaspoon in my hand and spun to face my smiling brother. Before he said a word, I rushed into him and slapped his back as I hugged him. He laughed merrily.
“Mate, when? Where? Ho—”
“Mr Fox’s derelict pub, the one in Citywest.”
I blinked. “I viewed that site with ye a few months ago, but I thought he was dead set against sellin’?”
“His only daughter just gave birth to his first grandchild. They live in Australia, and he’s decided to pack up and move there to be close to her and her kid. Seems the money from the pub would get him a nice house nearby her.”
