AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Well, how convenient that you’re saying it now. After my dad gave you his blessing,” I say. I know I shouldn’t rub that nugget of truth in his face, but for us to have any chance to move forward—as anything, really, we need to be honest and I need to put it out there.
“I understand. I hurt you. You were right. I freaked out, and used your father as a way out. I wasn’t the man you deserve.”
I inhale. The truth in his words is as real as the tense energy bouncing between us. There’s a strong emotion flickering in his eyes that pulls at my heartstrings. I shift my weight from one hip to the other, restless.
“If you give me a chance, I’ll show you I can be that man. Whitney, I come with baggage. I’ve been married before, and never in my life did I feel the way I feel for you for anyone else. That’s how I know this is it for me.”
A visceral need to touch him burns at my fingertips. I hold back, barely, and flex my fingers into fists at my sides. I need a bit more from him… to know he means it. To know he won’t bolt again. “How can I believe you? What if you dash again?”
“There is no reason to. When your father reminded me that you could do better, a part of me wanted to believe him. The part that was scared, like you called out. You’re so young and I didn’t want to be the person who holds you back.”
“You can only hold me back by making life changing decisions for me, without my input,” I say.
He steps toward me, and I don’t move one inch away from him. “I know. I apologize. I love you, Whitney.” He’s within a breath of me now, his gaze dropping from my eyes to my lips. “If you need more time I won’t press you, but I’m not going away. I believe in us.”
My last remaining walls dissolve like a pinch of powder in a majestic, flowing river. I throw myself at him, and he happily catches me, with a sexy growl, pulling me into his arms until we’re plastered against each other. His hands hover over me, touching my back, my waistline, my underboob, everywhere they can reach, like he’s creating a new memory.
He crashes into me with passionate force. It’s an all-consuming, no barrier hold kiss, much like the conversation we just shared. There is nothing left to hide, and we both know it. His lips, soft and inviting, linger as he explores my mouth with a sensuous and urgent rhythm. Every nerve within me is alive and tingling, intoxicated by him.
When he pulls away from me, our breaths are coming in short waves.
“I got you something,” he says, running his thumb across my chin. Then, he disengages and reaches for the box on the coffee table. The box he brought.
“What is it?” I ask, and he gives it to me.
I open the box, curiosity getting the best of me, without much finesse. I remove the tissue paper, to find a tie. The same tie he used to tie me up, the same one I removed from him during the photoshoot. The one I helped him find a use for.
I touch it, smiling.
“Look on the back.”
I lift the tie from the box and on the back, there’s an embroidered part that readsmarry me?There is also a small string of fabric attached to a very big diamond ring.
He holds my hand in his, and props me to look deep into his eyes. I feel his hand trembling, and detect the glossy ring around his eyes. I’ve never seen him so emotional before. My heart is singing. This is real, and I believe every second of it. He does too. It’s written all over his face. “Whitney, I want to be tied to you in all ways possible. If you need time, I understand. But I want you to know I am committed to you. And that will never change.”
“Yes. Oh my god. Yes!” I squeal, launching into his arms, little sparks of joy bursting inside my soul.
Fingers trembling, I try to disengage the ring from the delicate string in the tie, but he outsmarts me and does the job more swiftly, then slides the impressive pear shaped diamond ring on my finger. I sigh, in complete happiness. “I’ve dreamed of you for so many years… and now it’s finally happened,” I say, my cheeks red.
He gives me a coy smile, then strokes my cheek. “I love you, Whitney.”
“I love you too.”
“And now a different dream is just starting… and we’re both sharing it,” he says, resting his forehead on mine. “Together.”
“Together,” I whisper, encircling his head with my arms. “Tell me you love me again.”
He chuckles, then sweeps me off the floor and into his arms. “I’ll do better. I’ll show it to you.”
I kiss him, happiness makings gigantic waves inside me. It’s only the beginning of my forever with the man I’ve crushed on since my teens. I don’t want to waste another second. What can I say? It’s been a long time coming…
EPILOGUE
Ayear later…
Maddox
“Is that all?”I ask my assistant after she goes over the important meetings I have the next day.
