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I placed a soft kiss on her lips. “This is what I’ve been waiting for and I didn’t even know it. Having you here feels right.”
“Is this where we will stay?”
“For now. We have my place in the city too, but I like it out here this time of year. Besides, no one other than Noah knows where it is. I guess Ayden knows now, too.”
“Is his place nearby?”
“Yes, we’ve owned this land for a long time. We built this place first and he stayed here with me while we built his.”
“It’s so cozy.”
I laughed, “Mine is. Noah’s is a bit more… let’s just say luxurious.”
“Well, I’m excited to meet him and Ayden.”
“Yeah, me too.”
“You haven’t met her?”
“No. They just recently got together. Much like us, they didn’t meet in a typical way and I think they are both trying to navigate what it’s like being in a relationship.”
“Have you dated a lot of other girls?”
“Not recently. In fact, not for a very long time. Noah and I got into a ton of shit when we were younger, but work took precedence after a while.”
Talia nodded and nestled back into my embrace. “I need coffee, but I don’t want to move.”
“I’ll get it.”
She held me tighter. “I don’t want you to move either.”
I smiled down at the little woman in my arms and realized this was what life was all about. Without a doubt, I had never been happier. We had so much hanging over us and still the only thing I wanted to do was anything she asked of me.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Anything.”
“Anthony said yesterday that maybe it’s not just me being a mess that made you want to stay back. He said there is always the possibility you weren’t ready to leave me either. Would you tell me if that were the case? I mean, does knowing what happened to me affect you, too?”
And there it is, the one question I hoped she’d never ask.
“Yes. It does.”
I turned to my side and held her hands between us as I looked into her eyes. “I know I wasn’t there the first time, but my mind keeps replaying the story you told me. What he did to you was unthinkable, but knowing I wasn’t there to stop it kills me. Talia, I promise you that no matter what we encounter in life, I will always make sure you are safe. Never again will you lose control to someone like that. I’d rather die than let that happen to you.”
Her hand came up and caressed the side of my cheek. “I never would have thought that was what was going on with you. I know how I feel about you and I believe you love me too, but I’ve just never been in a situation like this before.”
“My heart breaks at the idea of no one ever putting you first.”
“Raven does. I guess. Or she did until Beckett. It’s only natural for him to be her priority now and I had a lot of fear about what my life would look like without her.”
“And now?”
“Now I only see my life with you.”
I leaned forward and kissed her as her arms wrapped around me.
“I should go clean up before things get a little too hot and heavy,” she said with a wink.
