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We sink into it, as we always do, but with added heat, added fire. “We’re going to have to hold off on your tattoo,” he says, his breath caressing me, “if we’re trying for a baby.”
I laugh softly, a pleasant shiver coiling around my neck, warm tingles claiming every part. “Are we ever going to get this tattoo done?”
“Be patient, Ellie,” he says, kissing me again. Then, in a soft, somehow urgent, warm, and passionate whisper, “We’ve got all the time in the world.”
CHAPTER
TWENTY-FOUR
Max
“What is this place?” Ellie says as I drive her into the parking lot of a lumber mill, out in the countryside, several hundred miles from our house.
It is our house, even though she’s only been officially staying there a day. She moved in last night after Vanessa gave her blessing. I already think of it as our home, just like I think of everything as ours: the future, a family, love, all of it.
“Now, it’s a lumber mill, but years ago, it was an abandoned warehouse. This is where I grew up.”
I sit back, taking a long breath. Ellie reaches over and places her hand on mine. Warmth immediately fires between us, nothing dragging it down now or threatening it. She’s wearing a loose-fitting summer dress that settles against the shape of her perfect, fertile body. Her hair is stylishly messy. She’s beautiful, every inch. Her eyes show understanding. “Whatever it is, you can tell me.”
I swallow. It’s like whiplash, going from having no feelings to all the feelings. That’s just part of the journey with my woman, and I will be here for every moment.
“This is where my uncle brought me when they held the fights. I used to have nightmares about this place, and then, nothing. I stopped feeling, but then I met you. Hell, I saw you, and everything changed. The second I laid eyes on you, you were tattooed on me, inked into me. Part of me. We fused right then.”
She leans toward me. I turn, meeting her lips, pressing passionately against her. As we kiss, our problems flash through my mind. Just one. Just the college. They don’t know about our relationship. As far as they’re concerned, I fought off three psychos. The police haven’t needed to share the contents of the recording. Maybe they won’t have to. But if they do? I love the job, but I love my woman much more.
“I love you,” she whispers urgently, “so much.”
“I love you, Ellie. Come with me.”
I climb from the car, then walk around to her side. When she takes my hand, I can’t help but pull her to her feet, pull her close so she’s right up against me. I groan when her body gets warm against mine, the telltale sign my girl is ready for me. Then I gently push her away and take her hand. I’ve got to do this first.
“I guess we’re going for a walk,” she says, a callback to the first standoff with Cillian when I finally told her how much she means to me.
But there isn’t any pain in my gut this time. Only joy as I lead her away from the parking lot through the trees. Her hands fly to her mouth when I lead her into the clearing, the ground suddenly covered with thousands of red rose petals. The sun comes down at the perfect angle, making them glisten.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, her eyes moving over the tapestry.
It’s suspended between two tall beams, each corner secured to it, flapping in the wind. The design is visible. It’s a classic car, driving off into the sunset, just like her tattoo idea, but there’s a difference.
She walks forward, gazing at the tapestry. I walk up behind her, enveloping her in my arms and whispering in her ear. Our bodies naturally shift against each other, my manhood pressing against her back.
“I know you’re getting impatient about your tattoo. We have to wait until after the baby. So I thought I’d draw up a design. It’s slightly different from the one I’ll ink on your perfect body, Ellie, but it’s the same basic design.”
She spins in my embrace, throws her arms around me, and ends up with her hands desperately clinging to my neck. She holds me passionately, her eyes glistening. “Do you mean it?”
I smirk. “Do you even have to ask me that?”
The license plate reads, Will you marry me?
I step back, lowering myself to one knee. I wanted to surprise her with my design and the rose petals, but that doesn’t mean I won’t do this properly.
“Ellie Rey,” I say, reaching into my pocket and taking out the ring box. “You’re the smartest, kindest, fiercest, most beautiful, most perfect person I’ve ever met. You’re sexy, sassy, funny, and hell, you’re enough to make an English Lit professor run out of words.”
