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I don’t prolong her agony and kiss the tip of her nose. “I’ll always want you.” She exhales and sinks into me for a beat in relief. I rest my chin on the top of her head. “I’m surprised you’d be willing to leave your life and move around the world with me. To live so far from what you’re used to.”
“Tom.” She draws back to look at me. “I…I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. I didn’t even know I was going to say that until I did. But I meant it. I don’t know what love is, but I’m pretty sure I’m falling for you.”
My heart batters around in my chest, and my lips quirk upward into what I hope is my sexiest smile. “I’m falling for you too.” I glide my hand around the back of her neck and kiss her senseless.
Her mouth opens willingly, her tongue hungrily stroking mine, and when her quiet moan slips down my throat, I feel it in my balls.
Leighton breaks away. “When do we leave?”
“I’m not going back to Africa. I considered it for a second, but only as a way to get as far away from you as possible.”
“Me? But you said you weren’t upset with me.”
“I’m not—not really. But seeing you with Felix and your parents…on the red carpet.” I hold her gaze, needing her to hear and understand me. “That isn’t my world. Sure, I can visit it once in a while, but I don’t want to live there. I can’t. It isn’t who I am.”
“I get that. I understand, and it isn’t my world either.” She plays with the collar of my shirt, fingertips sinfully grazing the spot where my collarbones meet.
My hands dig into her waist, and my cock swells with longing for her. As if testing my hold on her, her body sways backward a bit.
A smile slowly curls her lips upward. “Guess what? I took the job with Everly. And I told my father about it and that I’d no longer go along with fake dating anyone.”
I tighten my grip on her, liking everything she has to say. “Good.”
“Besides, I’m with someone.” She smiles seductively. “He’s an awesome guy. I think you’d like him.”
My lips lightly press hers. “He’s one lucky guy. You should be proud of yourself for telling your parents. What did they say to all that?”
“Eventually, they were okay with it. Although I’m sure they might try to bring things back to the way they used to be.”
“How do you feel about that?”
“I’ve got my boundaries. I want a relationship with them, but I won’t ever go back to living my life for them. I hope in time they’ll come around, and if not, it doesn’t matter. I’m doing this. I start my job next week.”
“This is the best news yet. Tell me you’re staying the night and that’ll trump everything.”
The light tinkle of her laughter warms my insides and she nods. “I’m staying.”
“Uh, that reminds me. How did you know where to find me? That I was in Chicago and which hotel?”
She chuckles and presses her lips together like she refuses to say a word, but it’s only for a beat. “August told me with a little help from your mom. You know, I can be very persuasive with what I want, and in case you haven’t figured it out, I want you.”
Her gaze lowers, slowly perusing my body from head to toe. Appreciation gleams in her darkening eyes, and heat burns in my stomach and shoots down to my crotch. The way she looks at me like she wants me for dinner, I could easily get addicted to it.
“Oh yeah?”
Nodding, she licks her bottom lip and toys with the hem of my shirt.
My hands rub up and down her arms. “I still can’t believe you’re here.”
“Well, I am and I’ll prove it to you.” Her fingers latch on to my belt and she unbuckles while looking up at me. “Tom, if you’ll have me…I’m yours.”
“Leighton, you’re all I want.”
32
TOM
“Oh my goodness.” Leighton pulls my eldest sister, Pippa, in for a hug. “Congratulations. When are you due?”
