Page 43 of If You Fight

I kissed him, tasting myself on his lips, and cradled his face in my hands. “It’s not every man who can make a woman come like that and make references to fringe on rodeo costumes. You’re truly a Renaissance man.”

“Your Renaissance man.”

“All mine. And I’m all yours,” I answered, never more sure I loved him as completely as I ever could love someone.

He remained quiet for a few minutes as I recovered from the pleasure he’d given me. Finally, he said, “I don’t want you to worry about what’s going to happen, Serena. I’m going to take care of everything. I promise.”

I trusted him more than anyone else in the world. He’d saved me more times than I deserved, and I knew he’d do everything in his power to ensure my safety.

But as much as he loved me, I worried he was no match for what my father would do.

“Just promise me whatever happens, you won’t give up on us.”

He winced like what I said hurt him. “I won’t ever give up on us, Serena. He can do whatever he wants. It won’t matter. As long as I’m breathing, I’m going to love you. That’s all there is to it.”

When he said things like that, I almost believed we’d be okay.

“I love you,” I whispered against his lips before kissing him again. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He tucked my hair behind my ears and kissed me back. “You won’t ever have to know because I’m going to love you for the rest of my life.”

I placed my head on his shoulder, loving the feel of his strength beneath me. Like we used to when he first came to the estate, I closed my eyes and let myself drift off, knowing he was right beside me making sure nothing bad happened to me.

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