Page 103 of One Billion Reasons

He shakes his head. “I don’t want to be in the house without you.”

“Miles, please—”

He squeezes my hand. “Take the house, Lane. I want you to have it. I’m not giving it to you in expectation of anything in return. I love you. Now I can always protect you, even if you don’t love me anymore.”

“You fool.” I climb into his lap. His hands come up to circle my waist automatically. His breaths are shallow, and mine are shaky. I run my eyes over his finely arched brows, drawn low with concern, his grey eyes, shadowed with worry and uncertainty, that lovely soft mouth. “How could you ever think I didn’t love you? All those late nights when I confessed to you about my horrible dates? All the times you dragged me out of a funk? Literally dragged me. When you taught me how to drive stick and I nearly crashed your car? When you showed me the pieces of yourself that no one else gets to see?” I brush my lips over his. “Those are my favorite parts. I love you. I’ve loved you for years. And I’ll never stop.”

He captures my lips with his and bands an arm around my back. He breaks the kiss to murmur, “I love you, too. I will never stop loving you.”

44

Miles

The breathy sigh of happiness that Lane makes into my mouth as she kisses me again fills a hole inside me that I didn’t know existed. She loves me.

“Come home with me.” My words spill out. I need her.

“Okay.” She brushes her lips against mine again.

“Never leave. Stay with me forever.”

She leans back to look me in the eyes. “Okay.” She smiles again and kisses me. It’s not enough. It will never be enough. My hands close around her hips, and I pull her against me.

“If we do this, Lane, you need to know something.”

“Yes?” Her smile is hazy and real and she leans down to kiss me again. I stop her with a thumb on her lips. She nips at my finger. “Behave, demon. If we do this, I will never let you go. Do you understand?” I circle her jaw with my fingers, just a little possessive.

Her nostrils flare, and she trembles. She likes that. “I want that.” She licks her lips. “Tell me more.”

Satisfaction fills me. “I’ve wanted you for too long. You’re mine now. I want you to live with me, starting tonight. I want you at every event I’m forced to attend so you can distract me. I want you in my bed every night and in my kitchen every morning sharing my coffee.”

Her eyes are half-closed and happy at my words. She slips her lips against mine, just a tiny taste, and then she whispers, “I want nothing more.”

I tangle my hand in her hair and kiss her. She kisses me back, curling her hands into my lapels and tasting me with little flicks of her tongue until I’m panting.

“Up. We’re going to the house.”

We practically run back. When we step in through the front, her eyes go wide. “You had it cleaned.”

“I wanted it to be perfect for you.”

“Damn, I love you.” She launches herself at me, and our lips meet again, greedy, open, all tongue and teeth. I back her to the master bedroom and onto the king bed. I pull off her underwear and push her legs apart with my hands. She’s trembling and tugging at my hair, and when I finally drag my tongue through her folds, she sighs my name like a prayer.

“Say it again,” I murmur and flick my tongue against her clit.

“Miles, yes.” It falls from her lips as I work her with my tongue and my fingers, and every time she says my name it ratchets me higher, until I’m grinding myself into the comforter.

When I finally sink into her, she sighs my name, and then, “I love you.”

“I love you, too.” I press my forehead to hers, and then I rise up and roll my hips, again, again. The driving pace I set and my hand on her clit has her moaning and spasming around me, and I grit my teeth together to last. But I keep my eyes open the whole time so I catch how much she enjoys this, so I can make it perfect for her. Every time, I vow. Every time I’ll make it this good for you. As she comes apart and I follow her with a shudder, I mouth into her hair that I love her, that I’ve always loved her, that I’ll never let her go.

* * *

Hours later, Lane has her head on my chest, and she’s panting slightly from a rather vigorous round two. I’m dozing lightly, feeling sated. All is right with the world.

“Can I see the tattoo again?”

“Hmm?” I rouse myself. “Sure.” I flip over and let her explore my back with light touches and soft fingers.

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