Page 120 of Tame Me

“I needed to put it into perspective.”

Frowning, I blinked at him, incapable of working out what perspective that would be.

“The only difference between you and me is that you condensed your sexual relations down to one year. I spread mine out over twenty.”

“Oh.”

“And that you invented Memphis to do it.”

“That was just clothes and makeup. The rest of her was me. But I never meant to hurt you. My lies just . . .” My quivering chin made it impossible to talk.

He caressed my cheek. “I know, and I’m willing to forgive you.”

I covered my mouth as a sob released from my throat.

“As long as there are no more lies.”

“I promise never to lie to you again.”

His eyes pierced mine. “What about Henry?”

My heart stammered. It would be easier to fib and tell him I broke it off with Henry. But I wouldn’t. I’d just made a promise never to lie to Hunter again, and I meant it. So, I looked into his beautiful blue eyes, took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. “Henry broke up with me. He said he was too old for me and that I needed to find a man who I could have a family with. A man who I could grow old with.”

“Is that what you want?”

I leaned forward, clutched his cheeks, and let my tears flow. “You are what I want. I’ve dreamed of our future together. I’ve dreamed of our little house by the beach and lots of babies who grow up being taught by their daddy how to cook and surf. I’ve dreamed of holidays together, where we explore exotic locations and eat amazing food. I’ve dreamed of falling asleep in your arms every night, knowing in my heart that I’ve found my home.”

His eyes softened, and his Adam’s apple bobbed up and down. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear you say that.”

I crushed my lips to his, kissing him with everything I had. He opened his mouth, and our tongues danced. His hands glided up and down my back. I pushed him backward, and as he fell onto the floor laughing, I pulled my pajama top off and lowered myself down to straddle him.

When he cupped my breast, I was certain Hunter would feel my raging heart. “I can’t believe you’re?—”

He placed a finger over my lips. “Shhh.”

I kissed his fingers, and as he squeezed my breasts, I leaned forward, placed one hand beside his head on the carpet, and kissed his lips. The heat of his body beneath mine was heaven, and I wanted to stay there forever.

It was an eternity before our lips parted, and I eased back, placed my hands over his pecs, and looked into his stunning blue eyes again. Our gazes locked together, and a wonderful sense of completeness embraced me.

Hunter was the man of my dreams, and I’d thought I’d lost that dream forever. It was worth the wait. It was worth the agony. “I still can’t believe you’re here. How’d you know I’d be home?”

“I knocked on your door earlier, but you weren’t around, so I went down to the bar and waited.”

“Oh.” I could only imagine the state he saw me in when I’d whizzed through the lobby earlier.

“You were in a hurry when you went past about twenty minutes ago.”

I didn’t want to elaborate, but at the same time, I wanted Hunter to know everything. He deserved that. “I was at a party at Lolita’s place, but . . . but I didn’t feel like partying. I just wanted this year to be over.”

“It nearly is. Oh, that reminds me—I have a gift for you.”

I sat back and blinked at him. “You do?”

“Hop up, and I’ll show you.”

I pushed off his chest to stand and offered my hand to help him up. He strode to the door and collected a bag that I hadn’t noticed him bring. Reaching inside, he removed a gift wrapped in Christmas paper. He walked back, and when he handed it to me, I could tell it was a book.

“Open it.”

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