Page 148 of Never You

“And you’re really moving to North Carolina? I thought you said no Metropolitan Division?” There is still a clear surprised look in her eyes that amuses me, and I bite her lip in reprimand.

“That was beforeyou. The last five days were excruciating without you. I was lost. I have been for years, but not with you. You are mycompass.”

Her lips curl, hovering above mine. “Your compass, huh? Sounds like a good reason for a new tattoo.”

My tongue presses in my cheek, mischief in my eyes as I hold her up with one hand, then stretch the fabric of my t-shirt with the other until my freshly inked skin is exposed. Her lips part, and her brows move to her hairline.

“You got a new tattoo? For me?”

I nod. “I want to wake up next to you and kiss you goodnight for the rest of my life. Hopefully, every night, but if you’re not ready to move in with me yet, I’ll settle for six nights a week.”

“Let’s take this one step at a time,hockey boy,” she tells me, though I can see the excitement washing her face.

“I told you,” I continued. “I’m not going anywhere, baby.”

I lower her to the ground, then dip my chin and cup her cheek. She’s looking up at me with those gorgeous eyes holding a glint of hope.

“What made you change your mind?” Her voice is soft, like a calming song in my ears.

I push out a breath, a smile tugging on the corner of my mouth. “This blonde decided to leave me in LA, and I couldn’t have that. So I forced myself on her road trip.”

“Hmm, then what happened?” she purrs.

“I fell for her,” I confess.

In the last week without her, I’ve been thinking about when everything changed for me, and I keep going back to the same moment. I’ve always found her attractive. I’ve always imagined how she’d feel underneath me, but waking up that first morning with her in my arms, it changed me. I’ve had plenty of women in my bed, waking up exactly like that, but never has it felt like it has with Rae.

Like she belonged there. Like she is made for me.

Suddenly, I knew exactly what my true North would be.

“I’m still falling for her,” I add.

She keeps her face straight, and I can feel my pulse begin to throb nervously in my neck. I know love is hard for her to grasp, after everything she’s lost, but right now, I’ll take anything.

“Hmm, can I tell you a secret?” she muses, bringing her lips flush with my ears.

A flutter goes through my stomach when her breath fans the shell.

I let out a grunt in agreement, unable to voice anything.

She brings her head back, locking our eyes. “I’m pretty sure she’s falling for you too.”

“Yeah?” I chirp, relieved. “How sure?”

She nods. “Pretty sure.”

“How sure?” I repeat, tickling her side.

A shriek erupts from her chest, and she gives me a taunting look before it softens, and her eyes become laced with the love I’m looking for. The love I’m craving from her.

“Positive.”

“Are you in love with me?” I ask with a smirk, wanting to hear it. Her hands take a hold of my face, and she presses a crushing kiss on my lips.

“Madly, Jared James Jensen,” she clarifies. “I’m madly in love with you.”

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