Page 43 of When I Found You

“Can you believe we made it through today?” I ask Peyton as I settle into what’s become my spot, tucked next to his right side, his arm around me with his hand on my hip, and my head resting on his chest, right over his heart.

“I can. Thank you for making me so happy. Thank you for making me believe in love again.”

“No need to thank me,” I tell him. We melt against one another as our bodies relax into the mattress.

“I’m so exhausted, otherwise I’d be sliding inside you right now. But I promise that we can christen this room in the morning. Right now, all I can do is close my eyes,” he tells me on a yawn.

I look up and watch his eyes drift shut, listening as his breathing becomes slow and even. I follow his lead and fall asleep a few minutes later, feeling so loved and knowing that this man was meant for me and I was meant for him.

Chapter Fourteen

PEYTON

One year later

The past yearhas been like no other year of my life. From the moment I walked into that bar and sat next to Stacey, my life has changed, and for the better. Her bubbly personality took over and I’ve been pretty smitten, as my dad likes to say, since that moment.

Moving in together after only a couple of months of dating was kinda quick, according to some people, but it was a game-changer for the two of us. It has done nothing but strengthen our relationship and shown me how having a woman in my life that is just as concerned about my well-being as her own can be a blessing.

I’m also the proudest boyfriend of all her accomplishments. She’s continued to rack up the hit songs and awards. Not only with Reese, but with other artists who have specifically requested to work with her and Lee. They’ve worked with some pretty big names in the music industry this past year and today, she’s due to fly back home after being out in L.A. for the past week, working with some hip-hop producers on a list of different songs.

I have the house tidied up, as always, with dinner waiting in the oven for when she arrives home any minute now. I’mnervous as can be to see her tonight. I’ve got one very important question to ask her, and the rock to go along with it is burning a hole in my pocket.

I never expected to be the guy getting down on one knee and proposing, but that will be me in just a few hours. I can only pray she’ll say yes.

“Honey, I’m home!” I hear her sweet voice call out as she walks in from the garage.

“I’m in the kitchen.”

“It smells amazing in here, what did you make me?”

“Something new I found online that I thought we could try.” I pull her into my arms as soon as she steps into the kitchen. I bring my lips to hers in a passionate kiss. “God, I missed you this week. Sleeping in an empty bed sucked ass,” I say against her lips.

“Well, I’m home now, so no more empty bed. Is dinner going to be done soon? I’m starving. I only had a few snacks with me on the flight.”

“Yep, it’s done, just keeping warm in the oven.” I turn and pull it out, then take it to the table I already have set for us. “What would you like to drink?” I ask, walking back into the kitchen to grab the side dishes.

“I’ll just take some water. I’m just going to go wash up quick,” Stacey calls as she walks down the hall to our room.

A couple minutes later, she returns, hair pulled up in a messy knot on the top of her head. She’s changed into some tight-ass leggings and one of my shirts she’s basically confiscated as her own. Her face is washed of the little bit of makeup she had on from this morning, and she still looks just as beautiful as she does when she’s fully made up for an event.

“This all looks so fancy.” She drops into the seat I have pulled out for her next to my own. “What’s the special occasion?” she asks before taking a sip of her water.

“Just wanted to spoil you. I missed you this week,” I tell her again.

“And I missed you,” she says, punctuating each word with a kiss to my lips.

“Let’s eat! We don’t want it to get cold.”

We each dish up and dig into the chicken dish I prepared. One thing we’ve really enjoyed doing together this past year is cooking. We took a few classes at a local restaurant and have enjoyed challenging each other with new recipes. It’s become our Saturday ritual. We go out and buy any special ingredients we might need for that night’s dish, then give it a go and see if it’s something we like. We’ve had some big hits, but also some pretty nasty dishes that went straight into the trash while we went out for takeout.

“Oh my god, this isso good.” Stacey moans around another bite of her chicken and my dick hardens in my jeans. I want her lips wrapped around my cock the same way they’re wrapped around her fork.

I do my best to not focus on her moans and lips and eat my food. I need to get past dinner and onto dessert and popping the question before I can even think of getting her naked tonight.

We finish our dinners and drinks and, after clearing the table, Stacey helps me with the dishes and cleaning up the kitchen.

“Let’s go sit out on the patio,” I suggest, linking our fingers together.

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