Page 85 of Fire

“I love you.” He slid out and pushed back in, planting himself and going still.

She stared up at him, memorizing the moment of him telling her he loved her for the first time.

“I’ve never said those words before and meant them the way I do with you.” He pulled back out and pushed in slowly. “Don’t ever let me go.”

There was a look in his eyes she’d never seen before, a glassy sheen that, if she didn’t know the strength and power of the man holding her, she would almost think were tears.

“Don’t break my heart.” His voice hitched on the last syllable, and she realized with surprise that hewasemotional, and, with no small amount of awe, it was because of her.

She traced the line of his jaw, the day-old stubble pricking the pad of her thumb, as her heart swelled, feeling as if it would burst in the confines of her chest. She wrapped her arms around his back, marveling in the fact that she was free to do that now, that he didn’t try to stop her. Her legs went around his waist, squeezing him to her as she whispered in his ear, “I’ll never let go.”

And she didn’t. She held on for dear life as they both fell over the edge.

Chapter 22

“What made you decide to open a nightclub?” They were in bed, Gwen’s head on Blake’s shoulder, his arm wrapped around her, his fingers drawing patterns on her arm. He could do that forever, and she’d die happy it felt so good.

“My grandfather.”

“Really?” She shot up onto an elbow—sadly, the move dislodged his hand.

“Really.” He chuckled. “He had one before he’d met my grandmother. Would tell me stories. They sounded so normal.” His smile turned wicked. “And so much fun.” He lost his smile before he said, “I needed both those things in my life.”

She could understand that. “And you named it Fire because…” She hesitated not wanting to open old wounds. She figured they’d done that enough that night.

“I also needed to remember where I’d come from, what I endured, so I’d never forget the taste of freedom. Hence, Fire. It seemed to be the theme of my life.”

“You said your grandfather closed his business after he met your grandmother. What did he do after that?”

“Invested his money, played the stock market, and when he got bored with that, he went into real estate. He got in at the right time and tripled his already impressive portfolio. He was my backer for Fire. And let’s just say, he didn’t lose any money on that investment.”

Gwen produced an unladylike snort. That was an understatement. Fire was the most popular nightclub in LA. “And did they only have the one child, your mother?”

Nodding, he settled her back on his chest, his fingers finding her arm again. “My grandma was a model in her younger years. She gave it up to start a family. She confessed to me once that she’d wanted six kids. But fate can be as nasty as it is benevolent. She almost died having my mother, and Grandfather wouldn’t let her try for any more. She said one of the happiest days of her life was when she learned she had two grandchildren.” He issued another chuckle. “I think we were a bit more than she bargained for.”

She wanted to learn more about his sister, but that was another subject she didn’t want to bring up again that night. So instead she locked on to something else he’d said. “You believe in fate?”

His arm around her squeezed tighter. “How could I not? It brought me you.”

She snuggled into him deeper and another thought struck her. “And the luncheons you throw for the women’s shelter? I’m guessing it means more to you than just a tax write-off.”

Her head dipped with his sigh. “After we escaped, we were taken to a shelter similar to that one. We were there for four days until our grandparents arrived. They were good to us. It’s my way of paying that back.”

“You’re a good man.”

“No. I’m not. But I am the man who loves you.”

And that was good enough for her.

Gwen slowly came awake and opened her eyes. She wasn’t sure what time it was as all the windows in the room were blackened to block the sun, but the bed next to her was empty. She was a little disappointed, wanting to wake up in Blake’s arms for the first time. She tucked the feeling away.

Baby steps.

Sitting up, she saw a pair of Blake’s track pants and a black tee at the foot of the bed and smiled. He didn’t forget sweats and ponytail day.

After cleaning up and changing into clothes that swam on her—thank goodness for the drawstring inside the waistband of the pants or they would have never stayed up—she went in search of her elusive clothes fairy. He wasn’t hard to find sitting at the kitchen table, sipping coffee and reading something on his phone.

She hadn’t made a sound, but his head snapped up as soon as she hit the doorway. A smile spread across his face. “You look a hell of a lot cuter in my clothes than I do.”

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