Page 12 of One Golden Ring

Her eyes widen. “What? You can’t—”

“I can,” I say firmly. “And I will. No arguments. The universe is whispering in my ear again. And I’m not letting you go, sunshine. I meant it when I said you’re mine.”

“Drake,” she leans over, brushing a whisper-soft kiss across my lips. “I don’t know how to repay you.”

“A lifetime supply of these will do.” I kiss her once more.

She moans again, and my soul is seton fire.

By the time we come up for air, I know that, without a doubt, I’m never letting her go. If that means I will have to be surrounded by tinsel, twinkling lights, and garland all the days of my life, I’m in.

All the way.

Chapter Nine

Wynter

Something is happening between us. I don’t know if it’s sexual chemistry or something more, but I can’t name it, I can’t stop it—and I don’t want to. The way Drake looks at me, the way he kisses me… it’s intoxicating.

And now, as I sit beside him in his truck, watching the lights of Pinegrove blur by, all I can think about is how I want more. More of his touch. More of that deep, rumbling voice calling me ‘sunshine.’ More of…him.

My fingers twitch in my lap as I replay our kisses. God, the way he pulled me close, the way his lips claimed minelike he was talking to me, telling me without words that I belong to him. I can still feel the heat of it, the way my body melted into his.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Drake turns to me as we stop at a red light.

“I was just thinking…” I bite my lip, unsure how to say it without sounding likea crazy sixteen-year-old girl. “About us.”

A slow, devastating smile tugs at his lips. “Tell me more.”

I sigh, “How did this happen so fast?”

The light turns green, and Drake rests his hand against the side of my thigh. His warm touch sends a shiver through me.

When you know, you know.His words are simple, but they make me smile because I think he’s right. We’re not kids; we’re adults in our thirties. At this age, we’ve made our mistakes andknow what we want. Even though I’ve only known Drake for a short time, the butterflies I feel when I’m with him are different.

“Do you think we’re crazy?“ I murmur.

He glances at me again. “Doyouthink we’re crazy?”

I shake my head, and my throat tightens as I swallow. “No, I don’t.”

“Good.” He squeezes my thigh lightly, his hand lingering. “Because it sure as hell doesn’t feel wrong to me.”

His words send a rush of heat straight to my core. I shift in my seat, trying to steady my breath. “Drake…” I startbuttrail off when we pull up in front of my place. I don’t want this night to end.

He cuts the engine and turns to me, brushing a strand of hair away from my face. “Invite me in.”

It’s not a question. It’s a command wrapped in a low, husky voice that has my heart racing.

“Come in,” I whisper.

The air between us shifts, tension crackling like a live wire. Drake gets out of the truck and comes around to open my door, helping me out like a gentleman, though the look in his eyes is anything but.

As we step inside my house, the warmth greets us. He hasn’t let go of my hand since he helped me out of the truck, and now, as we stand in the middle of my living room, his hand slides up my arm over my shoulder, sending sparks skittering down my spine.

“I meant what I said earlier,” he murmurs, his eyes locked on mine. “You’re mine, Wynter. I don’t want anyone else looking at you the way I do. And I’m not going to let you go.”

“I don’t want you to let go,” I whisper.

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