Page 79 of Merry with Me

Walking to where she stands, I bend, grip the back of her thighs, and lift her. She wraps her legs around my waist and her arms around my neck. “I love you. I’minlovewith you. You, Blakely Kincaid, are the love of my life. I thought I knew what that meant, but, baby, I was wrong. I didn’t really know what love was at all until you came into my life. Life has a funny way of working out, and I’ll be thanking my lucky stars from now until forever that you came into my life. I love you. You are the most important person in my world. One day, when you’re ready, I want you to be my wife.” I swallow back my emotions. “You know I tried that once before, and it didn’t go so well, but something tells me this time I have my forever in my arms, and everything is going to be okay. I believe that because it’s you, baby. You’re my forever. Here in my arms, you’re all I ever wanted and never imagined I’d find.”

Tears glisten in her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“I’m right here.”

“Kiss me.”

I don’t need to be told twice. I fuse my lips to hers, trying to put everything I’m feeling into this kiss. I don’t know exactly when it happened, but she thawed my hardened heart. Day by day, she took another small piece, until tonight, when I was finally man enough to admit that she’s stolen all the tiny broken fragments and made me whole again.

I need her naked. I need to feel her skin against mine and her heartbeat beneath my palm. I just need her closer. I can never get close enough where she’s concerned. Moving toward thefront door, balancing her in my arms, I flip the lock and turn off the lights. I make my way to my room in the dark, while Blakely peppers kisses across my neck and jaw.

In my room, I take her to the bed and place her down gently. The room is dark, with nothing but the light of the moon to guide us. That is until Blakely turns on the lamp on the bedside table.

“I want to see you. To remember this moment.”

“We’ll have lots of these moments, baby,” I assure her.

“Yeah, but this is our first time together. That’s different from all the others, and I want to remember it.”

“I’ll never forget a single moment of this night. I’ll never forget the way my heart raced when you told me you’re in love with me, or how I let you walk away from me. I swear to you, you will never walk away again, not without me chasing right behind you.”

“I won’t run,” she promises. “I just needed you to understand that you could have more. Thatwecould have more, could have it all, if you put the heartache behind you.”

“My eyes are wide open, Blake. I see you, and I see our future.”

She nods. “Me too.”

Bending over, I press a kiss to her lips. “Now, get naked, baby.”

“I kinda like the bossy side of you right now.”

“Only in the bedroom, or if it comes to your safety.” I’ll boss the hell out of her for her pleasure, and mine, and to keep her safe. It’s the only way I know how to protect my heart. Blakely Kincaid—one-day-soon Thompson, if I have a say—is my heart.

CHAPTER

NINETEEN

Blakely

This is it. I’ve met the man who is going to own a piece of me that no one else ever will. I know it was fast, but I know with everything inside of me, he’s the one. He’s my forever. He looks at me like my dad looks at my mom and my uncles look at my aunts.

“You’re behind,” he teases as he pulls his pants off and chucks them across the room. I think he was aiming for the chair in the corner, but he missed, not that he seems to care.

“I’m just enjoying the show.”

“Oh, is that how it is? Do I get to watch the show?”

“Once you get on with that.” I point at his boxer briefs that are doing nothing to contain his erection.

“These things? Pfft, consider them gone.” He peels them down his thighs and steps out of them. Now, he stands before me in all his naked glory, and I make a mental note to tell my mom and my aunts that I can appreciate their affliction for arm porn, because, damn, he’s sexy.

“I can’t believe you hide all of this away under those dress shirts and suit jackets that you often wear to work.”

“Just hiding what’s yours to keep you from having to fight off all the ladies,” he quips. “Now, I believe I was promised a show.” He takes a seat next to me on the bed, and his hands land on my lower back as he gives me a gentle push to stand and get naked. I giggle but stand to face him, only to find him already fisting his cock, stroking leisurely from root to tip. I lick my lips because I crave the taste of him, something I never in my life thought I would say.

“This is all yours,” he tells me with a smirk. “After you strip.” Turning, I lift my hair, and without being told, he lowers the zipper on my dress. “You looked beautiful tonight, but I have to admit, I think this dress on my bedroom floor is a better look.”

“You think so?” I turn and let the dress fall, pooling at my feet.

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