Page 69 of Mountain Protector

A tiny shiver runs through me, and Knox pulls the blanket around us so we’re like a burrito. “Some people in the past,” I explain. “But I don’t want to talk about them when we just had?—”

In an achingly tender voice, he says, “I want to know everything about you. There’s no bad time to tell me.”

“Some of the guys I dated—” I stop to amend, “There haven’t been many. At all. Just two that were anything serious. One in college, and then about a year and a half ago. Which sounds pretty sad, really.”

“It doesn’t.” Knox holds my gaze. “I’ve never dated anyone for more than a few months. With the Army, it was too hard. And I just never met… Well. No one was like you.”

Aww.

“The guy in college broke up with me when I finally told him I couldn’t have kids. He said he wanted a family, and he wanted to have it be… normal. That’s what he said.”

A low growl rumbles in Knox’s chest.

“Anyway,” I hurry on, ready for this conversation to be over. “We were young. And we weren’t meant to be together. So it was okay.”

“That’snotokay.”

“The second guy stayed with me after I told him, but he made me feel terrible about it. Like I was broken. He’d insinuate that I’d never find anyone else who’d be willing to deal with my issues. That I was lucky to have him.”

“The fuck?” Anger flares in his eyes. “You’re not broken. You’re amazing, Lark. Any man?—”

“I know I’m not broken. But it took me a while to realize that. To realize he was just an asshole. Once I did, I broke up with him.”

“Good. He didn’t deserve you.”

“He didn’t,” I agree. “And looking back, I’m glad he was such a jerk. Because now I know what actual love is. With you.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t want to be with you if I knew?”

“In the beginning, I was afraid of it. It sounds so cowardly, when I say it. But I have been. A coward. It’s why I focused on my career and working my way up in my dad’s company. It was something I could control.”

Knox stares at me for a few seconds. “If you could do anything, what would it be?”

Well. Here we are. Jumping into the thick of it. And I certainly never intended to get this deep tonight, especially right after mind blowing sex.

“I didn’t mean to make this into a whole thing. We just had sex?—”

“Made love,” he corrects. “And if you don’t want to talk about it, that’s okay.”

How can I not, though? When Knox has been so open with me? When we just connected as closely as two people can?

“I don’t mind my job. But… if I could do anything, I’d… I’d like to have a family. I could do financial advising part-time from home for extra money; it pays pretty well. But my dream has always been… to be a mom. I think I’d be good at it.”

“Oh, Lark.” His lips press to my forehead. “You would be an incredible mom. And I know it’s probably too soon to say this, but I love you. And I see a future with you. If I’m lucky enough for you to not get sick of me?—”

“I won’t.”

“Well.” A quirked smile appears. “I hope you don’t. But if we get to that point, I’m on board. There are lots of ways to have kids. It doesn’t matter how to me. And between my company, my savings from the Army, and my pay from GMG, I do pretty well. So if you wanted to stay home, that would be fine with me.”

Emotion wells up in my chest. “Knox.”

“I mean it, Lark. I love you. And I want you to be happy.”

Blinking against the threatening tears, I say, “I am happy. Right now, in your arms, I’msohappy.”

“So am I.” Closing the inches between us, he kisses me. Then he unrolls us from the blanket and tucks it back around me before lifting me bridal-style into his arms.

“It’s really sexy when you do that,” I comment as he carries me over to the couch. “It makes me think of one of my other fantasies.”

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