Page 20 of Puck Me at Midnight

I nod, feeling the tears that have been threatening to spill for so long. “I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose any of you.”

She steps forward and wraps her arms around me, pulling me into a tight hug. I hold her back just as tightly, afraid that if I let go, I’ll lose her again. But when she says, “I’m not going anywhere, Spike,” I believe her.

We stand there for a long moment, just holding each other, the weight of everything we’ve said hanging in the air. And for the first time in a long time, I feel a sense of peace settle in my chest. I know it’s going to take time. I know I can’t just bury my fears and my grief anymore. But with Emma by my side, maybe I can start letting it go. Maybe we can build something better together.

“I want us to be okay, Em,” I say quietly, my voice a whisper now. “I want to build a future with you. With the boys. Together.”

She pulls back just enough to look up at me, her eyes shining. “I want that, too. I’m not going anywhere. We’re in this together.”

I lean down, capturing her lips in a kiss that’s slow at first, but then it deepens, and my heart races in my chest. I kiss her like I’ve been waiting my whole life for this moment, because, in a way, I have. This woman—this amazing, patient, and beautiful woman—has filled a hole in me I didn’t even know was there.

Her hands slide up to my shoulders, pulling me closer, and I feel the warmth of her body pressed against mine, her breath mingling with mine like we’re two pieces of the same puzzle. She responds to the kiss with the same intensity, and I lose myself in it. It’s like the world falls away. It’s just her and me, and I’m not afraid anymore. Not of losing her, not of what the future holds.

She pulls back slightly, her lips brushing against mine one more time before she whispers, “We’re going to be okay, Spike. We’ll figure it out. Together.”

I nod, my forehead resting against hers. “Yeah, we will.”

And for the first time in a long time, I’m not scared of the future anymore. Because I know that whatever it brings, as long as she’s with me, we’ll face it together.

Chapter Sixteen

Emma

I step into the living room, surprised and a little breathless. The soft flicker of candlelight dances across the room, casting a warm, golden glow that immediately makes me feel like I’m stepping into something out of a dream. The table is set so carefully—crystal glasses, a bottle of wine chilling, delicate candles flickering in the middle. It’s intimate, thoughtful, and nothing like anything I’ve experienced before with Spike.

“Spike?” I call out, my voice a soft whisper of curiosity.

From the hallway, he emerges, wearing that same kind of gentle smile that’s been making my heart flutter more and morelately. “Hey,” he says, his tone almost shy. “I thought we could have a quiet night in, just the two of us. No distractions, no work, no kids—just us.”

My chest tightens with the sweetness of it all. “This is… amazing,” I breathe, taking a step toward him. “What’s the occasion?”

Spike shrugs, a look of genuine tenderness in his eyes. “No occasion. I just wanted to do something nice for you. Thought you deserved it. For everything you do, for how much you’re here—for Sam and Charlie… for me.”

The words settle in me, and I feel something shift inside, a warmth that goes deeper than anything I’ve known before. We sit down together, and the evening unfolds easily, the conversation flowing, but there’s something more between us tonight. There’s a quiet understanding, an unspoken connection that makes my heart beat a little faster.

After a while, Spike shifts in his seat, his gaze turning a little more serious, the way he looks at me when he’s about to say something important. “Emma…” His voice is thick with emotion. “I need you to know something. I’m in this. For the long haul. With you.”

I feel my heart swell in my chest, and I reach for his hand across the table, squeezing it gently. “I’m here too, Spike,” I say softly, my words steady. “I’m not going anywhere either. I’m all in with you, with Sam, with Charlie… you and me. I’m here.”

The weight of the words hangs between us, and for the first time, I feel the walls I’ve kept up around my heart begin to crumble. I’ve been scared, scared of losing myself, scared of opening up completely. But at this moment, with him—surrounded by the soft light, the warmth of the evening, and the tenderness in his eyes—I realize that I’ve already given him pieces of my heart. And I’m ready to give him all of it.

“I’ve fallen for you, Spike,” I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. “I didn’t want to… I thought maybe I could just keep it light, but I can’t. You and the boys… you’ve changed everything for me. I’ve fallen in love with you.”

His gaze softens, his hand tightening around mine. “I love you too, Em,” he murmurs, leaning closer. “I didn’t know what I was missing until you came into my life. I’ve never felt anything like this… and I can’t imagine my world without you in it.”

The words hang between us like a promise, and without another thought, I lean in, my lips finding him in a kiss that starts slow and tender as if we’re both savoring this moment. His lips are soft, his breath warm against my skin, and I feel the connection between us deepening, stronger than ever.

But then, there’s something else. Something more urgent. I can feel the heat building between us, the unspoken desire that’s been simmering beneath the surface for too long. I pull him closer, my hands sliding up to the back of his neck, fingers threading through his hair as I deepen the kiss. His hands find my waist, pulling me closer, and I can feel the tension in his body, his own need matching mine.

We break apart for a moment, our breaths ragged. “Are you sure?” he whispers, his voice low, full of an intensity that sends a shiver through me.

I don’t say anything. Instead, I pull him back to me, my lips pressing urgently against his, showing him with every movement that this is exactly what I want. I feel his hands slip down to my hips, lifting me effortlessly off the chair and into his arms. My legs wrap around him instinctively, and the heat between us intensifies as he presses me against the wall near the dining room.

The moment is electric—alive with everything we’ve been feeling, everything we’ve been holding back. I can feel the roughness of his hands on my skin, the way he holds me like I’meverything he needs. I moan into the kiss as he pulls me tighter against him, and I can feel the hard press of his body against mine.

Spike’s lips trail down my neck, his hands sliding under the fabric of my shirt, lifting it over my head. The moment is desperate but gentle, both of us needing this, needing each other in a way we’ve never needed anything before. He takes his time, kissing me deeply, his hands exploring, giving me everything without hesitation.

I tug at his shirt, pulling it over his head, needing to feel his skin against mine. The world outside fades away—the only thing that matters is the way he holds me, the way his hands move over me like he can’t get enough.

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