Page 139 of Endgame

“Dakota, that was...” He doesn’t have to explain. “I know.” It was everything.

I’ve barely had a second to slide my dress back into place before he’s tucking himself back in and hauling my body onto his lap. Our lips meet in unity; my heart is overwhelmed with so much love for this man.

A giggle escapes me as our lips pull apart. “That was unexpected.”

He kisses me again gently, smiling at me with so much affection I can’t help but feel guilty for being this happy.

There are so many people in this world who are hurting and lonely, and I’m sheltered in perfect bliss. I know I deserve this kind of love, and coming to terms with the level of my worth has not been an easy feat, but I’m confident in that now. I’m satisfied. I know Callaway and I deserve each other.

Remembering I have some good news to share, I focus on him, fiddling with the simple gold chain he likes to wear around his neck.

“Oh hey, I forgot to tell you. I know this week has been crazy with our schedules, but I got a call from Helen, the real estate agent.”

Cal’s eyebrows shoot up, waiting for me to continue.

“I got an offer on the house! Callaway, they offered fifty thousand dollarsabove the askingprice. How does that even happen?”

Suddenly, I’m excited.

It strangely feels like an honor to have someone love my childhood home so much they offered above asking. He holds me tight, and I can sense Cal’s joy is as radiant as mine.

“Dakota, that’s amazing. I’m so happy for you. You should be proud of yourself and how far you’ve come. I know I am.”

I know he is. He tells me daily how proud he is of me, but he doesn’t know I couldn’t have done it without him. “You do know that if you hadn’t forced your way into my life like a man on a mission, I probably wouldn’t be here—healthy and no longer dark and twisty.”

I’m giggling, but I want him to value my words.

“I happen to love your dark and twisty. You were never damaged, sweetheart; more like your feelings were dormant. I’m proud of you for finding that, although I’d love you no matter how you decided to accept me.”

I’m dreaming of a future with him.

A home that screams love and laughter but holds an edge in its style, resembling the differences in our relationship that somehow make us work perfectly. I never really thought too much about having kids, something Callaway and I had discussed before we became a couple.

I’m not against them. I just haven’t cared enough to consider the possibility of having them one day until him. Now, the picture filtering through my dreams looks like mini-Callaways and foster babies running around a backyard and chasing fly balls from their hot daddy.

It sounds like everything I could ever want now.

One glance at my computer screen tells me it’s almost eight o’clock, and I should probably head home to finish editing. I’m too chicken to be alone in a giant facility at night. Again, being a true crime junkie is doing me no favors. I pull myself off Callaway’s lap, running my eyes over myself to make sure all my lady bits are securely in place, before walking around his massive frame to collect my things.

“I think I’m gonna get going. I need to finish these edits before it gets too late. I’m meeting the realtor in the morning, and she’s introducing me to the buyers.”

Cal collects himself before walking behind me to wrap his arms around my waist. “That's news to me. You think you’ll be able to handle that?”

He nuzzles his face into my hair, his trimmed beard rubbing glorious friction across my neck as he breathes me in. It’s not like we weren’t just wrapped around each other, but the need to feel balanced by the other is more significant than our ability to linger apart.

I’m far too satisfied with that fact.

“I guess we’ll find out.”

Nodding his head, he slowly reaches to gently run his large hands up and down my arms. I’m suddenly unable to focus on my task because my pussy is still throbbing.

I did my best to please him and move on, but that’s nearly impossible when he won’t stop touching me. His cock is back and at full staff, nudging at my back as I stand still.

“Seriously? You’re hard again?” His chuckle is the best sound.

“Get used to it. And don’t tell me this pussy isn’t wound tight.”

God. I’m so turned on it’s painful.

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