Page 97 of Sworn to Protect

Her lips curve slightly. “Even after my crazed bitch side?”

“How about from now on, we drop that? You had every reason to be upset. And even if you were, I’d take you any way I could get you.” I brush my lips over hers. “That’s how much I love you.”

“Kiss me.”

The kiss starts slow, but it builds, deep and consuming. I’ve missed her. Her taste. Her sass.

When we finally break apart, I lead her back to the couch and hand her the wineglass. “You may need this.”

She gives me a questionable look. I take a deep breath, steadying myself.

“I’ve been thinking about us. The time apart made me realize something.”

Curiosity coats those gorgeous eyes, but she remains quiet.

“I don’t want us to be apart any longer.”

CHAPTER FORTY-SIX

MACKENZIE

What ishe trying to tell me?

Nate’s earnest expression is enough to make my heart race. I’m not sure where he’s going with this conversation.

“I know it’s soon, but whenever you feel comfortable, I want you and the boys to move in with me. I’m serious and don’t want us to be apart any longer. But I’m leaving the timing up to you. Whatever timeframe you feel the most comfortable with, I’m good. Whether it’s one month, two months, or an entire year, I don’t care as long as we end up together.”

My mouth dries. Nate can’t be serious. But helooksserious. He looks like a man on a mission, and that mission is to have me. I like that—a lot.

“It would be crazy for us to move in together. You know that, right?” I ask.

He nodded, a small, knowing smile playing at the corners of his mouth. “Yes, and believe me, I have been wracking my brain trying to figure out a way to prove how much I love you. All I can think about is offering myself. I’ve never given anyone a piece of me until now, but you have all of me. Believe me when I tell you I never thought I’d find anyone, let alone someone I’dconsider family.”

His words are a slow burn, igniting something deep inside me. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I know I probably have your head spinning with all these confessions, but I’ve held back for so long. I’m sorry I can’t come up with something better than offering myself.”

This coming from a guy who went after my brother.

I look Nate square in the eyes because what I have to say is important. I want to be crystal clear on my delivery. “Listen to me. This”—I wave a hand across the span of the house and between us—“us being here is big enough. God, Nate, you remembered the type of house I dreamed of staying in. The fact you took time to focus on me.” The floodgates threaten to break. I blink rapidly to prevent shedding any tears, but I harbor too much emotion. There’s no stopping the crack in my voice. “No one has ever done that for me.”

He moved closer, his face inches from mine, his breath warm against my skin. “You deserve so much, Mackenzie. I fear I’ll never be able to give you everything you deserve.”

“I don’t need anything else. I just need you.”

“So you’ll consider moving in with me then?”

I nod, the words tumbling out before I can stop them. “The one thing I’ve learned after everything I’ve been through is how short life can be. When you left, I thought I lost you forever. That hurt and scared the shit out of me.”

He reached out again, his hand cradling my face, his touch warm and comforting. “I’m not going anywhere, Grace. You’re stuck with me.”

My chuckle is more out of relief than anything. “I’ll go anywhere with you as long as we’re together.”

“So that’s a yes.”

“Yes, Nate. I don’t care what anyone says. I want our life to start now. You can move in with me tomorrow if you want. We’d probably have to look for a bigger home, though.”

He smiles, the kind of smile that makes my heart skip a beat. “You wouldn’t care what Mrs. Morgan or any other old ladies in town thought?”

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