Page 112 of Done Waiting

She nods. “I’ll always choose you. Chooseus. I can’t live my life without you.” Closing her eyes, she heaves out a sigh. When she opens them, she says, “I understand why you wanted to hurt… mymother.” She spits out the word, disgust twisting her face. “When you first began stalking me, you didn’t know I was the girl from the park. You didn’t knowme. It’s natural to assume I’m like her.” She shivers, revulsion on her face.

“But you’re not remotely like her.” My eyes are full of my love for her when I say, “You aren’t like anyone I’ve ever met. You’re unique. Andmine.”

Maddie grins. “I’ve always been the opposite of her. It’s why she and I aren’t close.” She gives me a sad smile. “For the average person, your plan was sound. Go after the one thing sheshouldcare about. Her daughter.” She heaves out a breath. “But she’s not like most mothers. There’s always been a distance between us. One I could never build a bridge high or long enough to climb.”

I cup her face. “You never have to worry about that with me. I’d never let any distance stand in the way of us. No mountain or river could keep me from you.”

A smile breaks across her face. “I know.” Her hand slides to my heart that beats beneath my leather jacket. “I’m yours, Jagger. I’ve been yours since our eyes locked outside my childhood bedroom window. I didn’t know it yet.”

I wrap her in my arms, my heart beating in time with hers. “I’ve been yours since I met you at the park, and you called me your dark hero.”

“I stand corrected. That was the first time I became yours.” Her face clouds over. “But you were right, Jagger. Those things you said inside. You’veneverhurt me.” She ducks her head, butI see the tears that run down her face, reminding me of the rain running down the windowpanes of my cabin earlier. “I have so many regrets over what I said to you in the kitchen.”

Tilting her face to mine, my fingers wipe them away. “I hate that I made you cry.”

“I made you cry, too. I saw it.” Her voice is a gentle whisper. “It killed me inside to be responsible for your tears.”

“I couldn’t have said that any better.” Pressing my lips to her forehead, my heart is full of all the love I feel for her.

When my lips leave, she tilts her head to mine. “I want you to take me inside and hold me in front of the fire.” Her expression darkens. “Then I want you to tell me what shit my Ice Queen of a mother is involved in. And I want you to promise me one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“If I grant you permission to end my bitch of a mother, you damn well better do it. Do you promise?”

A smile lights up my face. “You promise me it won’t drive a wedge between us? Because nothing in this world is more important to me thanyou.”

She blinks, tears shimmering on her lashes. A smile curls her lips up. “Nothing is more important than you, Jagger. You’re my entire world.” Murderous rage is in her eyes. “My fucking motherhurtyou. She nearly destroyed your life.No onefucks with my man like that. I don’t give a shit if they’re related to me or not.”

“Baby girl.” Wonder and awe fill me, leaving me speechless.

“You’remine, and I’ll always defend you.”

My lips find hers, the heat of our kiss searing me. She moans against my lips before a breathless whimper escapes her. My arms cage her in.

When I finally pull back, I shake my head. “For so long, revenge was all that sustained me. Gave me something to livefor.” My hands slide down, cupping her ass. “But now…you’reall I live for.”

She shakes her head. “You’re wrong about that, Jagger. Revenge kept you going, but you lived formesince you were a kid.” She bathes me in the warmth of her smile. Her face lights up, brightening my world, changing it from gray to a whirlwind of colors.

“I stand corrected. You’re right. I’ve always lived for you.” With a smile, I shift my weight, scooping her into my arms. She giggles, her arms wrapping around my neck. “Let’s get you inside before you freeze. We can eat dinner by the fire and talk.”

“I’d like that.”

She presses her lips to mine again, and I lose all sense of reason.

Of time.

Of everything excepther.

44

MADISON

My brows furrow as I drop into the seat across from Jagger at the dining room table. Tilting my head, I assess him as he sips his coffee, his eyes locked on his laptop screen.

Without looking up, his deep, husky voice says, “What is it, baby girl?”

I don’t say anything, taking in the exhaustion lining his face.

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