Page 56 of Property of Spike

“Thank you,” I say. “For helping me. For getting my son back. For just being you. For wanting me for me.”

“You never have to thank me for wanting you, baby,” he says softly. “It’s my greatest pleasure.”

Chapter Sixteen

Spike

“This is Asher’s room,” I tell Riley as I guide her through the house the following day. “And as much as I want you by my side, in my bed, for the rest of our lives, I promised you slow. So, I had Tank bring over a twin-sized bed for you yesterday. It’ll stay in here until you’re ready to admit that you’ve fallen madly in love with me.”

“Madly in love, huh?” she laughs, the sound light, but there’s something behind her eyes. A flicker of uncertainty I can’t ignore.

“It’s the only type of love I’ll accept, baby,” I tease, trying to ease the tension I can feel rolling off her. “I want you to be so in love with me that you’ll go insane without me by your side.”

She raises an eyebrow, her lips curving into a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. “Is someone capable of that type of love?”

I pause, taking a slow breath. I have to be careful. Too much, too fast, and I could scare her away. But the truth of how I feel about her is there, buried under layers of rough edges and past scars. I can’t keep it inside even if I wanted to.

“It’s taken forty years for me to find someone I want to call my own,” I admit, my voice low, almost a growl, as I step closer to her and gently cup her neck. “I thought I found someone years back, but what I felt for her isn’t even on the same wavelengthas what I feel for you. You’re different, Riley. You’re everything I never knew I was waiting for. I want you to be so in love with me that you’ll go insane without me by your side.”

I take a moment, letting the words settle between us, trying to gauge her reaction. I don’t want to overwhelm her, but I need her to understand that what I feel for her isn’t casual. It’s not a fleeting thing.

“If you’d let me, I would lock you in this house and never let you leave,” I continue, my voice a little rougher now, my grip tightening on the back of her neck as I fight the urge to pull her to me. “I want you all to myself. But, at the same time, I want the whole fucking world to know that I belong to you.”

After placing a soft kiss on her plump lips, I take a step back, giving her space, even though it feels like I’m walking away from something that’s already mine. She’s been through hell, and I can’t rush her. Not now. Not like this.

“So, yeah, baby,” I say, meeting her eyes, my gaze hard and steady. “That type of love is possible.”

I watch her face carefully, waiting as the weight of my words sinks in. She doesn’t answer immediately, and that’s okay. I’m not in a rush anymore.

It’s the first time in my life I’ve been willing to wait. And for her? I’d wait forever if that’s what it takes. No matter how long it takes to get through to her, I’m not going anywhere.

I shift my weight, feeling the tension in the air, but I don’t push. The last thing I want is to scare her away. I’ve already said more than I should’ve, but it feels good to speak the truth, to finally lay it out for her.

After a moment, I clear my throat, shifting the focus, trying to make her feel less pressure.

“Our room is just over here,” I say, gesturing toward our bedroom door on the other side of the hallway. “That’s where I’ll sleep every night. And no matter how long it takes for youto decide on us, I’ll be there waiting for you. Now, I’ll let you get settled in. I’m gonna make us dinner, and we can relax and watch a movie. Come down whenever you’re ready, baby.”

I leave it open-ended, giving her the choice to follow or not. It’s in her hands now. She can choose to take that next step if and when she’s ready. And if not, I’ll give her space. No pushing. No rushing. With her, it’s all about waiting for the right moment.

***Riley***

I stand frozen in Asher’s room, looking at the bed Spike had set up for me. The reality of the situation is hitting me harder than I expected. He’s offering me more than I’ve ever had in my life, but I’m not sure I’m ready to take it.

Spike’s words echo in my mind, each one heavier than the last.I want you to be so in love with me that you’ll go insane without me by your side.It sounds intense, too intense, but somehow, it doesn’t scare me. What scares me is that it feels like the truth. A part of me wants to fall into him, to let him take care of me and Asher the way he says he will. But another part of me wants to pull away and keep my distance.

I try to laugh it off, but it doesn’t come out the way I want. “Madly in love, huh?” I ask, the lightness in my voice hiding a flicker of uncertainty.

Spike’s gaze sharpens, his intensity growing with every word. “It’s the only type of love I’ll accept, baby,” he says, his voice teasing but with an edge to it. He steps closer, and I feel the heat of his body radiating off him. “I want you to be so in love with me that you’ll go insane without me by your side.”

I swallow hard.Insane?

“Is someone capable of that type of love?” I ask, my voice quieter. I meet his gaze, searching for something in his eyes, trying to understand what this all means.

His answer is slow, measured, like he’s choosing his words carefully. “It’s taken forty years for me to find someone I want to call my own,” he says, his voice low and rough like he’s speaking a truth he hasn’t admitted before. “I thought I found someone years back, but what I felt for her isn’t even on the same wavelength as what I feel for you. You’re different, Riley. You’re everything I never knew I was waiting for.”

His words hit me like a punch to the gut. I want to pull away, but something inside me wants to lean in closer, to hear more, to feel what he’s offering. But I hold back. My heart races as I try to process the weight of what he’s saying.

Spike steps even closer, his hand reaching for the back of my neck, his touch tender but firm. “If you’d let me, I would lock you in this house and never let you leave,” he continues, his voice rougher now, thick with emotion. “I want you all to myself. But, at the same time, I want the whole fucking world to know that I belong to you.”

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