Page 89 of Tameron

I leaned my forehead against his. “We are. We really are.”

“I would’ve waited for you forever,” he whispered, melting my heart.

“Thank you. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it worth the wait.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

DAYTON

There was something to be said about being able to tell Tameron how I felt. Not just those three words, though hearing them from him was something I’d started to doubt would ever happen. But knowing I could be myself—that falling for him wouldn’t send him running—gave me a peace I’d lacked since realizing I wanted him.

Weeks ago, I was the man staring across the gym floor at him, quietly pining for someone I thought couldn’t stand me. Now, he was lying in my arms with his cheek pressed to my chest, our small kitten curled between us, watching a cooking competition show with the sound off and the captions on.

Home, I thought to myself. Tameron had explained that home was what he’d been searching for and that Bean and Creek had helped him realize he wasn’t lacking a home. He was just looking in all the wrong places.

I never thought I could be that for someone. And it wasn’t due to lack of support or love. I had an amazing family I wanted to be near. I had two siblings who were my best friends and parents who loved me and would love any partner I walked through their front door.

But this was different. Tameron was different.

Because he was mine.

I stroked a touch over the crown of his head, and he tilted his gaze toward me, his eyes crinkled at the edges with his smile.

Swallowing heavily, still not used to this, I lifted my free hand and dropped my middle and ring finger toward my palm. ‘I love you.’

His lips parted on the edge of a very soft sigh. “I love you too.” His own hand, resting on my stomach, formed the same sign, pressing it into my skin.

I basked. There was no other word for the feeling in my chest. I sat in a place of utter and genuine contentment, and I never wanted this to end.

Then his hand started to creep south, and okay…maybe putting an end to the cuddle session had some merit. My abs jumped slightly under his touch, and I felt the curve of his smile against my pec as he carefully slipped the tips of his fingers under the waistband of my sweats.

“Yes?” he asked.

I grazed a touch behind his ear to make sure his hearing aids were still on, then said, “Yes. Please.”

He moved his hand beneath the soft fabric, then let out a small laugh. “Commando, eh?”

“I didn’t know you were coming over.”

Pressing up on one elbow, he stared at me, brows raised. “You wear your fancy boxers for me?”

“I was trying to impress you,” I told him with a grin, cupping his jaw.

It was meant to be a joke, but Tameron looked…flattered. His eyes widened a fraction and his pupils dilated, cheeks tinged pink. He dragged his tongue over his lower lip, then said, “I’m probably pretty easy to impress.”

I blinked, then grabbed him, whipping him around so he was pinned beneath me. He was breathing harder, but he most definitely was not afraid. “You are the furthest thing from easy.”

Tameron swallowed heavily. “I know I’m hard to?—”

“No.” Pressing a finger to his lips, I shook my head. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it. You made me work for you, Tam. Your attention, your affection, your love.” He looked upset again, so I leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth. “I was honored.”

Biting his lower lip, I could see him working through something, and I sat quietly while he did it. It would never be an easy road with him. Maybe someday in the future, the two of us would just exist together—confident and carefree. But I would never not be willing to fight for him.

“Thank you.”

I grinned. I’d expected him to argue, but right now, I wanted his compliance.

“Let me show you how much?” he said softly.

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