Page 24 of Tiago

“I don’t know why.My father and uncles never lived here with their wives.”

She turns to me.“You said this house was built in 1910.Maybe more people lived or stayed here when your grandfather was a baby.”

“Could be.”I pull her into my arms.“The vibe is good?You want these two?”

She giggles.“Sure.I’ll humor you and pretend I’m going to move in here and occupy these rooms if it makes you feel happy.”

I grab the back of her hair and tug her head to one side so I can kiss her neck, loving the way she moans and relaxes against me.I whisper in her ear, “When you go to bed tonight, you’ll think about sleeping in this room with me.You’ll think about how good it will feel to sleep naked in my arms for the rest of your life.”

Another giggle.“Naked, huh?”

“Mmm.Once I get you naked, it will be a long time before I let you have clothes again.”

She pats my chest and shoves me away.“We’ll see.”

The hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life is drive my woman back to her grandfather’s house, where I’m going to leave her to sleep alone, not in my bed.I have no choice.I don’t think her grandfather would necessarily balk at me moving Reagan into the mansion, but I don’t want to give him the impression I’m sleeping with his granddaughter when I’m not.

I know that bringing Reagan home at a reasonable hour every night will win Dwane over completely.

When I pull into her driveway, she fidgets.“This is weird.”

“Yeah.It’s going to be strange leaving you here and driving away.”Excruciating.My world is not the same as it was this morning.She’s fully in it, and I don’t like the idea of her sleeping under a different roof.It makes my skin crawl.

But I need to do this.She needs this, too.She needs time to realize I’m right about us.The distance will help.

I round her car, help her out, and walk her to the front door.

She glances at the street where Dallas pulled up behind us in his car to take me back to the mansion.“You didn’t have to drive me home, you know,” she says for the tenth time.“I’ve been driving for ten years.I’ve never had an accident.”

I grab her hips and pull her in close to me.We’re standing under the porch light.If any of her neighbors are looking or Dwane peeks out the window, they will see us in an amorous embrace.“I’ve been driving for nearly thirty years.I’m sure you’re a fine driver, but when you’re with me, I’ll do the driving, and when you go out with me, I will pick you up and bring you home.”

She chuckles.“Of course you will.Otherwise, how could you control everything?”

I tuck my fingers into the belt loops on her jean shorts and haul her even closer.“Sassy girl.”

She flattens her palms on my chest, her expression serious.“This is weird,” she repeats.

“It’s not forever, only until you realize I’m right and agree to marry me.”

She chuckles.“You stole my vibrators.”

“Yep, and don’t touch that pussy without permission.”I lift a brow.“Your orgasms are mine now.”

“So bossy…”

“Very.And you love it.”I lower my lips to hers, kiss her deeply, and then turn her toward the door.I reach around and open it before guiding her inside.

When we step into the living room, Dwane looks up from where he’s sitting in front of the TV.He mutes it and stands, grinning.“Did you have a nice time?How was the mansion?I went there a few times, but it’s been many years.”

“Yes.From what I saw, I doubt it’s changed much since you were last there.”

I set my palms on Reagan’s shoulders from behind.“She’s right.We’ve been referring to the estate as a monstrosity.Much of it is run down from years of neglect.Apparently, my grandfather was a miser who spent most of his time in his rooms watching his bank account grow and sharing it with no one.”

“That does seem to be the case,” Dwane agrees.

“Hopefully, my siblings, cousins, and I can get repairs going all over town as soon as possible.”

Dwane smiles.“Well, I know a lot of people are hopeful.”

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