Page 2 of Hold You Close
“You,” I say guilelessly. “This. Us.”
He grins too. “Come here.” Hooking me with both arms, he pulls me tightly against his side, and I lay my head on his chest.
For a moment, I simply breathe him in and let pure happiness wash over me. “Did you mean all those things you said last night?”
“Of course I did. Do you think I’m the kind of asshole who’d lie to you just to get you in bed?”
“I don’t know.”
“I’m not, London. Look, I might not be the most sensitive guy on the planet, but I’m not a total dick, and I don’t take this lightly. We’ve known each other too long.”
“So . . . what happens now?”
He’s quiet a moment. “What do you want to happen?”
“I want us to be together.” I take a deep breath. “I’m in love with you, Ian.”
He freezes, and for a moment I fear I’ve gone too far.
“You don’t have to say it back to me,” I say quickly, picking up my head so he can see my face. I want him to know my feelings don’t come with any demands. “I just want you to know how I feel.”
His eyes are locked on mine. “I’ve never been in love before.”
“I haven’t either.”
“But the way I feel about you—I’ve never felt anything like it.”
I can’t stop a smile from forming. “Really?”
“Really. I want to protect you. Keep you safe.” He pauses. “But I also want to fuck you like a hundred and ten different ways. It’s actually kind of weird.”
I giggle as my stomach whooshes. “A hundred and ten?”
“At least.” Suddenly he flips me onto my back so he’s on top of me. “And that’s just this morning.”
My heart threatens to burst from my chest. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“Good.”
Sex is even better the second time. It doesn’t hurt as much, although I’m sore from last night, and I even have an orgasm, thanks to his patience and skill. I’m curious about how many girls he’s been with, but I don’t really want to know. The only thing that matters is that we’re together now. And I hope we always will be.
Mrs. Ian Chase.
London Marie Chase.
Mr. and Mrs. Ian Matthew Chase.
“This feels so right, doesn’t it?” I ask dreamily. We’re still breathing hard, our skin hot and sticky, his chest heavy on mine.
“Yes.”
“Like it was always meant to be.”
He props himself up and looks down at me. “Maybe it was.”
“So were you just pretending to be annoyed with me all those years Sabrina and I followed you around?”
He shakes his head. “No. You were definitely annoying.”
