Page 148 of Ripped & Shipped
“Thank you,” I whisper into his ear.
His warm, strong arms encircle me.
“I’ve got you, Ella Mae. I told you that, and I mean it. I don’t say that to everyone. When I tell you I’ve got you, I’ve got you.”
“Okay,” I murmur into his neck.
My head is resting on his shoulder and he’s still holding me.
“I’ll trust you,” I promise him.
His neck is right there. And his skin is so warm. His beard tickles my cheek like an invitation. So I plant a soft kiss on the skin below his ear. Then I trail my lips up toward his earlobe and give it a soft nip.
“Story time is over?” he asks in a very raspy, definitely affected voice.
“For now. We’ll resume stories over pizza.”
I say the words with my mouth right against his neck, and he shivers. Then he shifts me so my face is right in front of his.
“I love you, Ella Mae.”
He says the words with such intensity, I almost start crying again. And then his mouth is on mine, releasing all the feelings of this day—telling me the things I needed to hear, but didn’t even know I needed.
I’m here for you.
I’ll always come for you.
You’re more than enough for me.
I kiss him back, cupping his face in my hands. Tears start to fall and I don’t stop them. This beautiful giant of a man, strong and so privately tender came all the way across the country to make sure I was okay.
Our kiss is wild and sweet and full of too much and not enough. I feel him everywhere. Tingles course through my body, I grasp at his hair, his shirt, his arms. He caresses my back, my shoulders, my hair.
A knock at the door brings us back to the moment.
“Pizza delivery!”
I chuckle and stand, straightening my shirt and running a hand across my hair.
“Coming!” I shout to the delivery guy.
Chris stands and takes his wallet out of his pants. He collects the pizza, and then he gives the guy a tip. I have a flashback to a trip we went on with our town last year. Chris insisted on tipping our driver on behalf of the whole town.
Why didn’t I see it then—see beyond the muscles and the sometimes stern expressions to one of the kindest, most steadfast hearts in the world?
Chris places the pizza on the comforter and we take up opposite sides of the bed. I fill him in on the rest of what happened with Drake tonight. It honestly feels like a week ago and so far away.
With Chris here beside me, everything else fades into insignificance.
CHAPTER49
Chris
I leftElla Mae to get some sleep after we had stayed up eating pizza on her bed, and then kissing goodnight. And kissing goodnight a little more at the door.
When I had talked Meg into telling me where Ella Mae was staying, I booked a room in the same hotel. Last night, once the pizza box had been set onto the desk, Ella Mae snuggled up beside me. I pulled up the airline website on her laptop. For a small fee, I was able to switch her onto my return flight, and I even finagled a window seat next to mine so we can sit together. Ella Mae’s flight home was scheduled for two days from now. After the stunt Drake pulled, we’re leaving today.
I couldn’t sleep—probably only got four hours after leaving Ella Mae’s room around one. I spent the night tossing and turning while agitated thoughts about what she endured battered my mind.
