Page 40 of The Last Key
“You’re beautiful, baby,” he says, sweeping a hand over my face.
My heart beats wildly at his words. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”
“So have I.”
“Why didn’t you ever make a move?”
His eyebrows shoot up. “I did. In the pantry.”
“That was four days ago.”
“I mean when we were fourteen.”
“That was you making a move? Seriously? I thought you just wanted to kiss me.”
He shakes his head at me. “I wanted to kissyou. I wanted you. The kissing was just how I was going about it.”
My cheeks go pink. “Oh.”
“Why did you stop me?”
“Because those girls showed up. I knew you could have anyone. I didn’t want to risk having my heart crushed if I wasn’t the girl you chose.”
Brushing his thumb over my cheek, he gazes intensely into my eyes. “I would’ve chosen you every time, Kennedy. Every. Single. Time.”
I roll on top of him and kiss him deeply. “Every time?” I mutter against his lips.
“Always. What about you? Why didn’t you ever make a move?” He rolls over so we’re lying side by side again.
“Like I said, I didn’t want to end up with a crushed heart. If that happened, I wouldn’t have been able to be around you. It was easier to put you in the friend zone than risk what could happen otherwise.”
“I guess I understand that,” he says with a sigh. “I can’t imagine my life without you in it.”
Biting at my lip, I ask, “What happens now?”
“You’re mine. All mine.”
I laugh at that, at the sweet yet possessive look in his vibrant green eyes.Horny eyes.
“And you’re mine.”
“Damn right I am. I’ve waited too long for this. I’m all in, Kend. Whatever life brings, I want us to figure it out together.”
“Even if my career takes me somewhere else? I’m planning to stay here for the summer and figure out my options, but what happens after that?”
He takes a deep breath. “Like I said, we’ll figure it out together. I want to be with you, Kennedy. Wherever that is.” I’m still chewing on my lip, so he tilts his head to the side and stares me down. “What?”
“I just don’t want you to sacrifice too much for me.”
“Nothing involving you would ever be a sacrifice.”
“Devon…”
“I’m serious. There will be compromises, but I’m willing to make them. I’ve spent too much time without you. Especially these last few years.” Burying his face in my neck, he rumbles, “I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. At night, I used to imagine you were in bed with me—” I stop short. Why am I telling him this?
One eyebrow lifts. “In bed with you, huh? Doing what?”
