Page 193 of Stuck With You
“I could have. It’s easy to be convinced you can’t live without someone when you have nothing. Slade, I was so scared. I spent years thinking that’s all I deserved, blaming myself for the choices I made.”
“You were never to blame.”
“No, but sometimes, life just sweeps in and leaves behind a person you no longer recognize, and the only thing you’re left with is a load of lies you can’t help but believe are true.”
I spread my hand flat across his chest, feeling his heartbeat. “Your mom loved hard and well.” I press up on my elbow to look at him. “It’s the only way you turned out like this. Beautiful. Smart.” I inch closer. “Kind. Gentle.” I brush my lips against his. “With a scowl that is ridiculously appealing.”
His hand cups the back of my head, and his mouth captures mine. He kisses me long and slow, my body sliding on top of his.
When I need air, I pull away, pressing my lips to the intricate lion head. “I want to know about Mufasa.”
“You can’t name him.” His soft, deep voice rumbles.
I glare at him. “That’s not fair. I knew you were all roaring lion.”
He rolls his eyes, and I smile, resting between his legs with my cheek on the exquisite artwork. “I got it right after she died, when everything fell apart. It represented what I vowed to be. Brave, strong, loyal. . .wise. I never wanted to be blindsided again.”
I stare at him, recognizing the scars of remorse in his green eyes. The same ones I bear.
“You know, I’ve wondered if maybe we have to go through hell in order to actually appreciate what comes after.”
His eyes linger between mine. “It’s taken me a long time to get to the appreciative part.”
I squint one eye at him. “Yeah, but if you hadn’t taken so long, we wouldn’t be here.”
His mouth runs over my cheek. “I’ve been thinking the lion needs an update.”
I twirl the end of his hair around my finger. Twice. It can curl around the tip of my finger twice, and it feels like a privilege to get to be the only one who knows that.
“Oh, yeah. I think he’s pretty perfect.” I kiss the skin covered by the exquisite lion that represents everything he is.
His teeth graze my jaw and neck. “His eyes.” I feel a little nip.
I pull away, tilting my head to inspect the fierce animal.
Slade’s rough fingers run up and down my spine, making me shiver. “One brown and one blue.”
My gaze snaps to his.
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful in my entire life. I couldn’t look away. Not that day you walked into the shop. Not now.”
I blink, my eyes filling with so much love I can’t breathe.
“Sarah, you see me the way no one else ever has.”
I crawl forward, wrapping my arms around his neck. My throat burns, but I smile through it. “That’s pretty permanent.”
His eyes travel between my watery ones. “Yes. I promise to love you the best I know how.”
I nod, unable to speak. “Me, too.”
He kisses me lightly, rolling us. He stares down at me. “Just go easy on me.” A sexy smirk curls at his lips, and I laugh.
I shake my head, hooking my legs around his back. “Never.”
Chapter 54
SLADE
