Page 172 of Triple Pucked
“It’s my first Valentine’s Day with anyone,” Eden added.
D’Angelo’s gaze was piercing. “My first with Robyn. I have dreamed so many times of this. In fact, every Valentine’s Day for a decade, I have wished that I was spending it with you. I would refuse every invitation or offers for dates and spend it alone because it felt so wrong that I wasn’t able to be with you.”
My breath hitched.
Sometimes, I forget just how many years D’Angelo has spent alone, obsessed with me, waiting for me.
Loving me.
His love is all-consuming.
I am his first and only love.
I am so fucking grateful that we have found each other again. No matter what obstacles kept us apart, we have overcome them. It makes me believe that we can overcome anything.
I reached for his hand. His strong fingers entwined with mine.
“I’m here now,” I swore. ““This is for a lifetime, remember?”
“And not a single day less,” D’Angelo replied, low and possessive.
When I glanced at Shay, I noticed that he was staring flatly into his coffee.
I didn’t mean to exclude him.
Immediately, D’Angelo let go of my hand and placed his coffee down on the nightstand. Then he crawled toward Shay, startling him.
He knelt over him, gripping him by the chin. “It is my first Valentine’s with both of you, cucciolo.
Shay’s expression was fragile. “I didn’t think?—”
“Well, I thought that kissing you on the ice was a big enough gesture. I’ll just have to fuck you over the goal next time.”
Shay’s mouth fell open.
I smothered my laugh behind my hand.
D’Angelo leaned down, swiping his tongue between Shay’s open lips, before drawing back. Then he pulled something that glittered out of his black pajama pocket.
Two simple gold bracelets with the nameJUDE D’ANGELOwoven into the design.
“Happy Valentine’s.” D’Angelo gripped Shay’s wrist and clasped one of the bracelet’s around it, before tracing over his name three times.
Shay swallowed. “I love it, darlin’.”
“Wouldn’t want you to forget who you belong to.” D’Angelo pressed closer to Shay, at the same time that he held their hands together against the bracelet. “Plus, if you wander off, a stranger will know who to return my pet to.”
“Very funny.” Shay’s pupils were blown wide.
“I do my best.” When D’Angelo turned to me, I raised my wrist.
“I love you, Jude D’Angelo.” I smiled. “I wish that I could take back all those lonely Valentine’s that we missed being together but I can promise a forever of Valentines from now on. We shall all be together, showing our love not only on this day, but every day of the year. And no more hiding.”
Eden and Shay exchanged a glance. “We have something for you both.”
Shay scrambled to grab something that he had hidden in the nightstand. He must have put it there the evening before, or D’Angelo would have found it.
It was impossible to hide presents from D’Angelo. He should have been the gift detective.
