Page 39 of Joy Ride

“Hold on…” Joy hesitated, covering the evidence of her hardened nipples with one hand.Her breasts spilled over her palm, enticing him even more.He adored the changes in her that motherhood had wrought both on her body and on her spirit.She was protective, fierce, tough, and nurturing.

Dane licked his lips, imagining what it would be like to kiss and fondle them.

“Up here.”She drew his attention to her gaze, which was surprisingly candid and vulnerable.Not at all like the Joy he knew, who was a survivor—tough enough on her own but not afraid to rely on bravado when her courage fell short.Today was different.It could change their whole lives if he wasn’t careful with the real woman beneath the armor she too-often donned.

“You okay?”he wondered.

“I will be.It’s just…you’re not planning to leave me behind again, right?If we do this, where will we stand later?Whose bed are you going to sleep in tonight?”Joy scrunched her eyes closed.“Never mind.I shouldn’t have asked.I don’t care.I want to do this regardless of what comes next.”

She reached for him and Dane didn’t dare take even a single step back.He strode into her embrace and smothered her in his own.“I’m not going anywhere, Joy, I swear.I’m here and I’m yours for as long as you’ll have me.Even if you deserve so much more.I can’t fight it anymore.”

A solitary tear ran down her cheek and he leaned in to kiss it away.

“I’m sorry for anything I’ve ever done—or didn’t do—that’s hurt you,” Dane whispered.“I can’t take that shit back, but I’ll do my best to make up for it now.And try not to do it again in the future.”

“That’s good enough for me.”Joy opened her eyes, which sparkled with the rest of her unshed tears.“Same goes.”

“I guess I’ll have to improve myself instead of hoping you find someone better.”Dane wasn’t bullshitting her.He intended to do everything in his power to provide for her and Arden—financially and emotionally—to be a positive influence in their lives, and to earn every bit of affection they gave him.

“I like that plan.Nobody’s perfect, Dane.”She winced.

“Lies,” he whispered before kissing her lightly, getting off on her bare arms touching the skin of his back as she hugged him while he did it.“You are.You always have been to me.”

She laughed at that, though it wasn’t a humorous sort of chuckle.“Sure.I’m damaged goods.Struggling to get by.And I’m such a slut, I don’t even know who the father of my baby is.I’m practically saint material.”

“Lucky for you, I prefer bad girls anyway.”Dane tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

“And bad boys, apparently.”One corner of her mouth cocked up as she teased him.

The fact that she didn’t seem to mind whatever non-traditional relationship he’d fallen into with Walker only made him twice as hard.He couldn’t wait a moment longer to kiss her properly.

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