Page 99 of Let Me Love You

I close my eyes and press my forehead to hers as her words sink in. My breathing is ragged with every pass of her silky palm against my length. I’m blown away, yet again, by what this woman does to me. How she makes me feel. Like I’m unraveling. Like I’m being sewn together again.

Sensing how close I already am to coming, she opens her thighs and lifts her hips, sliding my erection along her clit. “Yes,” she breathes out. “Yes.”

Unable to handle the torture, I grab my dick and line it up with her entrance, pushing into her with one long thrust. And fuck, she feels good. Stretching around me. Letting me in. Physically. Emotionally. Like the last of our barriers—my career and all it entails—is finally gone, leaving us closer than ever. I quicken my pace, and she takes it all. Every grunt. Every thrust. Every breath. Every fucking flaw of mine she takes in stride, accommodating it. Accommodating me. Loving me. Claiming me.

Slipping my hand between us, I thumb her clit, playing with it in soft, small circles. Her breath hitches, and her teeth sink into the crook of my neck. Biting. Licking. Sucking.

“I’m gonna come,” she whimpers. “Colt, I’m gonna—”

Her pussy clenches around me, and I gasp, coming inside of her as my vision blurs.

Fuck.

Perfect. So fucking perfect.

When I’m finished, I grab a towel from the bathroom and help her clean up, and we both climb into the bed. Her breath is warm on my bare chest as she snuggles against me, letting a hum of contentment vibrate up her throat. The sound makes me feel like the Grinch, my heart swelling in my chest until I’m pretty sure it could burst at any second.

But I’m happy.

So damn happy.

And it’s all because of Ash.

“Gonna marry you one day, Sunshine,” I promise her.

“Gonna say yes one day, Colt,” she quips.

One day.

As the words slip past her lips, I realize how desperate I am to reach it. One day. How anxious I am to take the next step instead of only talking about it like we have been for months. And after tonight? After Jaxon and Eleanor and all the outside drama and hockey contracts, I’ve never been more ready to seal the deal. To make one day reachable. To make it final. To make itreal.

Rolling onto my side, I dig in the nightstand for the box I’ve kept hidden for months. I’ve been waiting for the perfect time to bring it out without realizing how many opportunities I’ve let slip by in the process. Opportunities like this one. That are perfect in their own ways. Without the flash or the spotlight. Just me and Ash. The way we were always meant to be.

When I turn back around, I rub my thumb along the edge of the little black box and take a deep breath. Because even though I’ve known I’ve wanted her for over a year now, taking this step—making it official—is scary as shit, and I don’t want to screw it up.

Ash is already half-asleep and curled on her side, her long blonde hair sprawled across her pillow. She looks gorgeous like this. Carefree. Satiated. Perfect.

“Hey, Ash?” I murmur.

Her eyelids are heavy, but she pulls them open. “Yes?”

“I love you.”

She smiles. “I love you too.”

“I love the way you steal my clothes.” I push her hair away from her face. “I love the way you treat Jax like he’s your own.” My thumb skates across her cheek. “I love the way you tuck your hair behind your ear when you’re nervous and how you mother everyone around you, making sure they’re taken care of.” Bending down, I kiss the tip of her nose. “I love the freckles along your nose and the way you kiss me. I love how you have my back and how you aren’t afraid to claim me in front of everyone, especially people you hate.” Her light laugh makes my heart skip a beat. “I love the life we’ve started building and the one we’ve dreamt of creating together.”

“Me too,” she whispers.

“I’m ready to chase those dreams. I’m ready to grab hold with both hands.” I sit back and open the black velvet box in my hand. “Because as long as you’re by my side, I have everything I could ever ask for, Sunshine. Will you marry me?”

Her eyes turn glassy as she sits up and looks down at the engagement ring I’d picked for her. Dazed. Surprised. In awe. Her emotions flicker in her green gaze, but she doesn’t whisper a single syllable, leaving me on pins and needles as I wait. With her fingers pressed against her barely parted lips, she tears her attention from the rose gold band and teardrop diamond I knew she’d love, letting her eyes meet mine.

“Are you serious, Colt?” she whispers.

“Marry me,” I repeat.

“Youareserious,” she decides, her voice filled with awe.

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