Page 78 of The Fangirl and the Grump

But I’m not, and he already has my heart. I need him to understand he can trust me with his.

“I’m staying here…with you.”

“But Seattle,” he says. “And your work with Pressley.”

“Pressley and I talked about it, and we’ll work it out. And Seattle isn’t my home. Not anymore. Not when everything I want, everything Iloveis right here in front of me.”

My heart stops as a myriad of emotions spins across his face. The carousel stops on a stern look, and I experience a split-second of panic before he growls, yanks me toward him, and seals his perfect mouth over mine.

I melt into him as relief and joy war for supremacy inside me. I stiffen back up for a moment when the crowd erupts around us, and I suddenly realize everyone had gone silent while we spoke, waiting to see what would happen between their Wolf Daddy lookalike and the curvy little woman laying her heart on the line.

Breaking off our kiss, Trace smiles down at me as he takes my hand. The crowd parts again as we cross the street toward the inn, and I smile and wave at our audience as they shout encouragement and congratulations. I catch sight of Willow outside Moonstone Mystic, cupping her hands around her mouth and shouting before shooting me a thumbs-up. I return the gesture, and her eyes dart to my left before her face turns pale, and she disappears into the crowd.

I look around but don’t see anything out of the ordinary. Weird. What was that all about?

I shout as Trace picks me up and tosses me over his shoulder, and all thoughts of Willow and her strange behavior disappear. I grip his ass with both hands for leverage as he pushes through the door to the inn, greets his night manager like his carrying a woman like a caveman is no big deal, and starts to climb the stairs.

I’m smiling so hard, my cheeks hurt. I’ve never been this happy and in love.

And I’m about to show Trace Bardin just how much he means to me. All night long.

ChapterThirty-Six

Trace

Even when I set Keegan on her feet in front of my bed, and she stares up at me with those big, gorgeous eyes, I can’t believe she’s actually here. I can’t believe she said what she said. That she’s staying. That shelovesme.

A sentiment I have yet to return, and I will, but first…

“Keegan, I’m so sorry about how I acted that night. I didn’t mean any of what I said.”

“It’s okay,” she says, pressing her palms to my chest.

“No, it’s not,” I say, shaking my head firmly and covering her hands with my own, holding them there. “I was an asshole. I was scared of what I was feeling, and I lashed out at you in some ridiculous attempt to protect myself. It was cruel of me to treat you like that, and I’ve hated myself every second of every day since for the things I said to you. And for leaving, too. I never should’ve left. I’ve been miserable without you.”

“And what were you feeling?” she asks with a coy smile, ignoring the rest of my little speech.

I shake my head as one corner of my mouth lifts, then drops. Searching her gaze, I tighten my fingers around her hands and tilt my head to bring my face closer to hers.

“I’m in love with you,” I whisper with every ounce of feeling that’s been locked inside me over the last few weeks.

“Then, you’re forgiven,” she says with a shaky laugh as her eyes well with tears. “And I love you, too, Trace. So much.”

Releasing her hands, I pick her up and hold her against my chest so we’re face-to-face. Giving her my best impression of pure irritation, I growl, “I’m still going to spank you for screamingWolf Daddyin the middle of town like that.”

“Oh,Wolf Daddy,” she purrs, “I was counting on it.”

Then she presses her lips to mine in a kiss so filled with love and devotion, my heart bursts in my chest, filling the rest of my body with warm lava. Her little punishment can wait.

Now is the time for absolute love, to show her how precious she is to me. To reassure her that I’ll never leave her again, and if she tries to flee, I’ll chase her to the ends of the earth like the werewolves she loves so much would their own mates.

Setting her back on her feet, I undress her, slowly peeling off every layer of clothing until she stands before me completely naked. She tries to hold still as I brush my fingertips over every inch of her skin, then she gasps when I pluck her up and set her on the edge of the bed.

I kiss her lips, then her breasts, until she moans, begging for more. Then, dipping low, I spread her thighs and run my tongue over her pussy. The familiar taste of it sends chills down my spine, making me realize exactly how much I’ve missed this.

Keegan groans and falls backward, spreading her arms wide across the mattress and gripping the quilt in tight fists as I lick her again, a long, slow stroke with the flat of my tongue. Picking up her legs, I drape them over my shoulders and spread her wide before focusing on her clit.

“Oh, God,” she moans. “I’ve missed this so much.”

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