His heart jerked but then stopped again. What was she saying? God, he didn’t dare to hope.
A soft smile kissed her face. “I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, too, and I’ve only grown to love you more over the months. Johnny, I love you so much, so, so much, that when you hurt me at Cool Hands, and then ghosted me for days…I died inside.” Again, the tears spilled down her cheeks.
Groaning, and hating himself for the pain he caused, her gathered her in his arms, holding her.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck…baby, I am so goddamn sorry I hurt you, then dropped the ball and made you think I wasn’t with you. You were always, always, on my mind. I thought about you every minute, desperately wanting to finish this shit and get back to you. But Jaime wove a tangled web, and I had to cut through it to get clear. There was so much going on, and I admit I could have been better about at least texting you, checking in with you, letting you know I was thinking about you…. Another mistake. Another fuck up, and I know that. Please, baby, forgive me. I will never do that again—you mean the fucking world to me.” He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, and she sighed, snuggling deeper into his embrace.
He smiled, loving how well she fit. She was made for him, and him for her. He was as sure of that as he was that the sun set and the heart in his chest belonged to her.
Silence filled the open plan living area, and he wanted to be content just holding her…but the other part of him wanted to know what she was thinking.
Finally, after long moments, she murmured, “Give me the kutte.”
Joy exploded from the deepest, darkest parts of his black soul.
Picking up the kutte from back of the couch where he tossed in when he drew her into his arms, he held it out, a stupid grin on his face.
Her smile was just as big, and there was something in her eyes he dare not hope for.
Without hesitating, she stepped forward, turned around, and helped him slip the kutte over her shoulders, settling it into place over her back.
Perfect fit.
Gripping her shoulders, he could feel the supple leather beneath his hands. Slowly, he turned her, his cock as hard as a fucking pike. Nothing was as fucking attractive as his woman with his name on her back. Facing him, she looked up at him, her striking eyes wide.
“You look…beautiful,” he breathed. “Fuck, I love you. You’re like a goddamn addiction I just can’t shake, my obsession, my affliction. My salvation.” He kissed her, devouring her mouth as if he hadn’t eaten in years. She tasted of all things Cilla—sweetness, sass, and a little tartness, too. She kissed him back, pushing her tits into his chest so hard he could feel her erect nipples brushing against him.
Shit, he needed to finish this up so he could get her naked and on his face.
He broke the kiss, cursing when she wrapped her hands in his t-shirt to pull him back.
He wanted to keep kissing her, but there was something he needed from her.
“Is that a yes, baby? Are you agreeing to be my ol’ lady, my woman, and eventually my wife?” Swallowing down the fear of her answer, he asked, “Do you love me?”
Her eyes wide, she winced, then exhaled in a rush.
“Shit, I can’t believe I…God, Patriot, I’m so sorry, I—” She stopped babbling, squared her shoulders, then placed her hands on his cheeks, holding him in place—like he wanted to be anywhere else. “I love you, Johnny Smith. I love you so fucking much. I said it before—I loved you the moment I met you. And, yes, I want to be your ol’ lady, your woman, and one day your wife. Of course, I’ll expect a proper proposal, with a ring and getting down on one knee—the whole nine yards.”
He chuckled, then kissed the tip of her nose, then her chin.
“You bet your fine ass—you are the only one I’d ever get on my knees for. You’re my queen. My world. My everything.”
He growled, pinning her to him. “My ol’ lady. Fuck, you look good in that kutte.”
As he watched, a wicked grin curled one side of her mouth.
“Well…what do you think about me in this kutte…and nothing else?”
His cocked thickened, straining against his jeans. He groaned.
“I think you’d better start running, because once I catch you, I’m going to fuck you until you can’t walk.”
She shuddered, moaning.
“You want me to run?” she asked, her voice husky.
“Yeah, baby, and I’ll always catch you.”