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I shudder slightly at the thought. I’ve never considered settling down before. Why would I? Now, I realize that I just needed to meet the right woman for everything I thought I knew, everything I thought I wanted, to be turned on its head.
“Really?” The disbelief in that one word makes my heart clench uncomfortably.
“I’m being one hundred percent honest with you, Cove.” My eyes roam over her face, wanting to remember, needing to remember. “You have this innate understanding for the words, for the emotion, even if you haven’t experienced it.” The blush that starts to coat her cheeks has me reaching for her and cupping her face in my hands even though I know I shouldn’t. “How did you make me feel seen, but not ashamed?”
“Langston,” she whispers.
“Can we start over? I know I made a horrible first impression on you. I’m sorry for that too. I was defensive and fucking rude. You didn’t deserve that shit from me,” there’s a plea in my tone.
My heart is pounding in my chest as silence stretches between us. Have I ever wanted someone’s grace more than I do in this moment?
“There’s nothing to forget and no reason to start over,” she murmurs and my stomach plummets. Her eyes soften and she bites her lip before taking a deep breath. “You’ve been making a lot of changes in your life lately. It’s not easy to do and I don’t blame you for lashing out first.”
“You should,” my tone is demanding, and she blinks up at me. “I was a dick.”
A small smile curls up one side of her pouty mouth, and she teases, “I’m not arguing that.”
Every muscle in my body goes taunt and I grunt, “Songstress.”
As her lips part, I see something simmer in the depths of her eyes. Before I have a chance to second guess myself or even think about it, I take her mouth in a kiss. It’s gentle at first, but when she gasps, I slip my tongue into her mouth.
The moment I taste her, I can’t get enough. My arms wrap around her body, and I pull her curves against the hard planes of my chest. The way she clings to me and moans into my mouth has me desperate for everything from this woman.
I knew I wanted her, needed her, the moment I saw her, but this is more. So much fucking more. I don’t think I can tackle the next stage of my life without this woman in my arms. To shield me. To give me safe haven. To help me stand taller. To give me purpose.
As my hands slide over her hips and up her sides, I slow the kiss down. I might want to throw her over my shoulder and carry her to my bedroom, but I don’t want to rush this. I can’t.
There is no way that I’ll allow Cove to think she’s anything less than everything. If I move too fast, I’ll fuck everything up. I won’t allow that.
When I pull back from her, I watch with avid interest as Cove stands there for a few breaths, frozen in time. I let out a low groan as her tongue slides along her bottom lip like she wants to taste me again.
Even though I want to kiss her again, I stop myself and revel in the way it feels to have her in my arms.
Cove’s eyes pop open and she wrenches herself from my hold, stumbling back a few steps. “Oh,” she gasps, her eyes widening to a point that I’m a little concerned for her. “I, um, I,” she shakes her head as she stutters. “You kissed me,” she breathlessly points out.
As if we both don’t know what just happened.
I nod slowly, watching her face intently. Without another word, she spins around and flees the kitchen.
“Fuck,” I sigh as my chin hits my chest.
I’ll give her some time, but I’m not letting this go. Now that I’ve tasted her and felt her body melt against mine, there’s no way I can.
She’s mine.
Now I just have to prove it to her and show her that and help her to believe that the only woman I want from now on is her.
CHAPTER 6
COVE
My nerves are shot. I’ve spent the last few days working with Langston while ignoring the giant elephant in the room. That poor elephant might as well be green neon with pink spots, but I’ve ignored the damn thing with a dedication I wasn’t aware I even had.
Normally, I hate letting things so big be ignored. I hate the pressure of it and feeling like it’s breathing down my neck.
But this is different.
If I acknowledge the kiss, I’m afraid it’ll happen again. It already takes all my effort to work with Langston and not lay my body at his feet like a naked sacrifice. I want him and I’m willing to admit that to myself but only in the quiet of my mind.
