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“Don’t leave.”
He let out a long breath. “I won’t ever.”
My muscles softened. My legs unwound from his waist. Will eased his cock from my soaked embrace and rolled over, pulling me half on top of him. I pressed my cheek against his muscled chest, lulled by his heartbeat, and felt his lips in my hair.
“Will,” I whispered to his chest. “I love you.”
For a moment, he just breathed in and out. I wasn’t sure he’d heard. But I couldn’t hold the truth back any longer. It needed to be said.
When I raised my head, clear green eyes met mine.
“You mean that, don’t you.” He looked stunned. Probably the first time anyone had ever loved Will for himself, or had any idea what that self was.
I nodded slowly. “Yes, I mean it.”
“I love you too, Andie,” he whispered back. The shocked expression was still on his face. He shifted to kiss me. I rested my head on his chest again.
“What about us?”
He stroked my hair back from my forehead, running his fingers through the thick waves, soothing me. “We’ll just have to find out.”
I curled up in his arms, warm and relaxed, while cars honked outside and street lights flickered. The future was still a question mark. But I knew what I wanted now, completely.
Chapter 17
Golden morning light filled my room. I stirred sleepily, Will’s warmth pressing against me.
Rising on one elbow, I took him in. His tumbled brown hair on my pillow, his face relaxed in sleep, one arm flung over my waist.
I was about to snuggle against him and go back to sleep when a buzz came from my nightstand.
Who was calling so early on a Sunday morning? Reluctantly, I picked up my phone. My aunt’s name showed on the screen.
My stomach clenched. Better to deal with Aunt Rose now than later.
“Hello?” I said quietly.
“Andrea, this is Richard.”
My blood chilled in my veins. I glanced at Will, sleeping peacefully beside me.
“What do you want?” I tried to keep my voice from trembling.
“Well, that’s an interesting question,” he said amiably, like he’d called up for a pleasant uncle-niece chat. “We’ll start with this. You have twenty-four hours to return my son to his family. Do it by then and you’ll keep your job.”
To my amazement, I laughed. It was all too much. The exhaustion of the past day, the carousel of emotions.
“Are you kidding?” I spluttered. “I didn’t kidnap Will. I’m not playing your game of ransom.”
Richard chuckled, but there was a strain in his voice that hadn’t been there last night. “You’ve got spirit. But you’re bright enough to see that you’re out of your league. You don’t know much about games, and you know even less about Will. If you’re thinking he’ll protect you, you’ll find yourself in a sorry state very soon.”
I pressed the covers to my naked breasts. I hated the feeling that I could see Richard’s calculating dark eyes. He had no business in my cozy bedroom.
“I know what I need to know,” I said stiffly.
“You’ve taken the boy from where he belongs. I’m sure it seems romantic to you. You think you’re in love, and he can give you what you want.” Richard’s voice was soft and friendly, the tone of a trusted advisor. “But he’s not going to handle this well. My son is selfish, Andrea. He’ll use you up. He won’t last more than a few days before he throws you away. Save yourself the trouble and send him back.”
My grip tightened on the phone. Richard sounded absolutely sure, describing Will like he was nothing more than a spoiled animal raised in a gilded cage. Incapable of surviving in the wild.
