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He nodded, already feeling sleep tugging at him. “Always,” he whispered back. And in that moment, I knew that I never wanted to leave his arms.
As I drifted off to sleep, a sense of contentment washed over me. For the first time in ages, I felt truly safe and cherished. The steady rise and fall of his chest against my cheek lulled me into a deep slumber.
When I awoke, I was shocked to find moonlight streaming through the curtains. Rory was still fast asleep, his arm draped protectively over my waist. I carefully turned to face him, drinking in his peaceful expression. My fingertips ghosted over the stubble on his jaw, tracing the lines of his face that I’d come to know so well.
As if sensing my touch, his eyes fluttered open. A slow smile spread across his face as he gazed at me.
“Hey,” he murmured, voice husky with sleep.
“Hey yourself,” I whispered back, unable to keep from smiling.
He pulled me closer, nuzzling my neck. His lips found my pulse, and he placed feather-light kisses there. A familiar warmth began to pool in my belly as his hands roamed over my curves.
“Round two?” he asked playfully, already rolling me onto my back.
I wrapped my good leg around his waist in response, pulling him flush against me. Our lips met in a passionate kiss as we lost ourselves in each other once more. This time our lovemaking was slower, more tender. We took our time exploring each other’s bodies, savoring every touch and caress.
As we lay tangled together afterwards, basking in the afterglow, I realized something profound. What I felt for Rory went beyond mere attraction or lust. I was falling in love with him, heart and soul.
The thought both thrilled and terrified me. I’d been hurt before, and opening myself up to love again was daunting. But as I gazed into Rory’s eyes, seeing the adoration there, I knew it was worth therisk.
“Rory,” I began hesitantly, my heart racing. “I think I’m falling for you.”
His eyes widened for a moment before softening. He cupped my face gently, his thumb stroking my cheek.
“I beat you to it,” he breathed.
I grinned, because for once, I was happy, and I could see a future here at the estate. Not only did I have a family, but I also had a smoking hot man to share my life with. It was almost too perfect…
Chapter 29
One month later
Kat
It was the morning of my birthday, and I was down in the dumps. It started off wonderful, waking up in Rory’s arms, but it went downhill fast. No sooner were my eyes open, and he was giving me a quick kiss before jumping out of bed. I watched as he quickly got dressed and with a wink, he was out the door.
I couldn’t blame him, it’s not like he even knew that it was my birthday, no one did, but it would have been nice if he had stayed just a bit longer.
With a sigh, I tossed the sheets off me and headed to the shower, donning a shower cap as Wren and I had a date at the hair salon. After seeing my red roots two days ago when we went for full body waxes, she suggested it. I jumped at thechance, it was either that, or I was about to shave my head bald.
As I quickly showered, I chuckled at the memory of her at the spa. We had been in separate rooms, it wasn’t my first rodeo getting a full wax job, but for her it was, and I think the whole spa heard her as she howled with pain, “Jesus Christ woman! What the hell, leave some skin on my whahoo, would you?!”
God, I loved that woman.
With a grin and a shake of my head, I turned off the taps and grabbed my bathrobe. I wrapped it around me, and as I padded across the floor, I threw the shower cap onto the vanity. Once in my bedroom, I went to the dresser and tossed a pair of blue jeans, followed by a lacy thong, and a fuzzy black sweater onto the bed.
I quickly dressed, then looked at myself in the mirror and groaned. Wren had been right; my roots were making a comeback. Being so busy with all the jobs Declan had us doing, I hadn’t even noticed. “Good thing they will be gone soon,” I muttered as I brushed my hair then stuck a pair of hooped earrings into my ears. With one last look at those horrible roots, I slipped a pair of socks on my feet then grabbed a pair of knee-high boots and pulled them on before collecting my phone and purse. I was ready for the day.
I headed out of my bedroom and was making my way down the hall towards the stairs when I heard grunting noises coming from my father’s room.
I leaned over the railing and called downstairs. “Connor are you down there?” I asked.
I was shocked to see Rory coming out of the kitchen with a dish towel hung over his shoulder wiping his hands on it. “Can I help you?”
“Is Connor with you?”
With a guilty look on his face, he jerked a thumb over his shoulder. “Yeah. We are just baking a cak… uh flake… un never mind, what’s up?” he asked as he made his way up the stairs.
