Total pages in book: 112
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 107667 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 538(@200wpm)___ 431(@250wpm)___ 359(@300wpm)
I’ve tried really hard not to hate his mom, but this might be the breaking point for me. “You are nothing like her, Dart. You know that, right?”
“I don’t know. I’ve wanted so badly for her to love me. But what if I am, and that’s why she’ll never love me?”
“That’s not true,” I insist.
“I don’t know. I mean, I couldn’t even keep it in my pants when we were apart.”
“Because we weren’t together,” I tell him, running my fingers along his jaw. “You weren’t mine.”
“But I was,” he says, his eyes meeting mine. “And still, I tried to lose myself in someone else.”
“Did it work?”
“No.”
“Exactly,” I say, my heart beating hard. “I don’t know your momma, but I feel it would have worked for her. That she never would allow herself to fall for someone the way you have for me.”
He closes his eyes, pressing his nose into mine. “I don’t even want to think of being with anyone else. I only want you.”
“I know.”
“I love only you. Greatly.” His words are once more a promise.
“I know, D’Artagnan.” I clutch his jaw, bringing it up so he can look me in my eyes. “Am I with you for your money?”
He scoffs. “No, you have your own. You bitch when I buy you food.”
“Yes. So why am I with you?”
“Raw sex appeal? You actually do want to break my nose by riding my face?” he jokes, but I don’t laugh; I hold his gaze.
“I’m not joking, Dart,” I warn him, and he looks down, exhaling. “You don’t have to put a façade on with me. I know you. I know this hurts you, that you love your sister very much, want to care for her. And Dart, listen to me,” I say, angling his face up with my thumb. “Even if there were no flashy, hot hockey superstar, no money, no beautiful house, no ocean, or even your fantastic cock—”
“Serious note, don’t take my cock out of the equation. I need it. We need it. It’s a huge player for our team.” I try not to snort at his ridiculousness as he apologizes with a shrug. “Just saying.”
“Dart, I would love you because of how passionately you love me.”
His eyes search mine. “I do love you, with all of myself.”
“I am going to be yours until forever falls apart and we’re worm food.”
His lips curve as he runs his fingers along my chin. “Can we be cremated? I’m not a fan of worms eating me.”
“It’s romantic,” I tell him, and he grins. “‘I’m going to be yours until forever falls apart and we’re burned to a crisp’ doesn’t sound as good.”
“It doesn’t, but worms aren’t my jam.”
“Lordy, Dart! You drive me crazy.” His eyes burn into mine. “But I’m yours forever and then some, just know that. I love you, and I don’t have to know your momma to know you aren’t a lick of her, but your granddaddy instead.”
His grin fades a bit as he trails his fingers over my lips. “You’re so fucking country.” My face brightens as he whispers, “I love you, Tennessee.” I kiss his fingers when his eyes meet mine. “If I could get my mom to give me custody of Sabine, would you be okay with that?”
“Absolutely,” I say, and I know I should think that through. We’re still learning each other, still building our life together, but I know he won’t be fully happy until he knows his sister is safe. His heart is so big, so beautiful, and I want nothing more than to never see him as upset as he was when he came into the house. Our home.
I roll him over with ease since I caught him off guard. I straddle his hips as he grins up at me. “What are you doing? I was memorizing your face.”
I shake my head as I start to undo the buttons of his shirt. “You have already done that, many times over,” I tell him, my eyes cutting to his. “I want to take care of you,” I whisper, opening his shirt and placing a kiss along his sternum. “You always take care of everyone else. Let me take care of you.” I sink my teeth into his nipple, and he hisses out a breath. “Give me control,” I whisper against his scalding skin. “Can you do that?”
I rake my teeth over the ripples of muscles along his chest, and he says tightly, “I can do anything for you.”
I’ve never believed any words more than those.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Dart
I knew the moment I met Tennessee that a lifetime would never be enough time for us.
I’ll need more.
I want more.
The feel of her lips is a high I don’t ever want to come down from. I’m addicted to the way she looks at me, the sweet touch of her lips along my skin, and I’m obsessed with every breath she sucks in. Her promises, the way she thinks, how she talks me off the ledge. Her. Just her. That’s all I want. She makes me feel safe, loved, and like nothing matters but us. But that’s not true. My issues are her issues; her fears are my fears. She’s the ultimate teammate. Even when my mom makes me feel like I’m not worthy of love, it only takes one look in Tennessee’s eyes to know that isn’t true.