Total pages in book: 129
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124005 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 620(@200wpm)___ 496(@250wpm)___ 413(@300wpm)
The lens of the past has altered, and the real version of Dallas melts my heart. “You’re amazing. You’re the guy who signs up for everything, even the stuff that makes you uncomfortable, because the mission matters to you. You’re always there to support your teammates. Look at tonight. I’m sure the last thing you wanted was to help manage Flip and whatever is going on with him, but you didn’t leave it all to Tristan. You always show up. Every single time. For your teammates, for your family, for me.”
I reach for his hand, needing the connection to ground me. “I was so scared of my feelings for you, and afraid that if I voiced them, they would somehow erase yours for me. I know that’s my trauma talking, not logic. You’re not just the kind of man I want to give my heart to, you’re the man. I know you will always keep it safe. I adore you, Dallas, exactly as you are. So if you want to give this another shot, I’m in.” My heart hammers in my chest, stomach twisting up. But the only way to show him he’s not in this alone is to put my heart on the line, too, like he has this entire time. Without me even knowing.
His smile is soft as he presses his lips against my bare ring finger. “I’m always going to be your number-one fan, Wills. Any time you fall, I’ll be here to pick you up. I’ll do my very best to be what you need, and to love you the way you want and need to be loved. And I will one-hundred-percent fuck it up somewhere along the way, but I will never leave you. Not ever again.” He squeezes my hand. “I’ve been in love with you since the third grade, Wills. You’ve always been the bravest person I know, and I will love you with my whole heart for as long as you’ll let me.”
“Does this mean you’re my boyfriend again?” I ask.
“Do you want me to be your boyfriend?”
“I do. So much.”
“Good.” He smiles. “I love being your boyfriend.”
I loop my arms around his neck. “And I love being your girlfriend.” I whisper the words I’ve been holding sacred. “I love you.”
His fingers drift along my cheek. “I love you. More than anything.”
“I know.” I take his hand and press my lips to his knuckles. “I know taking off the ring feels like a step backwards, but when I put it back on, I want it to be because we’re both ready. I’d rather deal with the speculation than live a lie when I have someone and something so real right in front of me.”
“I’ll keep the ring safe, and when you’re ready, I’d like to ask you to be my wife again. But I’ll make sure my proposal is romantic as fuck, and not in front of thousands of people.”
“That sounds perfect.” It doesn’t matter what everyone else thinks. This is our story. No one else gets a say anymore but us. I curve one hand around the back of his neck and press my nails gently into the skin.
He drops his head and claims my mouth in a soft, slow, bone-melting kiss.
“Please take me to bed,” I whisper against his lips.
He regards me with dark, lust-heavy eyes. “You’re going to be my perfect goddess and let me worship you the way I want to, aren’t you?”
My knees go weak, and desire rushes through my veins, settling between my thighs. “Absolutely.”
His hands glide over my ass, and he grips firmly as he hoists me up. I wrap myself around him and lower my mouth to his as he carries me through his penthouse. We bump into a few things on the way, and he smacks his elbow on the doorframe and nearly drops me, but we make it to the bed, and he settles between my thighs, hips pressing firmly into the cradle of mine.
We’re a flurry of impatience, tugging at clothing, fingers seeking bare skin. But as soon as we’re naked, Dallas slows things down. His fingers drift down my side as he claims my mouth with a searing kiss.
“God, I missed you,” he murmurs as he kisses his way down my throat and along my collarbones. “The way you feel under my touch.”
When he covers my nipple and circles the tight peak with his tongue, I thread my hands through his hair.
“The feel of your hands on me.” He devotes the same attention to my other nipple before he moves lower, past my navel to the apex of my thighs. His gaze lifts to meet mine. “The way you taste.” He pushes my legs wide and lowers his head.
I whimper at the soft strokes of his tongue.
“That fucking sound.” He growls against my skin as he sucks my clit roughly. I gasp and arch. “I’m the only person who’ll ever hear you moan like that again.”