“Ada. I know this isn’t really the time, but… when I say it’s time to go home, I mean home for the two of us, do you understand?”
She bit her lip as her cheeks warmed. “I do.”
“I want it to be our home, together. We don’t have to stay there in that same building forever, but wherever I live, I want it to be with you.”
She blinked as she stared up at him, wanting to believewhat she hoped to be the truth, but too scared that she might be misunderstanding.
“Wh-what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that I love you, and that I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Thatyouare home.” He leaned down, taking her face in his hands. “Ada, will you marry me? Be my wife? Spend forever with me?”
It took her a moment to find words as her heart was nearly bursting.
“I thought you didn’t want to commit to anyone.”
“I didn’t think I did. But then I met you, and everything changed. When I’m not with you, I cannot wait until the time when we’re together again. When you are beside me, I never want to be anywhere else. You make my life better. I know I don’t deserve you, but I will spend every day for the rest of my life proving my worth to you.”
“Oh, Jonny,” Ada said, wiping away the tear that began to form. “You are worth more than any other man I could ever imagine myself being with. I think I loved you even when I was still wary of you, and now that I trust you with my whole heart, I love you all the more. I want nothing more than to marry you, than to spend my life with you.”
“Even if I’ll only ever be a footballer who works as a shipping clerk?”
“All I care is that you are the man who loves me. If you always promise to be that man, then I’m in.”
“I promise. Always.”
Ada stood on her toes and pressed her lips to his, sealing their promise forever.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Jonny wasn’t sure how they made it home.
After he had kissed Ada on the docks, he had wanted to show his love for her so desperately that he had nearly taken her there on one of the wooden crates nearby.
But then she had taken his hand in hers and led him away at a run pace that rivaled some of the fastest strikers in football.
He fumbled his way at unlocking the door before finally pushing it open, taking her in his arms and lifting her up against it. Her legs hooked around his waist, her feet gripping his back, pulling herself in closer, so she was pressed up against him, right where he wanted her.
They kissed with a fierce desperation, as though they couldn’t get enough of one another, even though this was just the first time in a lifetime of nights together.
She sunk her hands into his hair and his eyes closed as he claimed her mouth, over and over again, before moving to plant kisses all over her neck.
Jonny finally had enough wherewithal to move toward the stairs, hardly recognizing the fact she was undressing him asbest she could while he climbed, holding onto her the entire time. When they finally made it to the small bedroom at the top of the stairs, he gently set her to her feet, though he kept kissing her as they worked on tearing off all of her layers until she was in nothing but her shift before him.
Her eyes were both fiery and vulnerable as she brought her hand to the front of his undone trousers, palming him, and his lips parted when she squeezed his length, toying with him.
He wasn’t sure how much more he could take until she was finally loosening his fall and shoving his trousers down his legs. He couldn’t help but stare at her, so beautiful as she took him in, her eyes heady, shocking him that she wanted him just as much as he wanted her.
He wound his hands into her hair and kissed her cheek, her jaw, her neck, before finding the space behind her ear. He walked her back to the bed, pushing her to sit before climbing over her, mesmerized by the beauty of her body, unsure of where he should even start.
His eyes flicked to hers while his fingers trailed over the top of her shift before tugging it lower, watching her face as he toyed with one peak before dropping his head to her breast, pulling a nipple between his lips. He loved the way she moaned in response, especially when he slid the chemise all the way off. He moved to the other side, his fingers replacing where his mouth had been on the first.
Ada was breathing hard below him, and he gave her a dark, knowing smile as he reached his hand down and began to circle his fingers around where she ached for him.
Her nails dug into the skin of his shoulders as he stared at her, hungry, wanting her more than he ever had before. It wasn’t their first time, and it wouldn’t be their last, and yet, she was still more than he could ever have imagined.
“Jonny,” she said, reaching up and cupping his cheek. “Make love to me.”
“How could I ever say no to that?” he asked, breath rushing out of him as he lined himself up with her entrance. He nudged inside, sharp pleasure already sweeping through him as he tried to wait, to give her time to adjust.
