“He went to jail and was killed there,” I told Huntley. “I’d kept tabs on him.” I needed to know because if he’d ever been released I don’t know what I would have done.
His eyes were full of fire and steel. “Good, or I’d have to hunt him down and do it myself.”
I couldn’t be sorry the man had died. I’d worked through the emotions that went along with wishing someone would no longer walk the earth. I didn’t think Huntley would have really done it, but it was the fact he wanted to for me that only made me love him more.
“I love you,” I whispered.
A new set of tears began to fall down his gorgeous face and it looked like he was struggling with something.
“Tell me,” I said, parroting his words from moments before.
“I’m so sorry that happened to you, baby. It eats me up inside, but it doesn’t change the fact that I love you with everything I am. You’ve come so far and wherever you want to go, I have no doubt we will get there.” He gulped. “But right now, I really just want to hold you.”
I couldn’t control the sobs that broke free. But they wereones of happiness. When I started to reveal my past, I’d told him I just hoped he would still want to hold me after, and that if he did, I would let him. Rising from the floor I held my hand out to him.
There was no place I’d rather be.
He placed his palm in mine and I started to gently pull him toward the bedroom, trying to go slow because of his battered body.
“I want you to hold me too,” I said softly.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
HUNTLEY
My girl stirredin my embrace.
Her black hair fanned out against the white pillowcase, and her sweet scent drifted to me, almost causing my senses to short-circuit. God, I loved the smell of her and her beautiful locks. I loved everything about her.
I held River through the late evening into morning, her tiny body tucked close to mine and my arm curled over her middle. Throughout the night, her tiny whimpers and small cries broke my heart, but instead of pulling away from me, she’d snuggled closer.
More tears had escaped as I thought about everything the beautiful woman by my side had been through.
Fuck.
Sleep eluded me as I replayed everything she’d told me in my head. There was one thing that River had said that really stuck with me—the sorrow in her voice when she said she didn’t even really have a name. I knew what she meant; she had no ties to anyone.
I wanted to change that.
She stirred again and then slowly turned in my arms so she was facing me. “Hi,” she whispered, shyly.
I was a goner and man enough to admit the woman staring at me with her hypnotic eyes, owned me heart and soul. She had me wrapped around her little finger for sure. So, for me, it wasn’t truly a surprise when what I’d been thinking about all night came tumbling out.
However, I sure shocked the shit out of River.
“I want you to take my last name.”
Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped open. “W-What?” She paused, as if trying to find the words. “I don’t think I understand what you are saying.”
Real smooth, dipshit, I thought to myself. I was clearly screwing up big time.
“There is nothing fake about how I feel about you, and I don’t want you to be my fake fiancée anymore. Although, I still owe Ruby for that since it got you into my hospital room.” I softly brushed a strand of hair out of her face. “Marry me, sweetheart. I know in all my heart my last name was always meant to be yours.” I took a deep breath. “And maybe the kids will one day want to take it too.”
Her gaze searched mine. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
I ran my hand down her arm and brought her palm to my chest, laying it over my heart. “I’ve never been more serious in my life.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
