She closed her eyes when he brushed a kiss across her temple.They were both shaking, both still uncertain.
“I’m sorry, babe.”he whispered.“I’m sorry I didn’t listen to what you needed.I’m sorry I was such a hothead.”
“I’m the one who pushed you away all this time.”
“It never took, though, did it?”
And there was one important reason for that, one she needed to know.
He cupped her face with both hands.Their breaths were ragged, and electricity was cracking.He looked into those brown eyes he’d known for so long.“I love you, Roxie Cannon.I always have, and I always will.”
It was terrifying, stepping off the ledge, but a sob left her lips.It cut right through Billy.He gave a tug, and she lurched at him.He wrapped her up close, barely giving them room to breathe.
Fisting his hand in her hair, he made sure he had her attention.“Family is all I’ve ever wanted, too, but the only place I ever felt like I belonged was with you.”
So, he was addicted to her, big fucking deal.Some drugs tore people apart, but others were needed to sustain life.She wasn’t bad for him; he just needed her.
Everybody needed something.
She took a shuddering breath.“I’ll move out here,” she said.“I want to try again.For real.”
God, he wanted that, but she’d be giving up too much.“I can’t tear you away from your sisters.”
Her tears bubbled up again.“We can’t be apart anymore, Billy.We just can’t.”
“I’ll move back to Cobalt City.It’s my home, too.”He rubbed his hand up and down her spine.“Do you think there’s room in that family of yours for one more?I like your sisters, and I could make an effort with their boyfriends.”
“Are you kidding me?They love you.They told me not to come back if you weren’t with me… But your job, Billy.”Roxie shook her head.“You’ve made it here.”
He’d made nothing.He was still a low-level man on a very tall totem pole.He’d give it all up.For her.
“All I need are engines to stick my head into, babe.That, and you.”He curved his hand around her butt, but then hesitated.
“But… about the kids thing.”
She shook her head, but he stopped her.
“You called me on it, and my actions haven’t exactly fit my words.”He shook his head.“Never is a long time.I don’t know… Maybe we could do it.Eventually.”
Her eyes went wide.
Billy swallowed hard.“My biggest worry has always been the ‘what ifs’.What if something happened to you or me?I couldn’t let a kid of mine become a ward of the state, but now that I’ve met your sisters… I don’t think they’d let something like that happen.”
“They wouldn’t.Never in a million years.”
“That could be the game changer,” he said gruffly.“Because I gotta admit, making babies with you now sounds sexy as hell.”
She inhaled sharply, but it was all he’d been able to think about ever since their fight.He hadn’t only been giving her up, he’d been leaving behind their memories and their dreams.
He grunted when she laid a hand deliberately over the zipper of his jeans.“Think we can go practice for that?”
Holy shit.Talk about having him by the balls.
“I don’t have any condoms left.”
The tears left her eyes to be replaced with a different kind of glimmer.“Good.”
With one word, he was hard.Picking her up, he carried her to the bedroom.Before they got there, she’d wrapped herself around him like a vine.Her arms were around his neck and her legs were around his waist.Her mound was pressed firmly against the bulge behind his zipper and she gave a desperate wiggle.
