“No buts, Zoe. I love you and you’re mine. It’s time for you to realise that. It’s time for you to come home. Come home to me. Come home to us,” I murmured into her ear.
“I love you, Spencer. You’re my world.”
I felt myself exhale the breath I didn’t know I’d been holding. This girl was going to kill me. But what a way to go. Really. When I’d got the key cut yesterday and picked out the sparkly ‘Z’ key ring to hold it, I’d never imagined this reaction. I couldn’t have prayed for this reaction.
“Thank fuck!” I laughed, kissing her tear-stained cheek. “Can I please take you home now?
“Absolutely.”
I could have put her down and headed back to the car. I should have. That would mean I’d have to let go and I wasn’t quite ready to do that. Instead I hoisted her up a little higher and carried her back to the car. With every step I took, Zoe giggled in my ear. It was the sweetest sound I’d ever heard.
Carefully I sat her on the passenger seat, like she was the most precious thing in the world. And she was. The most precious thing in my world, anyway. I kissed her again. Now I’d done it once I didn’t want to stop. I didn’t know if I could.
When she mumbled, “Take me home,” I wasn’t about to argue.
As we pulled into the driveway, I looked at Zoe, whose hooded eyes were dark and filled with wanting. “How much time have we got before we have to go tonight?”
“Enough!” I promised, reading her thoughts. Every dirty one of them.
