I’m not done with this angel—not even close. I want to spoil her, take my time with her gorgeous curves, and worship her body until she can’t breathe. It’s not enough to tell her she’s mine; I want her to feel it in her bones as she screams my name. I want her to believe it with every fiber of her being.
And I’m not letting her leave this bed until she does.
Sunlight streamsthrough the curtains when I wake up the next morning. My limbs feel like lead—heavy and sated—and I blink up at the ceiling for a few moments, rubbing sleep from my eyes. Last night comes back to me in a rush: kissing Savannah at the party, bringing her home, watching her ride me. After we fell into my bed together yesterday afternoon, we hardly left it again.
The memories make my heart stutter as I turn my head to look at Savannah. She’s still fast asleep, her chocolate hair splayed over the pillow, lips parted as she breathes deeply. Her thick lashes flutter, a low moan escaping her throat as she shifts beneath the covers. I stare at her for a long time.
Fuck, she’s so beautiful.
It feels like I can’t get enough air into my lungs as I loop my arms around her, pulling her against my chest. She doesn’t stir, and I hold her close, my throat tight with fear. I’m man enough to admit when I’m scared—and right now, I’m fucking terrified by the strength of my feelings for Savannah. It’s suffocating. All-consuming.
This was never meant to happen.
I always promised I’d never be the kind of sucker who fell for someone—never end up like Thorne, or any of those military guys who got their hearts broken and their lives devastated by divorce. I’ve kept my heart untouched all this time, and hell, it was easy. I was never even tempted until this curvy little beauty hit me with her car and changed my world forever.
It feels like a knife has sliced through my life, cutting it cleanly into two parts: before I met Savannah, and after. There’s no going back now. My heart is completely exposed. Undefended. For the first time ever, I’ve ceded all control. Savannah could shatter me with a single word if she wanted—tear my insides out and wreck me forever.
The thought claws at my chest as I squeeze Savannah tight, pressing a kiss on her head.
“You’re worth it, buttercup,” I murmur against her ear. “I’m fucking terrified, but you’ll always be worth it.”
I hold her in my arms until she finally wakes up, her eyes fluttering open. They roam the room, still unfocused from sleep. Then she meets my gaze and gives me a smile that cracks my chest open like a split log.
“Good morning,” she mumbles sleepily.
“Morning, beautiful.”
I kiss her, breathing in her sweet morning smell as I curl my fingers through her hair.
Fuck, I could get used to this—waking up beside this angel.
She pulls back to look at me, and her smile drops.
“What happens now?” she asks hesitantly.
I frown at her. “What do you mean, sugar?”
“We said one day…and now tomorrow’s here. Does that mean it’s over?”
My gut twists as I look at her. “Do you want it to be over, Savannah?”
We stare at each other, the air taut, my heart racing as I wait for her answer—readying myself for the blow I’ve been dreading.
“No.” Her voice is barely a whisper. “I don’t want this to be over.” Her eyes well up, glimmering with unshed tears. “I’ve been waiting for this my whole life, Clay…waiting to find my person.”
Fierce emotion rushes through me as I cup her cheek. “You found him, buttercup. I know I’m just a grumpy old man with one leg, but I’m all yours—for real and forever. I promise.”
“For real and forever,” she repeats, smiling against my lips as I lean in to kiss her. It’s a long, lingering kiss, full of passion and promises, and Savannah beams at me when I pull away.
“I guess this means we can stop pretending,” she says.
“I wasn’t pretending. Not for a minute. It was always real for me, buttercup; I knew you were mine from the moment we met.”
Savannah pinkens with delight. “Me too, Clay. I could feel it.”
“Now I get to tell everyone you’re mine for real.”
She giggles as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her flush against my naked chest. Her curves melt against me, warm and plump, and I hold her so tight I can feel her heartbeat pulsing through me.
