“You changed all that. You shook things up and my life turned upside down and right side out. I didn’t know which way was up. But I sawyou.And I knew I wanted to follow where you went.
“I’ve never had anyone challenge me the way you have. You’ve put me in my place more times than I can count. Something no one has ever really dared to do. It scared me. Excited me. You keep me accountable.”
“It wasn’t always easy…” She tried to wink, but ended up just crying more. It was one of the most adorable things I had seen. I shook my head, smiling at just how much this woman had my heart.
“You somehow learned to love me. Through all my faults and flaws. You guided me back to the person I want to be. You guided me back to a beating heart. One I had thought had long frozen over because of my past. But here it is, thawed and filled with love for you. I love you, Sadie.”
I took her hand in mine and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“Not only have you given me your love, but you’ve given me the best gift I could ever imagine.” I looked toward Ayah who was sound asleep in her bassinet. I was in awe of how much she could sleep.
“I want to share my life with you, Sadie. If you’ll have me, of course. I promise I want to spend the rest of my life making you and Ayah happy. It’s my life’s mission.”
I plucked the ring from the box and reached for her left hand. “Sadie Lane, will you marry me?” I asked hopefully.
Her green eyes poured into mine like a lake in a pine green forest. Everything we had been through was in her eyes, playing back for me like some movie in the theater. It wasourstory. Messy. Complicated. Beautiful. Hopeful. I could watch it over and over, as long as she was in it.
“Yes,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She lifted her hand shakily. “Yes,” she said louder, bursting into more tears.
I carefully slid the ring on her finger, the diamond catching the light and sending a rainbow prism against the walls. It was perfect. It was made for her. Just like she was made for me.
She slipped to the floor, kneeling beside me and threw her arms around me. We held each other in a tight embrace, the snow falling outside the windows, and Ayah sleeping peacefully next to us. It couldn’t have been a more perfect moment to the unperfect life I had lived for so long.
Epilogue
Sadie
“Will you hurry up?” I stifled a giggle as I tugged Jeremiah’s hand.
“I’m just making sure she’s really asleep,” he whispered, looking back one more time at Ayah sleeping in her crib.
“She’sreallyasleep.” I tugged him harder until we were both out the door.
Him being a good dad was only making him sexier, which was why my hand immediately fell to his belt. He looked down as my hands worked the buckle, before raising a brow as he gave me that smirk that made my knees weak.
“Someone is impatient today…” he said with atsk.
“We don’t have much time until she wakes up,” I insisted. “So hurry up and take your pants off.” I turned and started walking to our bedroom.
I heard Jeremiah’s hurried footsteps behind me, and soon his hand gave me a little slap on the behind, making me squeal. I started running as he chased after me, taking his clothes off as he went. I looked back and laughed at him working the buttons of his shirt as he stumbled after me.
“I don’t see you removing any clothing,” he called after me as he paused to work the last button.
I looked back and gave him a knowing smile before tugging my gray sweater dress over my head. His eyes darkened as he watched me. He peeled off his white button-down, tossing it on the floor, adding to the trail of our clothes. I stopped just outside the bedroom door to take him all in. He was practically naked, except for his briefs that hung just below the deep V of his abdomen. I swallowed hard, anticipating what was ahead.
He strode toward me until he was just inches away. He could still take the air out of me with just that look in his icy blue eyes. He ran his hands up my sides, his fingertips like feathery kisses taking over every part of me. He leaned down and kissed me just as lightly on the mouth before gripping my hips tightly and hoisting me up. My legs wrapped around him as he carried me to the bed.
He laid me down and I sunk into the plush duvet. As he stood over me, he pulled his briefs down, revealing his glorious lengthalready ready for me. My eyes dipped to it before meeting his again. His lip twitched upward as he hovered over me, his fingers sliding under my lace thong and pulling it down my legs slowly. I reached behind my back and unhooked my bra, making it one less thing between us.
His eyes roved over my body, making me squirm under his gaze. He lowered himself onto me, nudging my legs open with his knee. I willingly obliged, welcoming his erection as it grazed my thighs. I reached up and pulled him in for a kiss, plunging my tongue in his mouth, desperate to taste him. He groaned, sending a vibration through me just as his tip nudged against me. Already longing for him, I adjusted my hips and he slipped inside slowly.
I let out a breathy moan as my hands ran up his arms rippled with muscle as he held himself over me, slowly thrusting into me. Our mouths moved to the same rhythm, each thrust we breathed each other in deeper. My hands moved to his back, my fingers digging into his damp skin, asking for more.
He gave it to me. Moving faster. More desperately.
I wrapped my legs around his lower back, giving him more access and he took it. A low rumble of a growl ran through him as he gripped the duvet on either side of my head, pushing into me harder. Further. I pulled away from our kiss to watch him. The way his mouth parted slightly as his breath heavied. The way his eyes watched our union before finding mine, a deeper shade of blue.
My breath quickened and soon I could feel him release. I lifted my hips, grinding myself against him to get every last drop and lost myself in the sensation. I let out a throaty scream before collapsing back onto the bed. He lay on top of me for a moment, as I still savored the feeling of him inside me, before he rolled off. We lay there staring up at the ceiling trying to catch our breath.
