I couldn’t help myself. “You snooze, you lose, old man.”
His hands tightened. “Shh, baby. Let me get the words out before you earn yourself some spankings by being sassy while I’m trying to tell you I love you.”
I wasn’t sure if I should be turned on by the threat or swoon over those three little words from my gruff man. The mixture of sweet and heat was almost overwhelming. But I needed to hear them straight out. “Tell me. Please.”
“I love you so fucking much, Maren.” He brushed his lips against mine in the gentlest kiss he’d ever given me. “You’re mine. Now, always. And I’ll spend every damn day proving it.”
“Thank you.” I sniffled, tears starting to stream down my cheeks. “This is all so perfect. I love the property patch and the ring.”
“Good, baby.” He kissed away my tears. “Because you’re gonna wear them forever.”
A watery grin tugged at my lips. “Then I should probably admit something.”
His brows drew together. “Yeah? What’s that?”
“I wasn’t trying to leave you earlier.” I shook my head. “I was just asking about the lockdown in general.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “That right?”
I nodded.
“Then we’re gonna clear up any confusion right now.” His hand slid to the back of my neck, his thumb stroking over myskin. “Lockdown’s over, but you’re not going anywhere tonight ’cause we’re gonna be too damn busy.”
My mouth went dry, but my panties got wet. “Lucas.”
“Shh.” His smile was sinful. “Gotta reward my woman for saying yes.”
His palm swatted lightly against the curve of my butt, and a breathless sound escaped me.
“And remind her what happens when she’s sassy.”
EPILOGUE
KEVLAR
It had only been a month since we moved into the house, but it already felt like home.
Not just because of the furniture we picked out together, or the bedroom that smelled like us. It was home because she was in every corner of it—her soft touches, her folded laundry, her hairbands on the bathroom counter, and the scent of her perfume in the sheets.
Maren had been teasing me all damn day.
Wearing nothing but my shirt while cooking barefoot in our kitchen like she didn’t know what it did to me. Every time she stretched for something on a high shelf or leaned forward to grab a pan, I got a flash of her bare thighs and just the hint of where I wanted to be buried.
It had been like this since she rolled out of bed that morning—soft, happy, and glowing.
Now she was padding through our bedroom like she didn’t have a care in the world, humming softly as she dug through the laundry basket for something she never found.
I leaned in the doorway and watched her. She didn’t see me right away—too busy bending over, her thighs flexing under myshirt, the curve of her ass peeking out from beneath the hem. I shifted, my dick already hard and pressing against the zipper of my jeans. She straightened with a small sigh, then turned and finally spotted me.
Her smile was instant and sweet. “Hi.”
I didn’t answer.
She blinked at me. “Lucas?”
I closed the distance in two strides, wrapped my arm around her waist, and threw her over my shoulder like a damn caveman. She squealed and laughed, squirming slightly—but not trying to get away.
“You’ve been teasing me all damn day, baby,” I growled, striding into the bathroom. “You know what that gets you.”
