Neither of us says a word as he finishes cleaning my face, the air between us electric. Then he pulls back and pops the rest of the s’more into his mouth.
“Delicious,” he declares with a wink.
Holy hell. This man will be the death of me...
We settle back into the cushions, our bodies angled toward each other. Blake tugs me against his chest, and I can’t help but sink into him, reveling in his warmth.
“I had such an amazing time with your family tonight,” I tell him softly. “They’re wonderful.”
Blake’s chest rumbles with a chuckle. “They’re pretty crazy about you too.”
Emotion clogs my throat. After the way I grew up, I’m not used to feeling so... accepted. Welcomed.
“But why? They don’t even know me,” I whisper. Doubt creeps in, threatening my newfound happiness. “Not really.”
Blake tilts my chin up, forcing me to meet his steady gaze. “They know everything they need to. That you’re kind, smart, hardworking. An incredible mother.” He slides his hand to my cheek, his touch tender. “And that I’m crazy about you.”
Tears prick my eyes. No one has ever said such beautiful things to me. I’m usually the one taking care of everyone else, making sure Josie and Maddie have what they need. I’m not used to someone looking out for me.
“I’m crazy about you too,” I breathe, my voice wavering. “So crazy it scares me a little.”
“Don’t be scared, baby.”
Blake strokes my cheekbone with his thumb, his eyes filled with so much affection it takes my breath away. “I’ve got you. I’ve always got you.”
And with that, he leans in and kisses me, soft and sweet and achingly tender. He puts every ounce of his feelings behind it. Icling to him, losing myself in the feel of his lips on mine, in the overwhelming rightness of it all.
This right here? Wrapped up in Blake’s arms under a canopy of stars? It’s everything.
It’s perfect.
Blake pulls back, but only far enough to rest his forehead against mine. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” I run my fingers through his hair, savoring the silky texture.
“What happened that night in Vegas? Why did you leave without saying goodbye?”
I sigh, my heart clenching. I knew this question was coming, but that doesn’t make it any easier to answer. Still, Blake deserves the truth.
“I had a challenging childhood,” I begin. “My father left when I was seven and Josie was just a baby. Our mom... She struggled with alcoholism and keeping a job. We moved around a lot. I had to take responsibility for Josie from a young age.”
Blake’s eyes soften with understanding, and he rubs his thumb in soothing circles on my hip. “I’m so sorry, Julie. That must have been so hard.”
I nod. “It was. But we had each other. And thanks to Josie’s guardian ad litem, Melissa, I was able to get custody of her right before I started college.”
“You’re amazing,” Blake murmurs, then presses a kiss to my forehead. “So strong. I’m in awe of you, you know that?”
A wobbly smile lifts my lips. “I don’t feel very strong sometimes. Especially not that night in Vegas.”
Blake’s brow furrows. “What do you mean?”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself. Here goes nothing.
“It was my twenty-first birthday. My senior year of college. My friends and I scraped together enough money to go to Vegas for one night. Just one night of fun, you know? I’d spent somuch of my life working hard, taking care of Josie... I thought I deserved to let loose for once.”
Understanding dawns in Blake’s eyes. “And then you met me.”
“And then I met you,” I confirm with a nod. “And then we had sex and it was... It was incredible. Mind-blowing. But afterward, I panicked.”
