“But I saw her try to?—”
“Kiss me? Didn’t happen. These lips belong to you. No one else. Forever. I meant every word I said to you the day you left. There hasn’t been anyone for months, and there won’t be anyone for the rest of my life. I’m yours.”
He’s mine.
He’s really back, and I don’t want to blink.
He came back for me?
I don’t realize I’m crying again until he swipes a tear away.
“Do you believe in coincidences?” I ask.
“No.” He pulls the toothpick out of his front teeth. “I believe if you want something so bad, you go after it. No matter what that looks like. If it means letting go of the past and chasing after the future that I want, then that’s what I have to do.”
“I thought the city life wasn’t for you.”
“Coraline. You are for me. Wherever you go, I will follow.” He pulls me in by the small of my back until our bodies connect. “You are my future. I found you again, and I’m not letting you go. Accept that you belong to me, or you can fight me every step of the way down the aisle at our wedding.”
I grin for the first time in six months. Everything is warm again.
“I’m sorry for leaving you. It was stupid. I regretted it. I’ve been wanting to tell you that since the day I left. In the car ride, on the plane, and when I got home. I?—”
He shuts me up with a fiery kiss. I sag in his arms, submitting myself to him.
“I needed it. You needed it. I had a lot of healing to do myself, baby.” He cups my head again. “I needed to let you go so I could heal from my demons and be a better man on my own. I need to be the best version of myself so I can be a good boyfriend, husband, and father. All for you.”
I sniffle, grasping onto the nape of his neck tighter.
“There was a lot of work to get done. Fuck, Coraline. I sold the cabin and got back on the bull. I thought it wasn’t possibleto be a cowboy again after I lost my leg, but it is. And…” he pauses as we lock eyes, “I’m going to do whatever it takes to be the man you deserve.”
Sometimes, being alone to weather the storm is what other people need to survive and come out of it stronger. It’s what we both needed. But now that I know without a single doubt this man is mine, I never want to survive any type of storm alone again. I want to do it with him and only him.Together.
“I love you.” I sob. “I’ve been wanting to say it since I left. I’m in love with you, Gavin Ariksen.”
He smiles. God, I love it when he smiles.
“You owe me a dance,” he says against my lips. God, I’ve missed the way his beard tickles me. I listen to the song playing in the background, and I recognize it right away. “You Look Like You Love Me” by Ella Langley and Riley Green plays through the speakers.
“What are you talking about?” I ask, dazed and hot. That sizzling feeling between my thighs ignites, remembering just how well he stretches me.
“I dared you to dance with me, and you ran,” he points out, the tip of his nose brushing against mine. Still with his eyes closed, a deep hum reverberates through his chest. It feels so good to have him in my arms again.
“So, Coraline. Will you dance with me?”
Another sting hits my eyes.
“Don’t you run away from me this time.”
“Or what?” I tease, a high-pitched sound escapes me when he pulls me in tighter.
“You run, and I’ll make it hurt when I get you. You’ll regret it when my cock is so far down your throat, no one can hear you scream for God when I’m so deep, making you mine in all the ways you crave.”
“Don’t tempt me.” I press my lips, stealing his taste again. Hemakes me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world when he looks at me like this.
“Let’s dance, sweetheart.” He grabs his cowboy hat and places it on top of my head. Blushing, I let him lead the way to the middle of the dance floor. My phone vibrates in my pocket when we stop. I pull it out to set it to “Do Not Disturb” when the text message has me smirking.
Everly:
