Page 112 of All Tied Down

If I can taste her.

If I can be with her ever again.

“Which one did you break?” I manage, the words a whisper because I don’t trust my voice not to crack.

“I fell in love with you, Garrett North.” She says it like she’s looking at the weather forecast, completely nonchalant like I’m not reeling from that fucking admission. “Wildly unexpected and a little inconvenient, I might add…”

“Thanks,” I say with a wry grin.

“But I realized after you left that being tied down isn’t all that bad.”

“Em.” Impatience creeps into my tone.

“I’m still pissed, Garrett. I’m pissed that you blindsided me—that you made me feel like I had to perform on your timeline.” Vulnerability fills her eyes. “That wasn’t fair to me.”

“You’re right,” I admit, “and I’m sorry.”

“Thank you.”

“And thank you for coming back to me.”

“I was scared. But I was more scared of losing you.”

“Em.”

“Marry me, Garrett. Again. We can do it here, but my dad really wanted to walk me down the aisle, and call me crazy but I think I want to wear a dress and⁠—”

I don’t let her finish, my mouth crashing over hers in a bruising kiss, her moan allowing me to push my tongue between her lips as I let the relief flood through my veins.

“Say it again.”

“Marry me.”

“Yes.”

She pulls back enough to open her hand, my wedding band resting in the center. Sliding it onto my ring finger, she grins. “I love you.”

“I love that you’re annoyed by that.”

“Seriously inconvenient,” she confirms. “I had everything all planned out and you had to ruin it with your devilishly handsome face, charming disposition, and ability to deliver award-winning orgasms.”

“And the song.”

“And the song.” Diving her fingers through my hair, she tugs at the strands and forces my head back as she presses her chest more firmly against mine. “I thought we could put a studio in my apartment in Chicago, and you could come stay with me. Split our time. Make a schedule.”

“And what if I go on tour?” I muse as she nips the underside of my jaw and rolls her hips against mine. Fuck, I missed her. “Will you come with me?”

“I think we can figure it out—I’ll just have to give Des another raise.”

“Fine. I’m just really fucking glad you’re home.”

“Is that right?”

“Yeah, and I think it would be romantic to make love to my wife considering she’s still my wife and she loves me…”

“But?” she murmurs, sucking at the sensitive skin behind my ear as her hands find their way under my shirt.

“But my wife would rather be fucked hard and dirty, so the rest will have to wait.”