Page 89 of Tango

“Promise me that if life here at Shadows gets to be too much, you’ll tell me.”

“I promise.”

“I mean it.” He brushed my wet hair back off my slick shoulder. “I’ve given more than enough of myself to my job, and you are what comes first now. I can’t go through what Keith did.” He swallowed hard, and I saw fear written all over his face.

“Hey,” I slid my hands up his chest and then through his hair, “I don’t want to end up like Lexi either. Luckily for you, I’m annoyingly in tune with myself.” I smiled. I had to get him to see I was different than Lexi. “You have my word if I’m ever feeling unhappy, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Okay.” He took a deep breath.

“Look at me, Ty.” I waited until I knew he listened. “I’m like Sloane, not Lexi. She and I made a choice to be here, and like her, I want to stay here. You men aren’t the only ones who love this mountain. I feel at peace here, too.”

“Good.” He slipped between my legs and entered me with such ease I knew I was made for him. “Because I want you here with me. I never want to let you go.”

“No, you’re not.” I held up my hand and wiggled the ring. His eyes became hooded as he moved inside me. I lunged toward him and caught his mouth with mine and tried to take over the kiss, but classic Ty, he took over and I willingly gave in.

He dragged in a breath, stealing mine, then moaned as he started to move inside me. Painfully slowly, like he was savoring every moment of it.

I leaned my head back and concentrated on every spot he touched. The pleasure built in my stomach and spread to my chest, the warmth building hotter by the minute. I’d thought I was happy before, but this—my lips broke into a delirious smile as he dragged a hand up my side and cupped my breast—this was a whole new level of pure joy.

“I can’t believe you’re gonna be my wife,” he whispered as he hiked my leg over his hip and inched his fingers down the back of my thigh. “You’ll be mine to do this with for the rest of my life.”

I sighed, as I could barely form a thought.

“Mine, to possess and devour.” He grabbed my other leg and lifted me up the wall then wrapped both legs tight around him and held both my butt cheeks in his hands. He moved in a slow rhythm in and out. My breathing hitched as he increased the rhythm. “Make that noise again.” He chuckled as he kissed my breasts. I felt weightless in his hands.

“Mmhm, yours,” I murmured again as I grasped a handful of his hair and tugged, “all yours, Ty.”

“That’s right.” He increased the pace even more as he continued to talk in my ear. He promised to love me forever, and he talked of all the things he wanted to do for me. His breath in my ear felt so erotic as I tried to concentrate on the words along with the physical sensations he created inside me.

He didn’t need to promise me anything. I loved this man with every part of me, and he loved me back, and that was all I could ever ask for. Well, that and…a rush shot through me, and I screamed, not caring who could hear me. My toes curled, my stomach seized, and my arms locked around his neck while I rode out one hell of an orgasm. I clawed at his back, wanting everything he could offer, then finally I sagged into him with a satisfied moan. My heart pounded against his, as he fought to hold off his own release. I loved that he made sure I was fully satisfied before he’d take his own.

He pushed me farther up the wall as his muscles flexed like steel. Every vein stood out on his face, chest, and arms. Then he buried his face in my neck and grunted as his fingers flexed against my back, pressing into me with such force, I hoped the shower wall wouldn’t give. Finally, he took a deep breath then shook. The shakes came like aftershocks from a volcano as he found his release.

My heart burst with pure happiness to have had such an intimate act with someone I loved. Especially with someone who had professed his love for me the whole time and I knew it to be true.

“I never want to leave this moment,” he panted as he looked up at me. “I want to stay suspended in time right here, right now.”

“Well, that would be nice. But I was thinking…You up for round two?” I barely had the last word out when he threw open the shower door and tossed me onto the bed.

* * *

The next morning, we all gathered back at Zack’s for a beautiful buffet breakfast. I flipped the ring around and attempted to hide it for as long as I could. Which turned out to be five seconds with Savi’s radar.

“Did he?” I nodded as she grabbed my hand. “Oh, my God, let me see,” she half screamed. I flipped the ring around, and she squealed.

“Good night last night, Ivy?” Mark winked and held up his room key. I saw he was indeed our neighbor at the Redstone lodge.

“Not complaining.” I glared at him.

“No, I’d say you were agreeing.” He jumped out of the way when I went to swat him.

“Abby!” Savi called to her.

“Marcus!” Abby answered in her best parent voice as she held up a finger toward Mark.

“Not cool, Sav.” Mark frowned and whisked away as Mia circled in to see what the fuss was about.

Smart man.

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