Page 92 of My Rose

“I can’t believe you called the director. How do you even have their number?”

He smirked. “We’ve hosted a few Christmas parties there for VanAndrews.”

“Right…you’re not making any of this up, are you? This isn’t some joke?”

“Not a joke. All true. I take care of and protect what’s mine, and you said you love me, so I’m going to assume you agree to be mine.”

“I did say that, huh?” I let my fingers trace the lines of the rose on his chest. “What about you? You’re mine, too. Are people going to start followingyouaround?”

Briggs reached for my breasts, cupping them in his hands, his thumb making my nipples pebble under his touch. “No, baby, I think I can handle myself. It’s you who needs protection.”

“Apparently, I’ll need a lot more of it with how often you want to be inside me.” I gritted my teeth together, ignoring the way my body practically hummed in his hands as his lips grazed mine.

“A fight for another time.”

I rolled my eyes, a heady mix of annoyance cloaked by pleasure as my stomach began to clench under his artful hands. “You can’t expect me to hide from your father for…however long this lasts.”

He arched a brow, then leaned in and took my nipple into his mouth, biting it roughly between sweeps of his tongue and lips. By the time he stopped, I was nothing more than putty in his hands. “No, I don’t. I’m going to work something out. Because this”—He kissed my forehead—“this is forever, Rose baby. You and me—we’re forever.”

Chapter 33

Briggs

“Nothing is left of me each time I see her.” ? Catullus

“When you said you renovatedourroom, I wasn’t sure what to expect.” Rose strolled through our bedroom, which I’d had completely rebuilt and expanded to allow room for a larger walk-in closet and en-suite, and another room beneathit she had yet to find. That was going to be fun—both showing her and using it. “Why is it so bare?”

“I figured you’d want to put your own stamp on it. Make it ours.”

The redness in her cheeks hadn’t subsided since I told her everything—well, mostly everything. She didn’t know the extent of my family’s business and what I’d done to people before, but I already felt so much lighter than I had in years. I wasn’t going to push her any further today and unload everything on her all at once. If she ever asked or needed to know, I’d tell her then.

“My grandparents are going to think we moved too fast.”

I cocked my head. “Will they? Didn’t they get married after, what, five days of knowing each other?”

Her tongue pressed into her cheek as she eyed me down. “Yeah. I guess watching me includes knowing about them, too? Oh, and supplying them with cars. Yeah, I didn’t fall for that as easily as my grandparents did.” My smart girl forced a laugh and I bit my tongue from telling her I’d already bought her a car, too. I might have to wait to reveal that one to her. “What if I don’t want any of this?”

I leaned against the wall, running a hand through my hair. “You would have already told me if that were the case. And you haven’t.” Her silence prompted me to ask anyway. “Do younotwant this?”

“It’s a lot to process.” Her small frame sank into the blanket more as she took small steps around the room. “But for some reason, this feels…right. Like I was supposed to be here, with you, all along.” I loosed a breath as her fingers skimmed the simple comforter I selected as a placeholder, knowing we’d be sleeping in it before she could make it moreourstyle. I couldn’t wait to see exactly what thatwas, but I had a feeling I would love every bit of it as much as I did her.

“I’m going to go start a bath for you. I’m sure you’re sore.”

Rose laughed weakly and blushed harder. “And tired,” she added. “This bed looks comfy, though. When can we go get my clothes and things?”

I reached a hand back, cupping my neck. “I may have already called your grandfather. He’s expecting us there tonight for dinner.”

Her mouth fell open. “W-when did you call him?”

“This morning, before I made us breakfast.” Or what passed as breakfast. Thankfully, she hadn’t complained about the burnt food. I walked into the bathroom and started the bath I had every intention of joining her in. I even made sure the same citrus soap I used along with her coconut one was laid out on the edge of the garden tub.

“Why did you call him? What did you say?” Her voice carried over from the bedroom, or perhaps she was now in the closet, about to see the—“Holy shit, Briggs. Who bought all these clothes? Are these mine?”

I couldn’t hide the shit-eating grin on my face, not that she could see it from the depths of our shared closet. “I told him I wanted to meet him and invited him out to lunch, but he insisted that you and I go there together for dinner instead.” He was the one person I didn’t mind knowing where we were via their shared location, and where we were was nothing but a huge plot of land near a large lake. As for their safety—my father wouldn’t have an interest in hunting them down. Once he put two-and-two together about the mysterywoman in my bed—if he ever would—he’d only come for her or me since we now lived together.

“As for the closet, I wasn’t sure under what circumstances I’d be bringing you here, so I had Rhonda purchase anything you might need.” Though I kept where we were going a secret from everyone, Rhonda was aware that I was taking Rose somewhere for an unknown duration of time. Rhonda didn’t know when it was going to happen, and truthfully, neither did I. The house wasn’t ready yet. There was still a portion of the back that hadn’t finished its renovations, but I was just overcome with blind, blissful hope that Rose would decide to stay in the house I signed over to her after the night we shared—because she loved me.

She lovedme.

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