Page 160 of Wildest Dreams

“I’m normal sized,” I whisper back. “You’re just a man mountain.”

“Yeah,” he murmurs, still smiling as he kisses me again.

One of his hands roams down my back until he’s gripping my behind, and he gives it a rough knead with his palm before swatting it with a firm spank.

“You sure that you’re okay staying here for a few days, before we head back to Larch Peak?” he asks quietly.

He turns us around so that he can sit at the edge of the bed. Then he splays his large quads, the denim of his jeans pulling tight, and he pulls me between his legs so that he can look up at me from under those long dark lashes.

I nod down at him, stroking my fingers through his hair, then down his stubble. He closes his eyes momentarily, practically growling at my touch, and his fingers grip harder into my behind as he shifts his quads wider.

“I don’t have to stay,” I offer quietly, “if you’d prefer to have some real family time with your dad and your brother while they’re home.”

Tanner’s beautiful eyes flash up to mine, bright and burning as he massages his palms over my hips.

“Why would I not want you here?” he asks, his voice painfully deep. “Having you here is what made today perfect. Getting to spend my time with all of the people who I love the most.” He pulls me closer by my hips. “Most of all, you.”

My eyes blink wide, my breathing stuttering in my throat.

Because when I think back to what he just said, I realise that Tanner said the L-word.

“What?” he asks gruffly. “What’s that scared little expression for?”

I press a palm against my burning cheeks and his mouth tilts up into a lazy grin.

“You serious?” he asks incredulously. “You seriously didn’t know how I feel about you?”

“Tanner,” I breathe, “you don’t have to say what you just said–”

He stands to his feet, making me stumble back a step until he catches me. He crushes my chest against his, breathing heavily as I swallow and look up at him.

“I’m gonna say it, Aisling. So I’m going to give you a second to prepare yourself first.”

I shake my head. “It’s too soon, right? Surely it’s too soon.”

“Baby, I’ve been feeling these feelings for you for four goddamn years. It’s not too soon. It’s coming four years too late.”

My heart squeezes in my chest and, sensing my emotions, Tanner holds me tighter.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he rumbles, stroking his palm around the nape of my neck. “We could’ve made four babies in the time that I’ve been head over heels for you, Aisling. Eight, given your genetics.”

A happy laugh bubbles out of me, quickly followed by alarm –eight babies?– but Tanner’s handsome grin brings me back to the present. To where I’m standing in his cosy childhood bedroom, a soft bed behind him, low beams that he has to duckunder overhead. A cheer flyer from Carter U currently hiding at the side of his desk, even though I have no doubt that he’ll retrieve it later tonight when I’m not looking.

To his warm hands holding me firmly, his heart pumping steadily over mine.

“You ready for me to say it?” he asks roughly.

“No,” I whimper.

He breathes out a laugh, those perfect creases pulling taut in his cheeks.

“Can’t hold it in any longer, baby.”

I bury my face in his neck but he gently tugs my hair, pulling me back so that I can look up at him as he says it.

“I love you, Aisling. I love you so goddamn much.”

I jump up onto my tip-toes, making him laugh quietly as I yank him down by his stupid sexy long-sleeved shirt.

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