Page 96 of Wild Card

I didn’t talk while I lay there, stroking her skin, knowing we both needed to clean up, but I just couldn’t stop touching her.

“I can’t lose you,” I softly confessed to her.

My insides felt shaky as I wrapped my arm over her and tugged her closer. All I wanted was to stay here with her, forget about both our futures, and pretend tomorrow didn’t exist.

Her fingers ran through my hair, past my ears and down my neck. It felt so good I almost groaned.

“So, you’re living at home…but not inside?”

“My compromise.” I laughed lightly, knowing the look on her face without seeing it. She’d have that dark brow arched toward her hairline, a light smile playing on her face. “You came here with a driver,” I threw back at her.

“I did.”

It was my turn to quirk a brow. “What does that mean?”

She smiled, playing with my hair. “Check for yourself.”

I inched over the mattress a bit to peek through the blinds.

Two suitcases, a few boxes, and three small bags sat on the porch, but the town car was gone.

I spun my head to look at her. My heart might as well have jumped into my throat. My tongue felt too big for my mouth. Was she staying?

“What does this mean?”

“I asked him to wait until we were out of sight before he emptied the trunk…and I told him I would be staying here for the foreseeable future.”

“You’re staying?” I asked as though I couldn’t quite process what she had just told me.

She blinked and slowly sat up, resting on her elbows.

“I was supposed to meet Jeff tonight for dinner, but…”

“But?” I rested on my elbow, trailing my finger over her thigh. I had to keep touching her. She had to choose me.

“I’m here, and I don’t want to leave…but I promised my father I’d help him by taking over the New York office.” She winced, pushing some of the hair out of her face with her free hand.

I wanted to push her back into the bed and have her ride me while I explained why here was exactly where she should stay.

“Did you sign a contract to marry him?”

She shook her head. “Not yet. We were going to start signing everything tonight. But, Decker…New York is happening. If I don’t take it, Taylor will step in…and I won’t let her do that.”

This couldn’t just be chance. This was fucking fate, and it was my shot to keep her.

“If you have to go to New York…then take me with you. If you have to marry someone then…marry me. Be with me. Start your life with me.”

I didn’t look up for a few seconds. I was obviously still batting down those insecurities that she’d leave me.

She shook her head slowly, rubbing my thumb with hers.

“I’m yours, but we don’t have to get married, at least not until you’re ready…or you know, we’ve lived a little. And who knows…” She shrugged, keeping her hand on mine. “Maybe it doesn’t even need to be permanent. Maybe we can help my dad find a replacement.”

“I just want to be where you are.” I smiled.

“On one condition.” She suddenly twisted her lips to the side.

I searched her face, waiting for her to say we had to stop having sex or something else equally horrible.

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