Page 100 of Wild Hearts

"That's where she grew up. That's understandable."

"I talked to her about what she wanted to do and where she wanted to live."

My shoulders tensed. Here was what I'd been waiting for. The gentle let down.It wouldn't make sense for me to ask you to go with me. I like you, but it's not enough. You're not enough.

"She likes her life in Colorado."

I couldn't take it anymore. My heart was racing and my fingers twitching from nerves. "But she prefers Virginia. That's where she grew up. It makes sense. You want to do the best thing for her as her father."

His forehead creased. "That wasn't what I was going to say."

I tipped my head to the side. "No?"

"Not even close. I was eager to get home to you because I wanted to tell you that our life is here in Colorado. My family is here, and Dakota likes it here. Plus, you're here. I want to build a life here with you."

"I don't understand. I thought Dakota would want to move back to Virginia. That you'd want to do what was best for her."

"The trip was good for both of us. We got to see how it would be if we moved there, and neither of us liked being away from you or my family. Our life is here with you."

I couldn't believe he was saying everything I wanted to hear. "I was willing to move to Virginia if that's what you wanted. I don't want you to regret staying here."

"If at some point we want to do that, then we'll discuss it together. I want you to be part of our decisions going forward and part of our lives. Holidays. Celebrations. Nothing is as good if you're not there."

I climbed into his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck. "I need a shower."

"Just so happens, I could use one too." He stood, easily lifting me as I wrapped my legs around his hips. He carried me to my bathroom while we kissed, setting my feet down on the tiled floor. He turned on the water in the shower, then returned to me, where he lifted my tank top over my head, and I pushed down my shorts.

"I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," I said as I pushed his shirt up his torso. His skin was warm to the touch.

"I've been thinking about this all day."

"Where's Dakota?"

"She's hanging out with Joey at Oliver and Carolina's house. I dropped her off on the way. She wanted to give us time to reconnect and for me to ask you to be a part of our life."

I frowned. "Did you ask? It sounded like more of a request."

He took off his clothes and pulled me into the stream of warm water. "Addison Montgomery, will you spend your life with me and Dakota?"

It wasn't a proposal of marriage. It was him including me in his life in the way I'd always dreamed of. It left no question as to where I stood. "I'd love that."

I hooked my wrists around his neck and pressed my body against his. His thigh slipped between mine, and he kissed me. It felt like I was finally free. There were no more worries about whether he was going to pick me in the end, because he had. And I had no doubt he'd spend the rest of his life proving that to me.

He lifted me so that my back was pressed against the cool tiles and entered me in one stroke. It felt like a claiming, a declaration that I was his, that I'd always be his. Each pass of his dick only strung me tighter, and when I finally exploded in his arms, I knew I was safe with him. That I belonged.

He carefully soaped my skin, and then my hair, before rinsing me off, and handing me a fluffy towel.

In my bedroom, we got into bed, still naked. "Do you have to go home to Dakota?"

"She's babysitting Joey tonight so Oliver and Carolina can go out. I don't have to pick her up until eleven, and she's already said she could stay overnight. She usually can't stay up that late."

"Are you saying we have the night to ourselves?" We'd never spent time like this in my house. I liked it, but I preferred his cabin.

"All night if you want it."

"Oh, I want it." My fingers played with his hair.

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