Page 136 of Swan

SWAN

ONE MONTH LATER

Naked, I straddled Drake’s waist, staring down at him with a smile. We’d been fooling around, but it hadn’t led into anything yet. There was something I wanted to know more, and I believed I’d waited long enough for this answer. I flicked some hair over my shoulder and said, “I think it’s time.”

He cocked a brow. “Time for what?”

“For you to tell me when you got this.” I traced my fingers over his swan tattoo.

He smirked. “Move in with me, and I’ll tell you.”

Stilling, I stared down at him, mouth agape.

He chuckled and tapped under my chin before brushing my hair over my shoulder and running his fingers down my neck, shoulder, and arm. He took my hand in his and kissed each finger. All while I just breathed hard and watched him.

Had he seriously just asked me to move in with him?

He wouldn’t play over something like that.

Oh my God, he’s being serious. He wasn’t laughing or smirking now. He was being real.

“You want me to live here?”

“With me, yeah, Birdy.”

“Really?” I rested my hands onto the bed beside his head.

He traced over my breasts before slipping up to cup my neck. “Been in love with you for years, my little birdy. And I know my love won’t change. You and me are forever, Swan. Want my woman to be under the same roof as me.”

Tears filled my gaze, and I sniffed. “You love me?”

He chuckled. “Yeah, babe. Got the tattoo when I was nineteen. When I walked into the club, saw you sitting and reading, and you suddenly took my breath away. I fell in love then, and I still am completely in fuckin’ love with you.”

“Nineteen?” I squeaked.

He grinned, his thumb running back and forth over my bottom lip. “Nineteen. I wasn’t a saint before that. But after the day you stole my heart and breath, I haven’t been with anyone.”

“But….” I groaned, sliding down his body to press my forehead to his chest and lying over him.

Drake tensed. “Birdy?”

“You were just going to wait for me?” I whispered the question.

He relaxed and trailed his fingers up and down my back. “Yeah. I was.” With a kiss to my hair, he added, “The only way I would have moved on was if you’d found someone else. If I saw you happy with another, I’d have been content.”

Oh my God. He wouldn’t have told me he loved me. He would have gone about his life with a swan tattoo and loving me the way he did, but while I was with someone else.

“I know Lockland will always have your heart. So I can only hope to live alongside him in there, too, one day. I’d never want you to forget him or what he gave you.”

“Drake,” I uttered, blood rushing through me as my heart skipped a beat.

Yes, I loved Lockland. I always would. But Drake Marcus consumed me in ways I’d never felt before.

I wanted to be with him forever.

“I-I…. Your words are beautiful. I just have a question first.” And I don’t even know why I’m asking it now, but he needs to be certain. “Are you sure you can handle living with me? I’ve never lived with anyone but my parents before.”

He snorted. “I can definitely handle you, Birdy.”

---