Page 101 of Crave

“I don’t have a ring yet, and—”

“I don’t need a ring. I just need you.”

“That’s good to know, but we’re going to do this the right way. And you won’t see it coming when I propose. If we went to city hall on Monday, I’m pretty sure your mother would kill me. Hell, my mother would kill me, and I have her wrapped around my little finger.”

She sighs and rests her head on my shoulder again. I wrap my arms around her waist as I rub her back.

“Sandy, we can’t control what others think of our relationship, and I don’t care what people think. The people who matter to us accept us, and that’s all that matters. I don’t give a flying fig what anyone else thinks. This is our relationship. And that means you tell me when things are bothering you. You held on to this all week when all you had to do was talk to me. I’m not a mind reader, baby.”

She hides her face in my shoulder, and I feel her body start to shake. Once again, I let her cry it out while I rub soothing circles on her back. I wait for her to speak, but I let her know that I’m here by pressing kisses on her forehead.

“I got it in my head that you’d realize being in this relationship is too much, and you’d end things. I couldn’t deal with it. I couldn’t deal with the thought of you leaving because I’m not worth it.” She says all of this with her face buried in my sleeve. She sniffs again, her face still hidden. “God, I sound pathetic. This isn’t me.”

She’s right. Since the first day I met her, Dee’s been strong, decisive, and independent. Hell, she made me chase her for weeks.

I pull away and grab her face with both hands. “Hey, you’re not pathetic. You’re the strongest woman I know, but it’s okay to fall apart. Just know I’ll be here to catch you. And I’m not going anywhere. I already told you I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“But I didn’t know that then.” She rubs her nose on my shirt. “Are you sure? We’ve only been together a few months.”

“I know. How long we’ve been together is moot. I’ve always known.” I scoop her into my arms and walk towards her stairs. “Let’s go to bed. I’ve probably slept less than four hours since I saw you last. You don’t look like you’ve fared much better than me.”

When I take her to her room, she insists on showering first. I help strip her out of the hideous gray sweats that cover her sexy, toned body. After helping her in the tub, I call my father with an update on the Montgomery situation.

His irritation with me for coming home early is forgotten when I tell him that Mr. Montgomery will be releasing his financial statement. He ends the call, informing me that he won’t be back in the office until Tuesday since he’s in Vermont with my mother.

My stomach growls, reminding me that I haven’t eaten since yesterday afternoon, and I’m relieved to see that Sandy’s fridge is fully stocked as I pull out ingredients to make breakfast. After sticking bacon in the oven, I chop and sauté veggies.

“Smells good,” she says, walking into the kitchen as I’m whipping the eggs.

“You sure do.” I sniff her neck as I lay a loud, wet kiss on her skin. “I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.” She ignores me and sets the table. She’s wearing that same black and pink sleep set she wore after our date at Cheesecake Factory. When she gets on her tippy toes to grab glasses, her tank top rides up, revealing her flat stomach. Her nipples are hard and taunt me from underneath the flimsy material of the camisole. The shorts are so short, they barely cover her ass, eliciting a groan out of me. It doesn’t help that she’s styled her hair in two French braids, giving her a naughty schoolgirl look.

“You want me to help?” She comes over to my side and wraps her arms around me.

“I want you to sit. I’m going to feed you, and then we’re going to take a nap.”

“And after our nap?” She lays her hand on my crotch and cups my hardening dick.

I wiggle my eyebrows at her and point to a nearby chair, but she doesn’t move. She continues to hold onto me.

“I missed you so much,” she mutters. “And I’m so sorry. All I could think about was what I was feeling. I was so selfish for not considering how this would affect you and your trip. You’ve always put me first, and I didn’t do that with you. I failed you.”

I put the bowl down and look down at her face, eyes filled with unshed tears.

“You don’t have a selfish bone in your body. You had shit thrown at you, and you’re human. I only ask that you talk to me if something’s bothering you. Not only do you come first, I’ll always choose you over anything and anyone. Okay?”

“Okay,” she says into my chest, kissing my sternum.

“You love me,” I say, tilting her chin so she can look at me.

“More than I love that bacon you’re cooking. You love me,” she says to me.

“More than I love opening day at Fenway Park.”

She squeezes me tighter. Instead of sitting down, she remains next to me, arms wrapped possessively around me as I cook our breakfast.

CHAPTER 34

SANDY

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