Page 56 of Always Been Yours

I may not have earned back the right to lay claim on Vivi, but my feet are already moving and there’s no stopping the possessive monster from coming out of his cave now.

“Are you ready to go, love?” I ask in a sharper tone that I intended.

I’ve never called Vivi love. I’ve never called anyonelove.

Butlove… I like how that sounds for her.

A lot of things happen all at once, and if I didn’t know her better, I might have missed something.

Her eyes slightly widen, and she swallows.Relief.

She quirks her eyebrow and slightly tilts her head.Curiosity.

Her cheeks flush and she bites her bottom lip.Desire.

She gives me a small nod and takes a step closer.

Harper puts his hand in front of her and my eyes drop to where it is before meeting his hard gaze. “We were talking, Miller.”

“I didn’t hear anything but from the looks of it, Vivi’s ready to leave, and you need to let her.”

“She’s a big girl. If she wanted to leave, she could tell me.”

Vivi clears her throat and looks him in the eye. “I’ve told you multiple times, while I was flattered, I have no interest in going on a date with you and that hasn’t changed since you asked me a few weeks ago. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to leave withMillernow.”

That’s my girl.

And there’s no more denying that Vivi is mine. She’s belonged to me since that first block party when she found me sitting alone.

And more importantly, I want to belong to her.

I don’t try very hard to hide my smugness as I place my hand on the small of her back and lead her toward the exit.

“We aren’t done cleaning,” Vivi leans toward me and whispers.

I look around until I make eye contact with Knox, and he grinsbefore giving me a quick nod.

“No, they can handle it. I want to get you home.”

A full body shiver rolls through her, the typical response when my voice drops a few octaves I’ve noticed.

I’m not expecting anything from her, and the girls are expecting me home tonight. I also have no plans of rushing things with Vivi. I don’t want one night together. I want her, all of her. Every morning and night. All of her thoughts and pleasures. Mine.

Neither of us brought a coat and while California has pretty nice weather year-round, it has been raining more this year causing the chill to creep in early.

At least that’s the excuse I tell myself when I pull her a little bit closer to me, tucking her under my arm.

The possessive beast in my chest hums in satisfaction when she willingly snuggles in closer and reaches around my back to hook her finger through my belt loop. It’s a small gesture I maybe wouldn’t have noticed from anyone but it’s such a natural, intimate gesture from her.

“Thanks for saving me back there.”

“Mmm, you’re welcome,” I mumble into the top of her head, laying a small kiss on the crown. I used to place kisses on her head a lot growing up, but this is the first in years.“I hate that I have to save you from him, but I always will.”

“Did you have fun at your first High Tides mandated event?” Her voice is lighter than it was earlier.

“I had a really good time. Thanks to you, Viv.” I give her waist a little squeeze before releasing her. I open the door and help her inside, leaning across her to buckle the seat belt. As I’m leaning back, I stop just an inch from her lips. “It was long overdue, and that was my fault, but I’m here to make up for a lot of lost time.”

“What else?” she asks, a little breathless.

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