Page 25 of Midnight Player

Jake held her. He was touching her again. And in his eyes was a love and devotion so powerful, she felt it down to her core.

He loved her.

“Is this real?” she babbled. “It can’t be real. I’m dreaming, right? Delirious after hitting my deadline.”

“Look at me, love. I readMidnight Player. And I’m the best you ever had. Really?”

At a time like this, that was the part he focused on. “Yes. It’s true. Every word.”

“I want to hear you say it.”

“First, I need to say I’m sorry. I was scared. And I know you’ll help me and eventually I’ll grow accustomed to the media circus. But I also need you to know that I love you, Jake. I love you so much, and I never should have let you leave that way. Please forgive me.”

“Sugar, there’s nothing to forgive. Unless you tell me you want me to leave.”

She shut the door with one hand, never taking her eyes off him, afraid he might disappear. “I don’t want you to leave. Ever. And I know with you in Philadelphia, it might be tricky. But as long as I have my laptop and Wi-Fi, I can work from anywhere in the world. I could travel with the team. I could?—”

He sealed his lips over hers for a kiss that burned down to her toes. And she knew in that moment they would make it. They were too in love with each other not to make this relationship work. They’d experienced life without the other. And she had hated every moment spent apart.

When he lifted his mouth, a smile broke out on his face. “I was actually going to ask you if you don’t mind me bunking with you.”

“But what about the team? Your home in Philadelphia?”

“That’s why it took me so long. You see, I just inked a three-year deal with the Denver Bucks.”

He did what? “Wait? You’re going to live here? In Denver?”

“I was hoping I’d be living with you.” He brushed her hair from her face and stared with a lopsided grin.

She burst into tears at the cacophony of joy flowing through her. “Please tell me this isn’t a dream. That I’m not in bed having the most fabulous dream of my life. That I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone.”

He pressed her back against the door, letting her feel every inch of him. “Does this feel like you’re dreaming?”

“No,” she whispered. He was hard and ready. And she ached, needing him inside her in the worst way.

“And it’s okay if you’re not ready for us to live together yet. If I need to, I can find a place to rent for a few months until you are ready.”

She touched his jaw in wonder. “No, your place is here—with me.”

His smile lit up every dark corner of her soul and mended all her broken pieces. “Good. I’m glad you said that. The moving truck should be here tomorrow.”

She gasped. “What? You already made plans to move in all your stuff?”

“Sugar, after reading our love story, I’ve never been surer of anything in my life. And I don’t want to spend another second without you. I want to go to bed each night by your side and wake every morning with you in my arms. It’s you and me, forever.”

Willa didn’t know what she had done to get so lucky. But she was never letting him go again. With her heart in her throat, she nodded. “Jake, I—yes, to all of it. Just don’t ever let me go.”

“Never,” he swore. Then kissed her again, and within his kiss was the promise of all their sweet tomorrows. And she couldn’t believe her good fortune that this reformed player wanted to be hers forever. Not a day would pass without her telling him how much she loved him. She would never take him or his love for granted.

“Now, about that club you mentioned in our book. Think I could get an invite?” he asked when they came up for air.

“I’ll make sure of it as long as you take me to bed right now.”

“Making demands already?” he teased and wiggled his brows.

“Yes, but only because I don’t want to go another second without you in my arms.”

“Likewise, love.” Jake gallantly swept her up into his arms. Then he carried her upstairs to the bedroom to ravish her.

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