Page 130 of First Chance

“I’d come.”

“You’d sit in a packed event center for hours to watch mewalk across the stage for five seconds?” She giggles like it’s a ludicrous thought.

“I’d do a lot more than that for a glimpse of you.”

She tips her head up to look at me. “It’s when you say things like that… That’s what makes me want to stay,” she murmurs. “The way you touch me is a bonus.”

“Maybe I should keep my mouth shut then and just batter you with orgasms until your next big adventure.”

“I want to get the full experience of this one,” she whispers against my lips.

I hold her tenderly and kiss her deeply, pouring my heart into hers because I don’t have the words to do it properly.

Her lips elicit warmth in my blood, but the aching in my chest is heavier. I don’t want to give her up, I don’t want her to give the ring back.

I want every part of her while I can have her.

“Can I ask you for something selfish, darlin’?”

“Anything.”

“Stay with me until you leave. Sleep in my bed, in my arms. If my lap is available, don’t sit in any other seat.”

She smiles, “Only if you promise me something in return.”

“What’s that?”

“Call me darlin’ every day, multiple times a day, and don’t ever use it on another woman. I want it to be mine.”

“I can guarantee there will never be another.”

“Is it selfish of me to be so happy about that?”

“It’s never selfish as long as you’re happy.”

“I don’t know if it works that way.”

I shrug because she’ll never convince me otherwise. “What’s next? Your first stop once you pack your bags?”

Her face shifts, solemnly. “I don’t know. I used to think I’dstart driving and only stop when I found something to look at.”

“But?”

“But that seems like a lot of driving and not a very solid plan,” she laughs softly. “The closer I get to freedom, the more scared I am to do it alone. I’ve always done everything alone, but this seems different.”

“I just want you to be safe.”

“Maybe I’ll spend a week at the beach, get a nice tan, and plan my itinerary. There’s nothing the ocean can’t fix.”

“I wouldn’t know.”

“You’ve never been to the ocean? You live in a coastal state?”

“I’ve never really gone anywhere other than here and to prison.”

Her jaw slackens, and she stares at me until she’s convinced I’m not joking. “That’s crazy. No, what’s crazy is that I can’t steal you away from all of your duties and force you to come with me.”

A small smile tilts my lips at her thought. “Being taken by you would be a pleasure.”

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