Page 106 of Ride the Sky

I smother a smile as she doesn’t quite extricate herself from my hold.

When she settles back against my chest, I let out a breath. Sheer instinct with this woman. To pull her into my arms and keep her there. I caress a hand over the soft curve of her ass. “I want to talk to you. About last night.”

She sighs. “Wy, I just said,no regrets.”

“Not about that. About what I said back then.” I’m still not over it. Still fucking pissed as hell at myself for what I said. That I hurt her.

She eyes me warily.

“I mean it, Fallon, I gotta do something else to make it right, you tell me.” I don’t let her out of my gaze. I need her to believe me that I never meant it; but also that I’m sorry. That I will crawl over broken glass if it makes her happy. That I will take away all her doubts about us. That she can trust me with her heart and body and soul.

“I will.” She palms my cheek, her fingers warm against my skin. “I didn’t know—”

“Know what?”

She frowns, working through her brick-wall emotions, then says, “How much it meant. You apologizing. That you don’t believe that about me. At least not anymore.”

I squeeze her tighter. “Never.”

She pulls back to look at me. “We’re good. I promise.”

I believe her.

“Thank Christ,” I growl, gripping the back of her neck and angling her pouty lips to mine. A bolt of relief slices through me when she returns the kiss. Wet and warm. Sweet and soft. She whimpers as she loops her slender arms around my neck.

She still wants this. Thank fuck.

When we come up for air, a rosy flush tinges Fallon’s cheeks pink.

“One more thing,” I tell her.

She squirms, rebellion in her eyes. Intending to avoid this. Avoid us. “What?”

“Don’t shut me out.” No more distance between us. Not after last night.

“Okay.” She bites her lower lip. “I’ll try.”

It’s not a promise, but I’ll take it.

With that, I stand, setting Fallon down gently on the floor.

“I want you to take it easy today.” I yank on jeans while Fallon pulls on a blue silk robe.

“Whatever,” she says, sounding disgruntled.

The dangerous narrowing of her eyes tells me she’s not ready to be bossed around. At least not anymore.

I pick up a T-shirt, smell it, then shove my head through it. “I gotta do laundry.”

She shrugs one shoulder, face impassive. “I can toss a load in today, if you want.”

It’s domestic as fuck, but hell, I’m living for this.

Marriage. This is what it could be. Me and Fallon. A couple. Coming home to each other then fucking each other into oblivion every damn night. That’s what life’s all about, ain’t it? Strong whiskey and lovin’ a good woman?

Suddenly, it’s all I want in the world.

Fallon’s phone pings. She limps back to the nightstand and checks it. I don’t miss the slight furrow of her brow. She’s worried.

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