Page 130 of Wild Card

He walks back in, ripping his shirt over his head and throwing it to the side.

My mouth goes dry at the sight I’ll never get tired of. I scan over his sculpted frame, my fingers twitching to run over every inch of skin.

He stops in front of me, my hands reflexively going to his chest.

The intensity in his eyes does nothing to help the electricity buzzing through my system.

“Wolf?”

“He’s settled in the living room with Mack.”

“He’s probably looking for me.”

“He’s passed out.”

“Doubtful, you know how he likes to sleep near me.”

“We took the dogs on a run this afternoon. They’re both wiped.”

“Oh.”

“You nervous, baby?”

“I-I-I—” the damn stutter! I swallow the dryness in my throat and try again. “I’m… no.”

“You sure?”

“I’m worried about Bex.” Even to my ears, it sounds weak.

“Bex’s revelation wasn’t mega-insightful. Everyone who comes into contact with those couples knows it’s more than adoration and love. It’s an obsession that lives inside. Never read a romance novel so I’ll have to take her word for it. Ace didn’t use any underhanded methods to get Jay out of that job. He’s been telling her for months he wanted her to quit. He took matters into his own hands.”

“That’s oddly beautiful.”

“Nothing odd about it. Now that we settled that, anything else you want to jabber on about to cover up the fact you’re freaking out?”

“I’m not freaking.” My damn squeak gives me away.

“Fucking cute when you’re ruffled.”

“I’m—” He shuts me up by taking my face in his hands. I’m instantly captivated by the same breathtaking swirl of colors in his eyes from earlier.

“Gorgeous, smart, kind, so goddammed perfect I wonder what I did to deserve you.”

“I’m not perfect.”

“You’re perfect to me. I’ve been in some shitty fucking situations in my life. Walked away from missions knowing luck was on my side.”

My eyes and nose sting and his face becomes fuzzy.

“I love you, Willow. Never thought it could happen, counted my blessings for the life I have. Turns out that luck wasn’t done. It brought you to me.”

His thumb catches the tears that fall as my vision clears. I suck in a shaky breath, knowing everything in my world has changed. “I love you, too. I fought against the feelings because I knew from our first kiss you could wreck me. Somewhere along the way, you obliterated all those fears.”

My heart booms in my chest, my hands tremble against his skin, and my knees threaten to give out. Nothing I felt in my past compares to what is happening right now. “I know without a shadow of a doubt, you are the only man I’ve ever loved.”

His eyes flash with understanding before heating. He backs us up until my legs hit the bed. As much as I want the promise of what’s to come, I can’t stop the words from pouring out.

“You’re much more than a unicorn among men. You say luck wasn’t done, and you’re right. Because as wonderful as my life has been, having you is a million times better. As much as I hate you were hurt, that was what brought you into the clinic that day.”