Page 91 of Until It Was Real

“Since my asshole brothers managed to sneak Viking into my house, I’m losing the prank war,” I mutter.

“And your punishment is visiting the Smuggler’s Grotto.”

“My punishment is spending the night in the grotto,” I correct.

Her eyes widen. “We’re going to spend the night in a haunted grotto?”

“Yes?” I hold my breath as I wait for her response. Most women don’t want to spend the night sleeping in a sleeping bag on the floor of a damp and dreary cave.

She shivers. Damnit. She’s scared. What am I doing? Dragging her into this prank war with my brothers? I should have left her alone for her night off. But she gets so few nights off. I didn’t want to miss one with her.

“Okay.” She blows out a breath. “I can’t lie and say I’m excited to spend the night in a grotto, but I trust you.”

Warmth fills my stomach. Dakota trusts me. I know how hard it is for her to trust after what her asshole dead husband did to her. But she trusts me.

Dakota is not like other women. She’s unique. She’s the woman I want to spend my life with.

Whoa. Where did that thought come from? I never planned to spend my life with a woman. Because I didn’t think I could trust one. I never thought I could trust a woman enough to want to spend my life with her.

But I trust Dakota. She’s poured her heart out to me. She’s the strongest woman I know.

And she trusts me. A feeling of contentment settles over me. As if all the pieces of a puzzle are falling into place.

“Wait until you find out about the lover’s curse,” I say as I park my SUV at the parking lot for a small beach on the Southern side of the island.

I exit the vehicle and walk around the front to Dakota’s door. She’s already out and gathering the camping equipment. I snatch one sleeping bag, the cooler, and the lantern from her hands.

“You can carry one sleeping bag.”

She rolls her eyes. “Mr. Control strikes again.”

I press a hard kiss to her lips. “You enjoy it when I’m in control.”

Her eyes flare, but she plants a hand on her hip. “Not all the time,” she sasses.

“I guess I need to work harder then.”

She bites her bottom lip and I groan. “Do not get me hard.”

She bats her eyelashes. “Why not? Don’t you want me?”

“Minx,” I groan. “I want you. I always want you. I’m going to be old and grey and unable to get a hard-on and want you.”

She giggles. “How can you want me if you can’t get a hard-on?”

“It’s called a little blue pill.”

“Do you need a little blue pill now?”

I glare down at her. “I’ll show you I don’t need a little blue pill.”

“Yea!”

“But not tonight.”

She curls her bottom lip in a pout. “But it’s my night off.”

“It’s also the night of my punishment for losing in the prank war.” I nod toward the beach. “Follow me.”

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