Page 125 of Outlaw Heartstrings
“I feel amazing,” I declare with a giggle.
Easton exhales, a weight seeming to roll off his shoulders. “That’s good.” He kisses me softly. His voice lowers. “You have no idea how fucking honored I am to be the only man who’s been inside you.”
His words get me hot and bothered in an instant. “I like the idea that you’re the only man who’s had me,” I confess shyly. “Is it terrible that I wish we had done this nine years ago?”
I cringe, almost wishing I hadn’t spoken the question out loud. After all, if Easton and I had hooked up back in high school, Jagger probably wouldn’t be here now. And I can’t imagine life without that magical little boy.
Easton quietly contemplates my question for a moment. “Don’t get me wrong, a part of me always wished I’d made you mine from the start. But I was barely eighteen. I know I wouldn’t have been all that great in the sheets back then.”He turns up his nose.
I laugh, letting my arms tighten around his middle.
“For nine years I’ve been wishing I’d claimed you when I had the chance. This is even better than all my fantasies.”
“It is?” I feel a soft smile on my lips as I utter the words.
“Infinitely better.” He smiles back.
With an unhurried movement, he scoots over, grabbing something off the floor beside the bed.
“What is that?” I ask. I shamelessly crane my neck to get a look. “A present? For me?”
“Sheesh, woman. Nosy much?” He holds the small pink gift bag over his head, out of my reach.
I gape, resisting the urge to hop up and swipe it out of his hand. “Wait—what’s the special occasion?”
“Waking up with you next to me is the special occasion.” He flashes a devastating grin and those dimples nearly make me fall out of the bed.
“Easton…” I breathe out. Every time I think he can’t be any sweeter to me, he goes and tops himself.
He sets the bag in my hand and I sit up, enthusiastically digging through the shimmery tissue paper.
I fish out a small but expensive-looking black leather case. It has my initials engraved across the front and pretty gold accents clasped at the four corners.
“What is this…?” I ask, a smile already tilting the edges of my lips.
“Open it and see…” he prods me.
I do as he says, eagerly lifting the flap. I blink in confusion at what’s inside.
I slide a sturdy white slip of paper from the case and inspect it carefully. “B-business cards?” I ask, a wave of bubbles rushing into my stomach as I read the words,Alba Anderson, Realtor.
I’m almost afraid to speak the words out loud. I’m terrified to jinx myself.
My gaze snaps over to his. “Easton, I just re-took the test a few days ago. I haven’t gotten my results yet.”
“You’ll pass,” he says confidently.
“And what if I don’t?” My voice trembles, weighed down by the shame of my past disappointments.
He shrugs. “If you don’t, you’ll keep going until you get it,” he says firmly. “I know you want this, Alba. And I promise, I won’t let you give up on yourself.”
My gaze falls back to my name, email address and phone number printed on the card. My eyes trail over each embossed letter.
“God—I do want this…” I hear myself whisper.
“And I’ll make sure you get it.” Easton pulls me back down into his arms, sweeping his lips across my forehead.
He believes in me, far more than I believe in myself. And I realize that I’ve never needed anyone in my corner as badly as I need him. Maybe that should scare me, but I have this calm, deepknowingin my bones that Easton Raines won’t be walking out of my life anytime soon.
