Page 117 of His North Star
I rested my forehead against his. “Why’d you stop?” I panted.
“We have a lifetime of kisses ahead of us and you saidthatwasn’t happening anytime soon. If you want me to keep that promise, we need to stop.”
Accepting that he was right, I climbed off his lap, tucking myself into his right side. “You’re really good at that.”
“I know.”
I playfully smacked his chest.
“I love you, Mare Bear.”
“I love you too, Ty.”
“Is this really necessary?” I asked Ty, who had blindfolded me thirty minutes ago. He said he had a surprise for me.
“I’m afraid it is.”
“Will you at least tell me how much longer until we get there?”
Ty’s chuckle filled the cab of his truck. “You’re not impatient, are you?”
After six months of surprises from Ty, I should have been used to it by now. He’d pulled out all the stops. Not that it was necessary. I was smitten a long time ago. After he came home from the hospital, I spent every spare minute with him. I was more than happy to stay at his house and help him heal. Stealing kisses—so many kisses—I couldn’t believe I’d ever lived without them.
But he was adamant on treating this aspect of our relationship as if we’d never been friends before. He wanted towoome. His words. Not mine.
We’d gone horseback riding, hiking, fine-dining at Whitefish Lake Restaurant, bowling, cuddling on his couch watching the MLB semifinals, and countless other activities.
Ty knew me better than anyone else and still loved me. Despite my flaws. My fears. My heartache. My selfishness. He loved me.
He called me out when I deserved it. He pushed me to strive toward my goals. He supported me in my hobbies, even when he couldn’t care less. I did the same with his rugby games, which he started playing with his friends every week. Why I denied myself that pleasure during high school was beyond me. Ty playing rugby did something to me.
I became his biggest cheerleader. He loved coming to the sidelines to show me how much my support meant to him. His friends, more often than not, had to yell at us to break it up. But my kisses added fuel to Ty’s playing power. He was a machine on the field.
The love I had for this man went beyond the universe. I’d trade a thousand nights of stargazing to be with him. Thankfully, I didn’t have to choose. I had both.
“We’re almost there,” Ty said. “But don’t rip your blindfold off just yet. I’ll come around to get you.”
I slid my hands under my legs, fighting off the desire to peek. He opened my door, helping me down from my seat. A chilled breeze lifted the strands of my hair. I shivered, pulling my coat tighter around me.
“Here, let me help.” Ty zipped me up.
His hands settled around my waist, guiding me on the uneven ground to our destination. The scent of dirt tickled my nose.
“Stand here for just a second,” he said.
Acreakfollowed by aclankfilled the air. What was that?
“Ty?” I asked nervously.
Instead of answering, he found my waist with his hands again. He pulled me tight against his chest, nuzzling along my jaw, my neck, behind my ear. Heat like an erupting volcano trailed everywhere his mouth touched. My pulse quickened. I blindly fumbled my hands up his chest. My fingers made their way into his hair. With one sense dimmed, the others heightened.
Ty’s mouth landed on mine, claiming it as his. I lifted myself onto my toes, wanting to be closer. His hand worked its way up my back. His body pressed against mine. He took a step forward, forcing me back. And another. Until my legs hit the edge of something. Ty’s hands went around my waist.
I gasped as he picked me up and set me down on a hard, cold surface.
He pulled back. His breath was as fast as mine. With one hand on my hip, the other took its time caressing my arm. My cheek.
Finally, he slipped the bandanna off my face.
