Page 14 of Shake Your Love
“I will try to be. Come on, let’s lay down. Let me…let me take care of you,” I whisper, voice needy, my body trembling too. I need to hold her. Need to feel that she is real, she is not hurting, I am taking good care of her.
Stripping down to my boxers, I slide in the bed behind her. Paige sighs and snuggles against my chest, pressing a kiss over my thumping heart. I press a kiss to her forehead. Closing my eyes, I gather her close as a sense of peace, of being complete, washes over me.
I am right where I belong—with who I belong with.
“You really mine?” I whisper in the dim light of my bedroom.
“Yeah, Pierce. I am. If you want me. Does that mean…you’re mine?”
Pulling back, I cradle her face, tears in my eyes again. This time, I am smiling as I nod. Lowering my head, I brush mymouth over hers gently. If I could show her what I feel or say it in pretty words or some big gesture—notflowers—I would.
“Yeah. I am. Whatever you want me to be, baby.”
“Just mine. Hmm, you’re so warm. Can we sleep for a bit?”
“We can do anything you want. Long as I get to hold you.”
“What…what was that you meant earlier? About making a special?”
Paige stares up at me as I comb through her hair, her eyes looking clearer as the medicine starts to work. I can tell she is beat though. I kiss her forehead again, hoping I did enough to take care of this misery I caused her.
“I thought I might try to make a few new things at the diner. This pretty girl told me I am a good cook,” I tease her, laughing when she beams proudly. “I thought I might give it a real shot.”
“Sounds like a pretty smart girl.”
“I think so too. Might not have the best taste in boyfriends.”
“Pish posh,” she mutters, eyes falling closed against her will. “Her boyfriend is the best.”
Smiling, I cuddle closer to her, talking softly about how I will try to be the best boyfriend. Not that I have any clue about it. I never thought I would be one, to be honest. Never dreamed a girl like Paige would go out with me let alone want a relationship with me.
Now I have to figure out how to be the of boyfriend she deserves.
Chapter Eight
Paige
Being a girlfriend is new to me—but so far, so good.
Laughing as I watch Pierce dance through the kitchen, singing into his wooden spoon as Bruce Springsteen blares on the radio, I am the happiest I have ever been. It has been a few days since the ill-fated flower delivery that broke me out in hives and kept me sick all night. He was there every single moment, holding my hair back as I retched, fed me crackers and club soda, washed me, and rubbed creams or powders on every single spot he could find.
To be honest—I think he just likes touching me. Not that I mind.
Now he is making me waffles with crispy fried chicken, my very favorite. Dancing in the kitchen in his Addias sweats and bare feet, he is the hottest thing I have ever seen. To my complete surprise—he is mine.
“Morning, boyfriend,” I call as I push my thick hair into a banana clip.
Twirling to face me, he almost drops the spoon. Grinning, he starts to belt out the song, reaching out for me. Laughing, I go to him, letting him spin me through the room. Holding me close, he sways me back and forth.
“Morning girl of mine,” he hums, dropping a sweet kiss at my lips. “How we feeling today, baby?”
“Better. Almost a hundred percent. Those waffles will make me whole again, I have no doubt.”
Face lighting up, he flushes and my heart swells in my chest. Lord, I am falling fast and hard for this man. He is so sweet, so kind, and so good to me, I don’t know how I found him. I amglad I did. Glad he was waiting for me to find him and gave me a chance to call him mine.
“You really mine?” I whisper as I loop my arms around his neck.
Pierce sobers, lifting me atop the counter, stepping between my knees. Nodding, he brushes a tender touch over my cheek. “I am. Every part of me is all yours, baby,” he husks, his eyes darkening the way they do when he talks so sweet.
