Page 95 of Say You Remember Me
I mean, he’d told his interior designer to make him a house that “looked like a family could live there.”
That wasn’t something a man who intended to always be a perpetual playboy would say, was it?
Of course, the only way to know if he was actually being sincere would be to trust him—which could put my heart at risk at being hurt again. But right here in this moment, I wanted to. Against all reason, I wanted to trust him.
So, reaching up, I placed my hand gently against his chest, feeling the steady, reassuring beat of his heart beneath my palm.“You know,” I murmured, my voice soft but steady, “you’re making it really hard for me to remember why I was trying to keep my distance.”
His eyes searched mine, his expression unreadable at first. But then, a warmth bloomed in his gaze, his lips curving into the faintest hint of a smile. For a moment, the world seemed to pause, the air between us growing heavier, more charged. I could feel the tension pulling us closer, as if some unseen force was drawing me toward him.
His head dipped slightly, and my breath hitched as his lips hovered over mine, the anticipation sending a shiver down my spine.
And then, finally, he kissed me.
Softly at first, like he was testing the waters, his lips brushing against mine in a way that sent my senses reeling. But then, the gentle pressure quickly gave way to something deeper, more urgent, as though he couldn’t hold back any longer. His hands moved to my hips, pulling me closer, and I melted into him, letting myself get lost in the heat of the moment.
When he stepped forward, pressing me against the wall, a soft gasp escaped my lips. The cool surface at my back only heightened the warmth of his body against mine, firm and unyielding. I threaded my fingers into his hair, holding him close as his mouth weaved a spell over my mind and body, leaving me breathless.
His lips traveled down to my jaw, then to my neck, pressing hot, open-mouthed kisses that left a trail of fire in their wake. My head tipped back against the wall, a soft sigh escaping me as his mouth found the sensitive hollow just beneath my ear. He lingered there, pressing a kiss that sent a jolt of heat straight through me, and then he continued his path downward, his mouth warm and teasing against my skin.
I clutched at his shoulders, trying to anchor myself, my breath coming in shallow gasps as he kissed along the curve of my neck, his stubble rasping lightly against me in the most delicious way.
“Ian…” His name escaped me, half a sigh, half a plea.
He murmured something low against my skin—something I couldn’t quite make out.
But the sound of his voice sent a shiver racing down my spine. His hands slipped beneath my cami, roaming higher, his thumbs grazing across my ribs as though he couldn’t decide if he wanted to hold me tighter or explore further.
And all I knew was that I wanted more. More of his touch. More of the way he was making me feel.
More of the way he made me forget everything but this moment, this connection, this overwhelming need that neither of us seemed able to resist.
But then, almost as if he could sense that I was ready to leap headfirst into uncharted waters with him, to dive into the unknown, he slowed our kisses. Guiding me instead to a soft, fluffy cloud that could carry us down gently, letting us drift toward the sandy shore instead of plunging headlong into the depths.
His lips lingered on mine, warm and unhurried, melting into something tender, something that felt like an unspoken promise. A promise that we didn’t need to race toward the horizon—that maybe we might actually have all the time in the world.
When he finally pulled back, his eyes met mine, dark and warm, filled with an emotion I wasn’t sure I was ready to name. His hand came up to cup my cheek, his thumb brushing softly against my skin as he leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to my forehead.
“Goodnight, Maddie,” he murmured. “I’ll be in here if you need anything.”
I nodded, unable to form words, as he stepped back, giving me space to slip back through the door and into my own room.
My heart was still racing as I leaned against the closed door, a hand pressed to my chest like it might help me make sense of the emotions coursing through me.
The day had been so long, so draining—full of worry and fear and raw emotion. But somehow, in the quiet of this moment, as Ian’s care and kindness settled over me, it felt like the world had steadied itself.
I finished getting ready for bed in a blissful haze, my thoughts circling back to the way he’d kissed me, the way he’d touched me as though I mattered. As though I was precious.
And as I climbed into bed beside my sleeping boy, the events of the day fading into the background, I realized that even though it had been one of the hardest days I’d faced in a long time, it didn’t feel quite so heavy anymore. With Ian by my side, somehow, it felt like everything might just be all right.
34
IAN
“Keep me updated, okay?”I said to Maddie as we stood outside the hospital doors the next morning, the warm air brushing against us. The chirping of birds in the trees above filled the silence between us. “And don’t rush back to work before you’re ready.”
“Okay.” Maddie smiled, soft but tired, her warmth shining through despite the long week she’d had. “But I’ll try not to be gone too long.”
I reached for her hand, my fingers brushing against the large diamond ring still on her finger. She glanced down, her brows lifting slightly. “Oh,” she said, twisting the ring as if noticing it for the first time. “I guess I should probably give this back now, huh?”
