Page 79 of Away With You
“Yes,” I husk. “We definitely do.”
Standing, I follow her to the hammock she’s spent the last days staring at with longing and laugh as she manoeuvres her way to lying down, struggling and failing not to sink into the middle.
“It’s harder than it looks,” she says through her giggles.
“Let me see if I can help.” Careful not to disturb her, I crawl over to where she’s lying, shifting her so she’s on her side, pressed up against me as I lie on my back. It’s the same position we fell asleep in this morning, and from her expression, Katie seems to like it here. “Is this better?”
She rests her head on my chest and hooks her top leg over mine. “Yes,” she sighs. “Much better.”
We sink into silence, lulled by the gentle rocking of the hammock and the sounds of waves crashing in the distance. The afternoon sun is hot against my skin, and the water below us is a refreshing reprieve when it rises to splash us. With Katie here in my arms, this may be the most relaxed I’ve been…ever?
“This is nice,” she murmurs, her hand drawing lazy circles on my chest. “But are you worried that if we stay here much longer, you’ll end up with a tan line in the shape of my body?”
I tighten my arm around her, anchoring her in place in case she gets the crazy idea in her head that she needs to move. “I’d be happy to have that tan line, Kitty Kat.”
She peers up at me, nibbling her lower lip, an expression of doubt flashing over her flushed face. “You’d be happy to have my body branded on you?”
Oh boy.A thrill runs through me as my eyes dip to her lips. “I think I would.”
My soft words linger between us as Katie stares up at me. She licks her lips, and with a groan, I pull her up and crash my mouth onto hers. Our kiss is eager and wet and filled with passion, and I want more. I want all of this woman.
“We should stop,” she whispers, her body pressing closer, belying her words. “Before we can’t.”
She’s right. I’m so caught up in kissing her, I’d forgotten where we are.Hell, I’ve forgotten my damn name!
“You’re right,” I agree in a low tone. “But don’t move just yet. My Katie-shaped tan line isn’t complete.”
Her giggle is soft, and my heart soars at the sound of it. “You know, I don’t hate the idea of branding you. So everyone knows you’re mine.”
There’s that word again.Mine.
I stare down at her. “You want me to be yours?”
She pauses, staring into my eyes like she’s trying to burrow into my brain, and I wonder at the indecision on her face.Where did this doubt come from?
“Katie?” I urge after a long, long pause.
With her eyes locked on mine, I see the moment she makes her decision. “If that’s what you want,” she offers in a soft voice.
“It is,” I tell her in no uncertain terms.
Her eyes widen as my words settle. Without replying, she places her head back on my chest, wrapping her arm around my waist and pressing in closer. In the silence, I play with the haircascading down her back, moving it to the side and running my fingers down her spine.
“And what about you, Kitty Kat?” I finally whisper.
Her gaze locks with mine once more as I whisper the words, letting them sit between us. “Are you mine?”
Her answering smile is brilliant as she reaches up to kiss me. “Yeah,” she sighs against my lips. “Yeah, I think I am.”
We kiss long and slow, like two people who know we’re going to kiss like this forever, and as we settle back into the peacefulness of lying together in this slice of heaven, it hits me.
This is what I’ve always wanted. This is the woman I think I’ve always wanted. Katie was always supposed to be mine, and now that I have her, I’m not letting her go.
She is mine now. And there’s not one thing fake about it.
CHAPTER 21
KATIE
