Page 95 of Dylan
He shrugs. “It’s nothing much. I need to show my face. I want you on my arm. It might be fun, it might not.”
“That doesn’t sound promising,” I snicker.
“Anywhere we are together is always full of promise,” he says and winks at me.
“Um.”
“You don’t believe me?”
“I don’t know,” I tease as I side-glance him.
He stands up and holds his hand out to me. “Fine. I’ll prove it. Dance with me.”
I tune into what’s playing. I like this song. As Muni Long sings of praying she doesn’t miss the love of her life as “Butterfly Effect” plays, it hits me how this song could apply to our relationship.
I could have missed out on being loved completely, and so deeply, it feels like a dream. I could have been right here in this big city, walking right by opportunity after opportunity to meet the love of my life, and it never happen.
I take his hand and stand, not wanting to miss a single moment of being in his arms. He pulls me into him and places one hand on my hip as he cradles my hand against his chest with his other one.
We begin to sway to the music as he looks into my eyes. I’m so completely in love with Dylan. I don’t know what I would do without him. Again, I realize how much I truly love my life.
“I love my life too. I love having you with me and I love every moment I get to spend with you,” he says as if he can read my mind.
I place my head against his chest and continue to sway with him. Burying his hand in my hair with one hand, he begins to rub my back with the other. I breathe him in and comfort washes over me.
“I don’t ever want this to end. I want you to know how much I love you and that I would never do anything to hurt you or lose you. Everything I do is to protect you and keep you safe,” he murmurs, causing me to look up at him.
“There is nothing you could do that would make me leave you,” I say, surprising myself with how much I mean the words.
“There’s always something. That one last straw.”
“You buy the toothpaste. If you want to waste it by forgetting to place the cap back on, that’s on you. It’s not enough for me to stay pissed past grumbling at you every morning and night.”
I shrug as I laugh. “I’m not leaving, Dyl. I love you too much to live this life without you. I know what it’s like not to have you in my life and I don’t want to go back. I’m staying. You’re stuck with me.”
“Promise?”
“Cross my he?—”
He crushes his lips to mine before I can finish my words and kisses me breathless. When he breaks the kiss, I’m a little confused. I get the feeling there are words not being said.
However, I don’t want this moment to end. I want to stay safely in the bubble he’s created for us. I want to be here with him, happy.
***
I’m stillon cloud nine as I shower once we get home. Dylan didn’t join me because he had to take a call. That phone is always ringing.
I’m not stupid and I’m not in denial. I’m dating a guy with some deep connections in the underworld. I know the signs from growing up with Theo.
Theo may have been low level at best, but he had people around all the time who were the real danger. It’s another reason I would never leave my brother behind with those assholes. There’s no telling how they would have tried to use Ciarán.
When Dylan has to deal with business, I fade into the background and mind my own business. If I’m honest, watching him in action is always sexy. He has a command of his guys that demands respect. In fact, I get the same vibe from his brothers as well.
It’s funny. Dylan seems so quiet and reserved outside of business and the ring, but when it comes to business, it’s like a switch flips. The shy, quiet guy fades and he becomes someone else completely. It’s the same way in the bedroom.
Which leads me to the change that happened earlier this evening. He has been a bit distant since. I don’t know what I said wrong.
I try to figure it out as I absentmindedly rub on lotion and put on a pair of shorts and a cutoff T-shirt. Once dressed, I make my way downstairs to where I left Dylan when we came in. I note that music is playing as I move down the steps.
