Page 38 of Never Going to Care

“You’re an idiot.” Owen chuckled as he said the words, but it did nothing to soften the blow of them. I glared at him until he raised his hands. “You know she’s yours, now, right? You aren’t trying to deny that shit anymore?”

“She’s mine,” I growled the words.

Colt stared at me, his ice blue eyes assessing and cold, “Does she know that?”

“She will,” I deadpanned.

Colt narrowed his eyes and pointed to the door. “You need to go and get your woman. Only a stupid man would let the woman he knows is his out there in the world without the protection of knowing she has your heart and your soul. Since I know you’re not a stupid man you better get a move on.”

I was standing up before I even realized it.

Owen leaned over and whispered to Weston, “I told you we should have said something.” He scoffed, “Giving her time. She could have met someone else in the last five days.”

I was out the door, the sound of their chuckling getting farther away with every footstep as I raced out of SP and toward Celeste. I had already pulled up her information weeks ago when I couldn’t get her out of my mind. I didn’t delve too deeply, but I knew enough, including where she works.

When I got to her office, my heart fell at not seeing her there immediately. When I looked down the hallway and saw a man scurrying from a room like his ass was on fire, I had a sinking suspicion it had something to do with my Starlight.

I was tempted to go after the man and find out what the fuck he was running from and why, but I let it go and instead stepped into Celeste’s office to wait for her. Seeing her sucked all the air from my lungs. She was more beautiful than I remembered, somehow.

She also looked tired and that ate at me.

I needed her to know what was going on between us was real. I guess I didn’t come on too strong considering she agreed to a date. My fucking palms are sweating as I finish prepping dinner.

When the doorbell rings, I almost slice the tip of my finger off in my haste to put the knife down and head toward the front door. I can feel her just on the other side and it’s pulling at me. She’s pulling at me.

The moment I open the door to see her big brown eyes looking up at me, it feels like I can breathe easier than I’ve been able to since I woke up alone. I don’t hesitate, I don’t even think about it, as I wrap my arms around her small frame and pull her into my chest. The way she nuzzles into me tells me more than her words can.

Does she even realize what her reaction is telling me? Does she know it makes me want to protect her even more? Be there for her with everything in me?

“I missed you,” I murmur against the top of her head.

She props her chin on my chest, blinking up at me. “You saw me only a few hours ago,” there’s confusion in her voice to match the way her brow furrows together.

I shake my head slowly. “I don’t mean since this afternoon. I missed you from the moment I woke up and you were no longer in my bed.”

Her cheeks pink and I pull her inside, a chuckle on my lips. It’s so damn easy with her, to find a happy moment, to find her adorable and endearing. She doesn’t even mean to do it which makes it all that sweeter.

“I missed you too,” she whispers the words, but they’re loud in so many ways.

I feel them reverberate through my chest, touching my heart and soul in the process. I feel the buzz of the truth of them to the tips of my fingers. I feel the way they relax my muscles in a way I haven’t been able to enjoy since I was met with the fear that I fucked everything up.

With those simple words I know this is the right path. I know we can be everything we need to be to each other. I know we’ll clash from time to time. She’ll sass me when I need it, probably when I try and ice her out instead of dealing with my emotions. I’ll deserve it and I’ll make her come all over my tongue as a reward.

The thought makes my cock throb in my jeans and her breathing picks up in response. I take a step back, my hands leaving her hips and moving up to cup her cheeks. I search her face, for any regrets or reservations. It’s okay if she has them, but I want to know about it now.

She’s holding herself back still, I can see it clearly on her face, but it’s okay. I can handle it. I can prove it to her.

I kiss her lips softly and feel as she melts against me, her lips parting and offering me more solace than I can take at the moment. As much as I want to deepen the kiss, I want to get to know her, and I want to show her who I am first. With our clothes on.

For a split second, I hate my sense of nobility, but it’ll be for the best in the long run. My dick doesn’t agree, but he’ll get over it. I’ll have her back in my bed by the end of the night anyway.

“I hope you like tacos.”

Her eyes light up and one side of her mouth tips up. “Tacos? Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?”

I bark out a laugh and lead her toward the kitchen. “That’s the idea, definitely,” I admit softly.

She blinks up at me, her mouth opening and closing in surprise. It’s fucking adorable. I press a kiss to the top of her head before I pick her up and set her on one of the seats at the small island in the kitchen.

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