Chapter 24

My body betrays me. As much as I know I should pull away, I can't do it. He chased after me. I'd doubted myself when we pulled up to the plane. I wasn't sure I'd be able to get on. There was still the pull I felt toward Jackson.

I wanted to talk to him and hear his side of things. Although I felt hurt, I couldn't get myself to believe that what we had wasn't real or that he would ever do anything to harm me. Everything he ever did was to protect me. Even from myself at times.

"Jackson." I press my body against his. This feels right. The same way it has since the minute I met the man. He wraps his arms around me, holding me close. I don't ever want to leave him. He"s the one place where I"ve felt like I belong. The only place I ever felt as though I could truly be myself. He's my home.

"Are you two done?" my brother cuts in. I let out a small gasp, having forgotten where we were for a moment. Heat rushes to my cheeks. It"s not only my brother and June; there are other Army personnel lingering around.

Jackson takes a step toward my brother. "You and I are going?—"

"Jackson." To calm him down, I run my hand up his chest. He's not a fan of my brother. I knew that before today. He's made a few off-handed comments.

Jackson thinks he should have been around years ago. But it's not Luka's job to take care of me. There must be reasons why he stayed away. He came today, after all. That counts for something.

"I wasn't handing you over to your parents," Jackson reiterates, wanting to make that clear.

"But you came here for me?" I peek up at him, not fully understanding. I do know that he runs and owns a large security and investigation company. He has a bunch of employees. Jackson could have sent one of his men after me, or he could have simply told my parents where I was. He hadn't done either of those things.

"Didn't ever believe in fate." His eyes soften on me. "Then your file hit my desk, and I saw your picture. I was done for." He cups my cheek. "You just happened to land in my hometown. Actually, you ran to it." I had. There was a pull I couldn't explain.

"It felt right when I got here," I admit. I can't help but smile. Never in a million years when I left my town to escape my parents had I ever envisioned something like this happening to me. The only hope I had was to live a life free of my parents" control.

Could it really have been fate? Not only had I made Cottonwood my new home, but out of all the people my parents could have hired to find me, it was Jackson's company. The world made sure we found each other. I kind of love that.

"It's because you're home, princess." My breath catches. He's right, but Jackson always is. It"s one of the many things I love about him.

"When did my brother turn into a sappy marshmallow?" June sounds utterly disgusted.

I can't help but laugh while my insides melt too. My gruff military man is standing here, talking about fate and loving me. He doesn"t give a crap who hears. For me, Jackson is only a marshmallow.

"Paisley." My brother tries again.

"You're done." Jackson levels my brother with a hard stare. Any softness that was there for me a few seconds ago vanishes. He sees my brother as a threat. One that can take me from him.

"Do you think I don't have as much pull as you do?" My brother challenges him right back.

"They'll never find your body." There isn't a trace of humor in Jackson's words. He's not kidding.

"Jackson," I hiss, not wanting them to fight.

"He's right," June singsongs. "I know of a hog farm. There"d be nothing left." She gives Luka a sugary, sweet smile, but her eyes are filled with mischief.

"You really want to play, kitten?" I"m starting to believe it"s my brother who wants to play with June.

"Don't call me that," June hisses at Luka. The name is rather fitting.

"We're done with this. If you want to be at the wedding, then you should probably stick around."

"Wedding?" Is he talking about us?

"You're babysitting." Jackson hands my bag over to June. Tigger has somehow slept through all of this.

"Jackson. What wedding?" I try again, but he tosses me over his shoulder. I don't fight him. It would be pointless, and I don't want to. He doesn't waste any time getting us back to his place.

"Are you really not going to answer me?" I huff. It doesn't even phase Jackson. He keeps on stripping me of my clothes until I'm standing in front of him naked in our bedroom. Any shyness I ever had about my body is long gone. Not with the way his eyes always eat up every inch of me. I've never felt more beautiful in my entire life.

"You know what wedding." He reaches into the nightstand, pulling out a box. My mouth falls open as he slides a ring onto my finger. "Promised my mom I'd give you a bit to put something together."

A giant round pink diamond sits in the center with a halo of diamonds around it. The gold band makes them all shine. If there was ever a ring made for a princess, this would be it. It is the most beautiful thing I've ever worn.

"Wanted to get you home and naked so I could see you in all that." He grabs me again, tossing me onto the bed. I let out a small scream that turns into a laugh. I don't get the chance to move before Jackson is over me.

"I don't want to get married because of my parents."

"I've handled them." His tone is flat. Unreadable.

"Handled? Not like June hog-style handled, right?"

"If that's what you want."

"I can never tell when you and June are joking." I pause, but he doesn't crack a smile. "Jackson!"

"It's handled. They won't bother you. You're free." He grips my hands, pinning them above my head. "Of everything and everyone but me." I have no quarrels about that.

"Does that finally mean you're going to give me every inch of you?" I lick my lips. Figured I'd get him to give me what I've wanted for so long.

"That what you want, princess?"

"Please." I'm not above begging.

"You already wet for me?" Jackson keeps my wrists pinned together above my head with one hand while the other slips between my thighs. He parts the folds of my sex. A groan leaves him when he finds that I'm soaked for him.

It wasn't until Jackson that I knew this kind of desire was possible. The thought of him is enough to make me grow wet. My body recognizes who owns it. It's been that way from the first day I met Jackson. And I want to be owned by him.

"Always."

"Fuck." He closes his eyes.

"No," I yank against his hand that has me pinned in place. "Don't do that. Stop fighting it." His eyes fly open. "Lose control, Jackson. I'm yours. I want you to give me everything. I don't want you to hold back. There's nothing between us now, and there never will be."

He goes for his belt, yanking it off. Jackson doesn't bother to even take his pants all the way off. He frees his cock, and it brushes against my thigh, causing me to let out a moan. I lift my hips but he pushes me back down.

"Be a good girl, princess. You'll take what I give you." I whimper, needing him so badly. The throb between my thighs is unbearable. He slides the head of his cock to my opening, pressing into me. "And I'll always give you what you need."

Jackson thrusts all the way inside of me. I gasp, my breath leaving me, the mixture of pain and pleasure blending together in a way I didn't know was possible. There are too many emotions and sensations. It's all too much. It's everything I've ever wanted and so much more.

"Fucking heaven. I don't deserve this, but I'm a selfish bastard, and I'm gonna enjoy every tight inch of you." I let out a moan, my body finally adjusting to him.

"Princess," Jackson grits out. "Open those eyes for me. I need to know you're okay."

"I'm more than okay."

"You're crying." I hadn't realized a few tears had slipped free. "Talk to me." He's the one who sounds pained now. I smile up at him, loving how in tune to me he is.

"I just love you so much." I press my mouth to his. He releases his hold on my wrists so I can wrap my arms around him. "Take me." I've never wanted something more than I want him to truly make me his in every way.

"Already have."

He proves it by taking me over and over again, making me come twice before he finally lets himself come with me the third time. Both of us find our pleasure together.

"I love you," he tells me, holding me close.

"I love you, too." I smile against his neck, knowing this is where I was always meant to be. My life"s going to be so different than so many thought it would be. Even me.