Chapter 23

TWENTY-THREE

I was so nervous on our way to Ty’s parents’ house for Thanksgiving, but I’m realizing after spending a day and a half with them how unnecessary that was. I’ve never experienced so much love in one place. Last night after we first got here, I was overwhelmed by the love that was obvious between everyone. Ty’s family welcomed me with open arms, and I couldn’t get enough of their stories about their childhood or about Ty and his antics when he was little.

Apparently he was a bit of a daredevil as a child. I’m really hoping our kid doesn’t take after him on that front. I don’t think my heart could handle it.

His mom showed me pictures of him growing up, their family dog they had until a few years ago, and their sons’ early years playing sports. All night long, I felt like I was being wrapped in a warm blanket made from unconditional love and acceptance.

Today was more of the same. Ty’s mom made a huge feast for all of us, but it was the moment when dessert was pulled out when I nearly cried. His mom had made a pecan pie just for me. It’s one of the few things I remember from my childhood before my parents died, and something I told Ty one night. I didn’t realize he’d held on to that little tidbit of information so tightly —not until his mom presented it and told me Ty had requested it for me. It was hard to keep my emotions at bay at that point. I’d been teetering on the edge of tears since we arrived, but that moment made my heart feel like it had cracked into a million tiny pieces and been carefully and painstakingly glued back together. The tears fell unbidden, and his poor mom’s face fell, until I shook my head and smiled at her through my tears. I couldn’t tell her why I was so emotional about a damn pie, but she didn’t ask either. She just set the pie down, walked over to me, and hugged me tight.

We spent the rest of the night playing board games until I could barely keep my eyes open and Ty took me to bed. I fell asleep with his strong arms wrapped around me and my heart feeling fuller than I could ever remember it.

But twenty minutes ago, my bladder woke me up—something that’s been happening more and more frequentlyas my pregnancy progresses—and now I’m wide awake. So, once I finish using the bathroom, I head downstairs to get a small snack, hoping that might help like it usually does.

I’m surprised when I round the corner and find the light on in the kitchen and Ty’s mom sitting at the table. She looks up from her book, her dark-green glasses sitting on the edge of her nose and her eyes wide.

“I swore I was only going to read one more chapter.” She glances at the clock and then back at me, a guilty grin on her face. “That was about two hours ago, and now I can’t put the dang thing down.”

I laugh and walk into the kitchen. “I was hoping to sneak a snack.”

“A snack sounds delicious. I think I’ll have one with you.”

She moves to get up, but I hold my hand out. “No, please, let me get it. You worked so hard on all the food today. You deserve to sit and relax.”

She sits back in her chair, her smile still on her face, and nods in acquiescence as I move around the kitchen and put a couple of snack options together. I can’t think of a single time since I got here when she hasn’t smiled at me. It’s been nice.

I’ve never met a boyfriend’s parents before. I dated a few guys in my late teens and early twenties, but they were all older and, well, not exactly close to their parents. They weren’t close to anyone, me included. So this experience with Ty’s family has been more than I ever dreamed was possible.

I take the two plates of snacks over to the table and sit next to her. “What are you reading?”

Her smile turns a little mischievous. “A romance I saw recommended online.” She lifts up the book, showing me the cover, and excitement thrums through me.

I look at what page she’s on. “What did you think of her finding his ex in his bed?”

Tina’s eyes widen. “You’ve read this?”

“Romance novels are my guilty pleasure.”

Tina throws her head back and laughs. “Oh, sweetheart, there is absolutely nothing to feel guilty about. You don’t think people who read murder mysteries or thrillers feel guilty for liking murder stories, do you? So why should women feel guilty for reading love stories?”

I smile at her logic. “I guess you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” She shakes her head. “Pearl-clutchers trying to shame other women for enjoying a realistic love story. Sex is real life. To pretend otherwise is ridiculous. So don’t feel guilty for a single second.”

Acceptance hums in my bones. “I won’t.” How could I when this woman whose opinion I’ve come to desire and respect in such a short time is so adamant?

We nibble on the snacks and talk about our favorite books for a while before her expression turns more thoughtful. “Can I ask you something?”

“Sure.”

“Tyler was vague when I asked him about your family. Were they okay not getting time with you during the holiday?”

My stomach tightens. Of course Ty was vague, since I’ve barely told him anything substantial about my family except that my parents died when I was young. He deserves to know the full truth of my upbringing. I’ve put it off for so long, and he’s been patient with me, but I know I won’t be able to keep the truth from him forever.

I look down at my hands, scraping my thumbnail with the nail of my other thumb. “I don’t have any family.”

A moment of silence passes. “Your parents?” she asks softly.

Emotion clogs my throat. “They passed away in a car accident when I was five.”

Her hand reaches out, resting on my arm. When I look up at her, tears fill her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Who raised you?”

My eyes burn. “I did.” It’s the truth. My foster homes were not filled with love or happiness, or care for that matter. I was a mouth to feed and a regular check from the government. I taught myself how to behave, how to survive.

Without saying another word, she gets out of her chair and wraps her strong arms around me. For such a small woman, I’m shocked by how tight she squeezes me, but it’s the hug of a mom comforting her child, and that breaks the dam. I wrap my arms around her, returning the hug as my tears cascade down my face. She holds me for several minutes, never loosening her hold until my tears finally subside. When she pulls away, she places her hands on my cheeks, making sure I’m looking right at her.

“I hate that you didn’t have the love you deserved growing up, but I can promise you that’s not the case moving forward. I’m so grateful to have you in our family, and to see my son so incredibly happy with a strong, beautiful woman. It doesn’t matter where you came from. You’re ours now, understand?”

I nod, my heart feeling so full it almost hurts. She can’t know how many nights as a child I dreamed of a moment just like this. She drops a kiss to my forehead and then sits back in her chair. We visit for a little longer before she starts to yawn, and we both head back to bed.

When I get back to Ty’s childhood room, I crawl into bed and snuggle up next to him. His arm instantly wraps around me, pulling me tight against his body.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

“Yeah. It’s better than okay,” I mumble, my head resting on his shoulder and my lips brushing against his warm skin. I place a soft kiss on his pec, and he hums deep in his throat. “I love your family,” I whisper, glancing at him. Now that my eyes have adjusted to the dark, I can see his profile clearly, his eyes still closed and a small smile lifting his lips.

“Yeah, they’re pretty great. I got really lucky.”

My heart races as I open my mouth, needing to say the words that have wanted to burst out for several days. “I love you too, Ty.”

He turns his head, his eyes now wide open and staring at me like he’s trying to see into my soul. Emotion burns in his deep-brown eyes as he rolls to his side, cupping my face and still keeping my body plastered against his.

A puff of air escapes his mouth as if in relief as he drops his forehead to mine. “Thank fuck, because I love the hell out of you, Lexi.”

“You do?”

“So damn much.” His lips brush against mine, just a tease, but I can feel the way his body tenses like he’s holding himself back, especially when I feel the stiffness of his erection against my stomach. “You’re it for me, Precious.”

I close the space between us, kissing him with every emotion that’s been building inside me. I kiss him with all the years I spent thinking I’d never have this. I kiss him with all the hopes and dreams of a real love I’d given up on until he showed up in my life. I kiss him with gratitude and so much love, I didn’t even think it was possible for me to feel this much.

His hand wraps around my thigh, draping my leg over his hip as he rocks forward, rubbing his thick cock against where I want him most. He groans low in his throat as I rub against him, eager to feel him deep inside me.

“Fuck, Lex, I need to be inside you.”

“Yes,” I plead, my voice sounding breathy.

He pushes off his briefs while I pull off my T-shirt and slide down my pajama shorts and underwear. His mouth finds my breasts as he sucks and teases my overly sensitive nipples with his teeth. A whimper escapes my mouth, and he lets out a soft groan.

“As much as I love to hear your noises, we need to be quiet. My brother is right on the other side of us, and these walls are paper-thin.”

I couldn’t care less about his brother, but I definitely don’t want his parents to hear us. Despite Ty’s words, he doesn’t make it easy on me as he continues to tease my breasts with his mouth while his finger rubs delicious circles against my clit. My back arches and my chest heaves as I try to hold back the moans begging to escape.

“Fuck, you’re so goddamn wet.”

“Ty,” I whisper, my voice shaking.

He rotates us so I’m on my back and then kisses down my stomach, pausing just below my belly button to place a tender kiss while his gaze locks on mine. “I love you, Lexi.”

“I love you,” I say, my whole body feeling warm and not because of what he’s about to do with that mouth, but solely by how his words make me feel. There’s no doubt in them, no “I love you, but I wish you did this” or “I love you but I wish you were this way instead.”

Just I love you.

It’s there in his eyes that I’m enough for him. That I’m exactly what he wants. He may not know my full history yet, but he loves me anyway. And I’m no longer afraid that telling him will drive him away. I know he’ll keep it safe, just like he’s been keeping my heart safe this whole time.

He dips down, kissing just above my clit, then moves to my inner thigh, then the other. He places his face right over where I’m drenched for him and inhales, releasing a deep groan that I’m sure is way too loud, but neither of us seem to find the will to care.

His tongue darts out, sliding through my pussy and then circling my clit like it’s the most decadent ice cream cone he’s ever eaten. His eyes close as bliss streaks across his face, and when they open again, they burn with desire. That’s the only warning I get before he licks and sucks me into oblivion. I come once from his mouth alone, and then a second time when he pushes two fingers into me while his mouth sucks my clit.

My whole body shakes, but I still want more. I need to feel him. I grab at his shoulders, then cup his face, pulling him up to my lips and kissing him hard. He hums against my mouth, my flavor still on his tongue, as he presses his thick cock against my core and pushes inside. We both shudder from the feeling of fullness and even deeper connection.

“God, I love you,” he murmurs, rocking his hips back and then thrusting deep and pulling a whimper from me. “I love you so fucking much, Lexi.”

“Ty,” I start…to say what, I’m not sure because his pace ramps up and obliterates all thoughts as he fucks me with abandon. Our bodies are sweaty, our hands clasped together over my head as his pelvis hits my clit again and again until I detonate like a bomb going off. With one more rough thrust, he follows with a groan, his head dropping to rest in the crook of my neck as his body shudders with his release.

We’re both panting, trying to catch our breath when he collapses beside me, pulling my back to his front and holding me close. He presses kisses to my neck and shoulder, and I let out a soft hum of contentment.

Exhaustion seeps through the pleasure until I can barely keep my eyes open, and as unconsciousness pulls at the edges, I let those three little words free one more time, wishing there was something even stronger than words to convey how much he means to me.

The same three words I’ve never said to anyone else.

“I love you.”