Chapter Twenty-Three

Before I ever pulled Mila inside that fucking bar, I knew better. There were too many people, and crowds in Los Angeles always fuck me up a little. Looking over my shoulder here is second nature. But she looked too beautiful in that sexy little dress, and I wanted to make her smile. I thought I could handle being inside for a while and that she"d enjoy letting loose after being cooped up all week.

I was wrong. I couldn"t handle it.

She"s fucking gorgeous, but I didn"t expect her to look like a Siren on the dance floor, teasing me. I wasn"t prepared for the pure rage that shot through me when I saw every other motherfucker inside watching her…looking at her like they wanted to swap places with me, wanted to feel her sexy little body wrapped around them while she writhed against their cocks and moaned.

She"s mine, and I don"t fucking share.

I tried to warn her not to push me, but she didn"t listen. She just couldn"t resist fucking with me, completely oblivious to what every other man in that bar was thinking.

I"m so amped up I feel like a junkie. If I don"t get inside her soon, remind myself that I"m the only one who gets to touch her, I"m going to start breaking shit.

"Roman–" she starts as I wrap my hands around her waist to lift her into my truck. Her lip is between her teeth, and her eyes are wide and worried, still dilated by the wine she drank and the way I made her come for me in the hallway. She"s still turned on. She still wants me. Even now, when I"m ready to kill the next son of a bitch who looks at her, she wants me.

She has no fucking idea what it does to me when she looks at me like that.

"Put your seatbelt on," I demand. I just want to get her home and calm the storm raging through me. It"s vicious, roiling in my stomach like a hurricane.

I"m ready to snap.

It"s been ten days since Tahani has spoken to us. Jose Guerrero has taken out eleven more of his rivals in the last week alone. We still have no fucking clue where the drugs and guns are, and the fucking judge is dragging his feet about giving us a search warrant. I"m stressing the fuck out about having Mila in Los Angeles with me when all-out war looms on the horizon, so fucking close, every agency in the area is on red alert.

Having sixty sets of eyes leering at her didn"t fucking help.

I"ve never been jealous or possessive. I"ve never given a fuck about the women I slept with. Mila is different. She isn"t just a piece of ass, used to make myself feel better and then never thought about again. I"m so fucking in love with her, I can"t see straight.

"Mila, put your fucking seatbelt on," I growl. "Please."

"Okay," she whispers, her voice small.

I feel like a dick for snapping at her, but I can"t stop myself. I don"t have the words to explain how badly I want her, or how pissed I am at myself for not being able to give her one night out to celebrate. How pissed I am that other motherfuckers were thinking about fucking her. So I don"t try. I just wait until she does what I told her to do, and then I slam her door and jog around to the driver"s side of the truck.

She"s quiet on the drive home, nervous. I grip the steering wheel so tightly my knuckles turn white, trying to keep myself under control. I can still smell her on me. Her scent fills the cab of the truck, ratcheting up my body temperature until it feels like my blood boils in my veins. I"m so fucking desperate for her, it"s pathetic.

I race through the city, driving far too fast. I know these streets, though. I spent my entire life in this city, learning every nook and cranny. I was born here, raised here, and will probably fucking die here. And God, I hate it. So much, I can"t relax when I"m here. I can"t breathe. I feel stretched thin, agitated.

I don"t know how to deal with the restless, clawing feeling skittering through my veins.

When I pull into the driveway and kill the engine, Mila hops out of the truck without waiting for me and damn near falls in those sexy heels. As soon as she"s steady, she hurries toward the front door, peeking over her shoulder to look at me.

I follow behind her slowly, trying to calm the fuck down.

As soon as I get the door open, she turns to me.

"I"m sorry," she blurts, still worrying that lip between her teeth.

I close my eyes and take a deep breath. "Go to bed, baby."

"But–"

"Mila, go to bed."

"Don"t tell me what to do, Roman," she growls at me.

I crack an eye open to find her glaring at me, her jaw set and her green eyes flashing fire at me.

Fuck.

"Please, just go to bed, Mila."

"No. Not until you talk to me. Why are you so mad at me? What"d I do wrong?" Her voice shakes with emotion, cracking me wide open. She isn"t simply pissed at me. She thinks I don"t want her.

Jesus.

She turns like she"s going to walk away from me, but I reach out and grab her, yanking her back into my body. She stumbles in her heels, falling into me. I press my dick into her stomach, making sure she feels how hard I am for her.

"I want you, Mila," I growl at her, "so goddamn bad it hurts. But if I fuck you right now, I"m going to break you in half, so please go the fuck to bed, baby." I"d never hurt her, but I don"t trust myself right now. I need to claim her so badly…I"ll be too rough and demand too much. I can"t lose her. I fucking can"t.

"No, Roman." She tips her head back to look at me, still glaring. "You don"t get to shut me out and pretend you"re trying to protect me. I"m not afraid of you. You don"t scare me."

Why doesn"t she ever fucking listen to me? I swear to Christ, she was put on this earth just to drive me insane.

"Mila–"

"I"m not fragile, Roman. Stop treating me like I am." She reaches out and grabs my dick through my jeans like she owns it. Anger snaps and sizzles in her green eyes, just fucking daring me to try to stop her.

A strangled groan tears from somewhere in my chest. My entire body shakes as desire rips through me.

"I"m not afraid of you," she says again, squeezing me with one hand. Her other goes to work on the button of my jeans. She pops it loose before pulling the zipper down.

I stand completely still, not even breathing as I fight for control…for the willpower to move away from her before I lose it completely.

She tugs my jeans down, freeing my cock.

"Mil–" I groan again when she wraps one hand around my dick, her gaze still locked on mine.

"You"re the one who dragged me into that bar to dance. You don"t get to be pissed off at me about it now." She drops down to her knees and licks her lips, still watching me. Still pissed. "If you want me so fucking much, take me."

"Fuck!" I yell, my head hitting the door hard when she wraps her lips around me and plunges down, taking me all the way to the back of her throat in one move.

She moans around me, sending vibrations up and down my dick. My hands clench into fists, every muscle in my body locked tight. I can"t resist her, though. Not when every beat of my heart belongs to her.

"Goddammit, Mila." I plunge my hands into her hair, holding her tightly.

Her gaze flits to mine, her eyes so dilated with desire she looks as frantic as I feel. Maybe she does feel the same way I do—the clawing, desperate need to take and fuck and consume and burn. Maybe it"s as painful for her, as fucking overwhelming and terrifying.

I"ve never wanted anything like I want her. I"ve never needed to possess and claim and own like I need to do with her. I want to dominate her, force her into submission. I want to strip her raw and bury myself into her until she can"t remember what it"s like not to have me in her.

That desire is even more overpowering now that she"s in Los Angeles with me, in danger because of me.

Her tongue swirls around the head of my cock, her teeth raking against the underside just hard enough to send a bolt of pleasurable pain through me. She moans loudly, those green eyes locked on me as she wordlessly begs me to give in, give up, and take her.

"Goddammit," I growl again. My hand tightens in her hair, pulling until I know it has to hurt.

She likes it, though. She fucking smiles at me around my cock and moans again. Desire flares brighter in her eyes.

She wants this.

And I"m done trying to convince myself that she can"t handle it. She can. I fucking know she can. She"d take anything I gave her and still want more. Still beg for it.

I tilt her head back and thrust forward, pushing my cock deeper into her mouth. She gags when I force my way into her throat, causing the muscles to constrict around me. I don"t pull back and give her a reprieve like normal, though. I push forward a little further, forcing her to take more of me.

Her eyes are wild with lust, radiant with triumph when they meet mine.

I jerk my hips backward, expelling myself from her mouth all at once.

She cries out at the loss, grasping for my thighs as if she can force me back where she wants me. I bite back a groan, hating the way it feels when I"m not in that sweet mouth, but I don"t give her what she wants.

She lives for sucking me off. Having my cock in her mouth and my hands in her hair is as close to heaven on earth for her as she can get. Like I already told her, though…she"ll take what I give her, not the other way around.

"Told you not to push, or I"d push back, Mila," I tell her, reaching out to pluck her up from the floor with my hands under her arms. She squeaks like she always does, like it still surprises her that I can pick her up, and then her legs are around my waist, pushing her dress above her hips.

I turn us, putting her back to the front door. I use my body to pin her where I want her. My mouth lands against her collarbone. I inhale deeply, filling my lungs full of her scent. She smells like she tastes—like peaches, sunshine, and sweet wine. I"m addicted to that flavor and to the way her skin feels beneath my lips. She"s soft and smooth everywhere, and I can"t get enough of her.

One of my hands digs into her ass so hard I know I"m probably bruising her. I can"t pull back, though. We"re pressed so tightly together that it feels like I"m trying to absorb her into me. It still isn"t close enough.

I lean back just far enough to pull the front of her dress down, not even giving a fuck when the delicate material rips beneath my fingers. Her tits spring free, her nipples hard and puckered.

I press her a little deeper into the door and pull her right breast into my mouth, latching on. Using my teeth and tongue, I work her over, tormenting her with pleasure…making her as crazy as she makes me.

She cries out, her arms going around my neck. Her hands plunge into my hair, pulling like she always does. The pain shoots straight to my cock, drawing my balls up tight. I"m not even in her yet, and I"m ready to explode.

I pop off her breast and lean back just far enough to see her face. She"s panting, her eyes wild, and her face flushed. Her bottom lip is red where she"s abused it, biting it again and again. She"s the sexiest thing I"ve ever seen.

"Every motherfucker on that dance floor wanted you, Mila," I tell her, shoving my free hand down between us. Her lacy panties are soaked when my fingers slide across the seam. "But you"re mine."

"Yes, yes," she chants, writhing against the door.

"I hope you didn"t plan on keeping these, baby." I tear the thin lace of her panties, ripping it away from her pussy. Before she can do anything more than cry out, I"m inside her, plowing into her so hard, her head bangs against the door.

Mine kicks back, a moan ripping from somewhere in the middle of my chest. I"ve never felt anything like her before. She"s so hot around me, so fucking tight. Being inside her hurts in the best way possible.

I fuck her hard, one hand digging into her ass, the other planted above her head. Every thrust sends her bouncing against the door.

She clutches at my shoulders, clawing at the fabric of my shirt like she"s trying to tear it from my body. Cries of pleasure break from her lips so loudly I"m sure the neighbors can hear her. I don"t give a fuck about that either.

My lips find hers. I kiss her like I fuck her, thrusting my tongue inside her mouth and then retreating, over and over again until she"s whimpering and begging. I bite her lip, suck it into my mouth, and then bite it again.

Her inner muscles clench as her cries become louder, more frantic. She"s close.

"Don"t even fucking think about coming," I snarl against her mouth.

She cries out loudly when I slide completely out of her. Her eyes fly open and land on mine. Rage slides through her expression when she sees that I"m serious. She isn"t coming until I decide to let her. She wanted to play, wanted to fuck with me…she"ll learn.

"You come when I decide to let you come, Mila." I bite her lip again and then push off from the door.

Her arms go around my neck again, clinging to me as I carry her toward the couch, gripping her round ass in both hands. As soon as we"re close, I slide her down my body, my cock bumping against her clit. Her legs tremble and shake when I spin her around and bend her over the back of the sofa.

"Roman!" she yells in shock and desire when I slap her ass.

"Hold on to the couch." I carefully kick her feet apart, one hand on her waist to keep her steady so she doesn"t fall in those fucking heels.

She complies, clutching the back of the sofa until her knuckles are white. She"s panting so hard, I"m a little worried she"s going to hyperventilate.

"Breathe, baby," I remind her before dropping to my knees and yanking her torn panties down her legs.

Jesus Christ.

I groan, devouring her with my gaze. Her ass is pushed out, her pussy lips glistening with her juices.

"So fucking sexy," I mutter and then slap her ass again, just to see the plump flesh jiggle. More wetness pools between her thighs. "You like that."

I"m not sure why that surprises me. She loves everything I do to her.

I spank her ass again, my cock jerking when one plump cheek reddens, and she sobs my name.

"Breathe," I remind her again and then spread her cheeks to bury my face between her legs from behind. I lick her from her clit to her ass and then thrust my tongue inside her pussy, fucking her with it.

She squirms against me, trying to get away, I think. Like I"m going to let that happen. She"s exactly where I want her.

I press my tongue to the tight rim of her ass, snarling when she sobs in pleasure.

Christ, she"s hot.

I slide two fingers into her, stroking against her G-spot while I eat her. She"s so fucking wet, her juices soak my face. I pull her lower lips into my mouth, one and then the other, before pressing my thumb against her puckered asshole.

She gasps, squirming again when I push it inside her.

I work my thumb in and out of her ass as she writhes and gasps and whimpers. I want in there so fucking badly…but not tonight. Not when I can barely think straight. I"m too fucking big, and I don"t want to hurt her.

"Please, please," she begs like she knows exactly what I"m thinking, exactly what I want.

She"s close again, so fucking close to coming on my face. I pull her clit into my mouth and suck hard, stroking against her g-spot.

As soon as her inner walls begin to clench and flutter, I back off, pulling away. My thumb slips from her ass, and I damn near lose it at the sight of that tight ring of muscle slowly closing back up.

She sobs wordlessly. I press a kiss to each round cheek and then rise to my feet.

"I told you," I mutter, curling my body over hers. I reach around her and play with her tits, pinching and pulling her nipples. I drag my teeth up and down the side of her throat. "You don"t get to come until I decide to let you." I press a kiss to the side of her throat and then force myself to stand up again, leaving her bent over the couch and panting.

I undress slowly, watching the way her body quivers and trembles, that sexy ass still in the air. With her heels on, she"s at exactly the right height for me to slide inside her and fuck her from behind.

As soon as I"m naked, my clothes in a pile in the floor and my gun on the side table, I put a hand on her lower back.

She jumps, wobbling on her feet.

"Do you have any idea how good you look bent over the couch like this?" I step up behind her and grasp my cock, squeezing the head. "Do you know how sexy you look with that dress around your waist and your ass in the air?" I run my cock up and down her slit from behind, soaking myself with her juices.

"Roman," she whimpers, arching her back and tilting her hips, trying to get me inside her.

"You think I was mad at you, Mila? You think I didn"t want you?" I bounce my dick against her clit. "I wanted to fuck you right there on the dance floor so everyone knew who you belonged to. You"re mine, baby. This pussy belongs to me." I slam myself inside her.

She cries out, clawing at the couch as she rises on her tiptoes. I grab her by the shoulder to hold her down.

"Fuck. Take it," I groan, plowing into her so hard the head of my cock hits her cervix with every thrust. I"m so deep and she"s so tight, I know I"m not going to last long like this. I release my hold on her hip to slap her ass, and then moan at the way the plump flesh bounces and jiggles against me.

"So goddamn sexy," I growl, pounding into her hard and fast. A light sheen of sweat breaks out on my body. I lean over her, pressing open-mouthed kisses all over her back. Even though the bruises where she fell down the stairs a few weeks ago have faded, I run my lips over every little spot as if they"re still visible.

"Do. Not. Fucking. Come," I snap, kissing all the way up to her ear. I bite her lobe and smack her ass again. As soon as her muscles clamp down on me, I wrench myself away from her, my stomach clenching when I pull all the way out of her welcoming heat.

A keening, broken whimper escapes her lips, and I know she can"t take much more of this. Part of me—that pissed off, territorial part—wants to keep tormenting her, keep bringing her to the brink and then yanking her back until she begs me to let her come. But every other part wants to feel her coming on me. I fucking need it.

"Easy, baby," I murmur, helping stand her up. Her legs shake as I sweep her up into my arms.

She curls into me, clinging as I carry her up the stairs toward the bedroom. Her head lolls against my shoulder, her breath still coming in little whimpers and pants. She can"t stay still.

When I lay her on the bed, her eyes flutter open. I hiss at the look on her face. She"s so high on me, her eyes are dark and dazed. Her cheeks are flushed pink, and her brow is sweaty. She"s whimpering, my name whispering from her lips in little puffs of sound. There"s something beautiful about seeing her so desperate for me.

She writhes against the bed as I pull her heels off her feet and rip her dress from her body. Her legs open and close like she can"t stop them. As soon as she"s naked, I pry them apart and shoulder my way between them. The scent of her arousal has my mouth watering. I need to taste her again.

"Watch me," I whisper, burying my tongue in her pussy. I eat her like I"m starving for her, watching as pleasure sweeps through her dazed expression. Her back arches upward, her eyes rolling before she forces them back to me.

Broken words crack from her lips between frantic, needy cries and loud whimpers.

Love you. So much.

Please, please.

Oh God, Roman.

I push my hips into the bed, grinding against the mattress in search of a little relief. I"m so fucking hot for her, I can"t stand it. I need her to come for me more than I need my next breath.

"Come on my tongue, Mila."

As soon as I give her permission, she explodes. Her muscles lock tight, her body contorting as she floods my mouth with her juices. I snarl and groan against her pussy, licking up every drop she gives me.

She"s still coming when I flip her to her stomach and start fucking her with my fingers.

She screams out, bucking and flailing beneath me. I don"t let up. I"m so desperate to see her come apart for me again, to feel her gripping my fingers…I"m ruthless, completely fucking feral with need.

Orgasm rips through her again, leaving her breathless.

"Again," I demand, sliding my fingers from inside her pussy and pressing them to her clit. I rub hard, working her clit with my whole hand. My teeth sink into the round globes of her ass, marking her there.

"Fuck, Mila," I groan, rising up to watch her.

She"s gorgeous as she thrashes and wails, fighting to get away from me, to stop the torrent of sensation ripping through her like a tidal wave. Her orgasm is mine, though, and I want to watch it take her. It blasts through her like a bomb, making me cry out this time. I"m so lost to her, I can"t stop.

I flip her again, tossing her legs over my shoulders. One hand goes to her throat, pinning her to the bed without cutting off her air supply, and then I"m on her again, fucking her so hard the bed frame rattles beneath us.

Tears leak from her eyes as I fuck her ruthlessly, pounding into her so hard my balls sting with every heavy slap.

"Again, Mila." I lean forward and pull a nipple into my mouth. My teeth sink into the hardened flesh, only to retreat and do the same to the other. Back and forth until my balls draw up. "Come on my cock."

"I can"t. Oh God, Roman…" Her eyes widen in shock and fear as another orgasm sparks inside of her. She grabs my arms, clawing as it starts to savagely rip her apart. "I can"t. Please. I can"t!"

"You can take it. Fuck. Take it, baby."

A triumphant roar rips from my lips as she comes apart beneath me, around me, one more time. Her body bows off the bed, a loud scream erupting from her lips. Her inner muscles clamp down on me, tearing my own climax from me so hard it physically hurts.

I slam myself inside her and still. Our cries echo around us as blood rushes through me. My heart pounds so hard it leaves me gasping for breath and shaking.

I give her everything as I spill into her…down to my fucking soul.

When I can finally move again, I push myself up on my arms and look down at her. She"s wrecked beneath me, completely ruined. Her makeup is smeared. Her hair is a riot. Her little body still trembles, and tears leak from her eyes.

She"s never looked more beautiful to me.

"You"re a fucking warrior, baby," I whisper, pulling her up into my arms. I rain kisses all across her face and run my hands up and down her body, unable to stop myself from touching her, kissing her…worshipping her.

Her body is pliant in my arms, completely boneless.

"I need you to open your eyes and look at me, sweetheart." I need to see her eyes, make sure I didn"t push her too far. Rationally, I know she can take anything I throw at her—she really is a fucking warrior—but the fear of pushing too hard, of taking too much, is still there. The thought of losing her scares the shit out of me. "Open your eyes, baby."

They open slowly, her expression still dazed. It takes her a minute to focus on me.

Relief rushes through me when she finally does. Pure bliss stares back at me from those bright green depths, wiping away the fear still roiling in my gut. She"s okay.

I ease her back down to the bed, kissing her forehead when she whimpers a wordless protest.

"I"ll be right back," I promise her, and then climb from the bed, groaning. My body is stiff and sore, every muscle protesting as I stroll toward the bathroom. I took her hard, and I feel it. Not that it matters. She"s my priority. I need to take care of her, or she"ll be the one really feeling it in the morning.

"Damn," I mutter when I step into the bathroom to start the tub and catch sight of myself in the mirror. Her claw marks are all over my shoulders and arms, some scratches so deep they drew blood. I shake my head and smile to myself at the sight of them.

She"s a hellcat, as rough and wild as I am. She takes as good as she gets every single time. I should have fucking known better than to doubt that.

Once I get the tub going, I step back into the bedroom. She still hasn"t moved from where I left her. Her eyes are closed, her body still sprawled across the top of my bed like a wanton sacrifice. Her legs are parted, her pussy peeking from between those thick thighs.

The sight has my cock stirring, ready for another round.

She"s too gorgeous for her own good.

I pick her up and tuck her against my chest, ignoring my growing erection.

"Roman." She curls into me with a soft, contented sigh.

"Come on, baby. Let"s clean you up," I murmur, pressing another kiss to her sweaty forehead.

She sighs again when I step into the bathtub and lower us down into the hot water, keeping her on my lap. I groan softly, the water loosening the tight, aching muscles all over my body. She sighs, too, her body sprawled across mine haphazardly.

I brush the hair back from her face and kiss her forehead. Her lips curve upward in a sweet little smile, and she hums in the back of her throat.

"You okay, baby?" I ask quietly, running my hands up and down her sides. I love the way her skin feels against mine. She"s so fucking soft everywhere. Her flesh pebbles beneath my fingers, making me smile.

"Mmhmm," she hums.

I chuckle softly and kiss her forehead again before relaxing.

We sit in silence for several long moments. Mila isn"t a particularly loud or talkative person. She"s more than content to just let me quietly hold her. But I avoided talking to her for a long time, trying to avoid getting in any deeper with her. I listened to every fucking word she ever said, but I rarely gave her any back. Since the day she called me out on not ever talking to her, I"ve been trying to change that.

But she was right tonight. I have been shutting her out. Since she got here, I"ve been keeping shit to myself, trying to deal with it on my own. She"s been so fucking sad over Tahani, I didn"t want to add to that burden. My need to protect her is overwhelming, an intrinsic part of me. She"s a warrior, though. I need to remember that, and so does she.

"I wasn"t mad at you tonight, Mila," I tell her. "I was pissed at myself. You"ve been so fucking sad since all that shit with Tahani went down, and you looked beautiful tonight. I wanted to make you smile. I"m fucking proud of you, and I wanted you to have a good time celebrating your success."

"I was having a good time," she mumbles. Her voice is still thick and lazy, like it"s hard for her to form words. She"s more alert in my arms, though, listening intently.

"Seeing everyone staring at you fucked me up a little," I admit.

"Why?"

"I"m possessive as hell when it comes to you. You"re mine. The thought of anyone else touching you makes me want to kill someone."

"I feel the same way about you," she whispers, heat creeping into her voice.

I kiss her forehead again, letting her words twist through me. She has no fucking idea how much she owns me. There is no one else for me. I would kill for her, no questions asked.

"It was more than that, though," she says, playing with my fingers. "You were really mad."

"I don"t do well with crowds, baby. It"s hard to watch your back when you"re crammed into a small area with hundreds of people, any one of whom could slip a knife between your ribs before you blink." I learned early on in my career to watch my back and to always be prepared. When you deal with gangbangers and cartels, with people who have no problem stabbing you in the back and then slinking away in the shadows, you learn to avoid crowds. It keeps you alive.

"With everything going on," I say, "I don"t know what to expect. I don"t know what"s coming. I don"t want you to be a target, and I"m fucking terrified someone will see you with me. That they"ll come after you to get to me."

My partner"s wife and son were targeted because of him. It"s hard not to worry about the same thing happening to her. With Guerrero taking out everyone he perceives as a threat, it"s hard not to wonder when he"s coming for me. If he figures out that Brady had a partner, it"s going to lead him to me. It"s impossible not to think about that when I was the one who sold him the fucking guns. If he puts two and two together, he"s coming for me.

Even if he doesn"t put it together, at the rate he"s taking out everyone who can connect him to anything, it"s hard to imagine my name not being on that fucking hit list too.

Tahani is safely tucked away in Sacramento, hours from here. He can"t get to her. Mila"s right here with me, though. I"ve never wanted the things she makes me yearn for. Until her, I never wanted a woman in my home, in my bed, or sharing my life. I"m still trying to work through the fact that I want those things with her enough to have risked bringing her here.

I can"t fuck this up when her safety depends on me doing this right.

"I"ll be okay, Roman," she says, her voice soft and sweet. "Even if you don"t think you"ll be able to keep me safe, I know you will. I"ll be okay because I know you"ll make sure of that."

Her faith in me kills me a little. I don"t know what I did to deserve it, but I"m fucking grateful for it all the same. Warmth spreads from my chest and twists through my abdomen. I fall a little bit deeper in love with her.

"I want to give you everything," I confess, pressing my lips to her temple. "It fucking kills me that I can"t."

She turns in my arms, wriggling until she"s straddling my hips. Her eyes meet mine, her expression as soft and sweet as that voice. "I don"t want everything. I don"t need bars and dancing. I don"t need nights out or any of that." She rests her forehead against mine, her breath a little sigh against my lips. "I just want you. That"s it."

"Be patient with me," I whisper, brushing my lips across hers.

"Always," she promises.