Mom had been working with him, and Jeremy, even though he lived in California, had gone in on it with West as a partner and came out to help when he could. Their hope was to get the Atlanta location up and running, then eventually set up another on the West Coast.
“We’ll get it done,” I said. “I’m excited to be able to help more.” West wanted to inspire people, wanted to change the world, and I had no doubt he would. He’d changed mine.
“Let me know about sponsorships,” Mia said. “My firm would be interested.”
“Yeah, man,” Darren added. “Whatever way I can help, I’m down.” Christ, we had the best friends.
“Thanks. I’ll definitely be in contact,” West replied. “I’m learning a lot as I go.”
We chatted a little more, and when the conversation changed, West nudged me. “Dance with me.”
“Of course.”
He took my hand and led me to the dance floor. We wrapped our arms around each other. I breathed him in and ran my hands up and down his back.
“I’m so glad you got to wear a white suit. Did I ever tell you how hot you look in them? I wanted to jump you because of your suit at that first charity event.”
“Now you can,” I told him. “Well, don’t jump me in public, but you can claim me the way you couldn’t back then.” It was hard to believe there was ever a time where I thought I could live without this, that I could go my whole life living a lie. “Who would have thought I’d be glad to have gotten the attention of a stalker?”
West’s laugh vibrated my chest. “You still don’t know how to eat your steak.”
“You’re still full of yourself.”
“You’re gonna be full of me tonight too.”
It was my turn to laugh. “You’re such a fucking dork.”
“You’re mine.” West leaned in, kissed my neck, and bit it.
“Oh fuck. Don’t give me a boner here.”
“But it’s fun.”
When the song ended, I danced with Mia, and West with Carly.
Later, we watched Carly and Elias drive away in a limo. When I looked at West, I was pretty goddamn sure I was going to do it that night.
A car service drove us home. He’d moved in less than a week after his last day as a senator.
West grabbed some water, and we went to the bedroom. He sat on the edge of the bed, taking off his shoes and rambling about…honestly, I couldn’t really say. My head felt a little echoey, and my heart was going crazy as I got the ring box from where I’d kept it stashed.
West wasn’t paying me much attention until I knelt in front of him, keeping on the suit I knew got him hard.
“West…” I opened the box.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t get to ask you anything yet.”
“Still yes.”
“But I practiced a whole speech. It’s really good!”
“I don’t need it. I spent my whole life afraid of love. The people who were supposed to love me hurt me. I wore bravado and confidence in front of the world, but then you, my bashful little football player, ripped the facade away.”
“Little?” I cocked a brow.
“Okay…big… All I know is, I need you. Nothing else. You’re mine, and I want you in any and every way I can have you. You showed me what it’s like to love…to be loved. Before you, I didn’t think anyone could love me.”
“Holy shit. Your speech is way better than mine, and you didn’t even plan it.”
“I’m good like that.” He winked.
“You’re mine. I want and need you in any way I can have you as well. Most of my life, I wasn’t brave enough to risk falling in love. You said I ripped your facade away, but you did the same for me.” I brushed the back of my hand against his cheek. “Before I met you, I felt like my life was one long test. Maybe that’s not the right word, but I was always hiding and trying to keep up the lie, and now I’m past that. I’m done being strategic in how I live. The process is over now, and I can just be happy. You’re my endgame. You’re it for me.”
I slipped the ring on his finger. West tugged me to him, pushed me down onto the bed, and straddled me. “Now that we got that mushy stuff out of the way, husband, it’s time to get to the fucking…” He licked my lips. “And the biting…the marking…”
“Husband, huh? Didn’t we skip a step?”
“Nope.”
He was right. Even though I couldn’t wait to make it official, we belonged to each other with or without the ceremony. “Aren’t you supposed to be ravaging me now?”
“Oh, Bashful. You ain’t seen nothing yet.”