“Lost a few men a while back, and I’ve been living in the misery of it.” He leans in, placing another kiss on my lips. “Then an angel walked into my life and woke me up. You saved me.”
“Pretty sure you saved me.” The idea of saving him warms me all over. He makes me feel like I do so much, just by being near him, but I get it, because I feel like that too. Just knowing he’s near me makes me feel safe. Complete. Fills something I didn’t know I was missing.
“If you let me, I’ll save you for the rest of our lives.”
“You love me.” I remember the words he said to me last night.
“I do. How can I not? Never knew something like you could exist. You were made for me to love.” He says it so easily, like he’s been saying it his whole life. My mother loved me, but it wasn’t something that was said very much. I knew it was there, but we didn’t say it enough.
“I love you, too.” I give him the words I’ve never said to another man before, not wanting to live a life without them. I want them to come as easily as they do for him.
“Say it again.” His voice is gravelly now, and filled with so much emotion.
“I love you. I’ve never said that to anyone but my mom,” I admit, wanting him to know how much it means to me to say it to someone.
“I’ve never said it to someone I wasn’t related to.”
“This is crazy,” I tell him, but there’s no power behind it, because I don’t care if it’s crazy. I knew I loved him last night when I told him to cum inside of me. I wanted all of him, wanted every last drop to bind us together.
“It’s perfect.” He leans in, nuzzling my neck. “You still sleepy, angel?”
I nod against him as he trails kisses down my neck, down to the center of my chest, his ticklish facial hair making me giggle.
“You sleep a little bit, and I’m going to run to the bakery down the street and get us breakfast.”
“I’ll go with you,” I halfheartedly say. I don’t want to move, but I want to be with him.
“Sleep. I’ll only be gone a minute.” He pulls himself from me. I roll to my side and watch him get dressed. I don’t care that I’m naked. My shyness died last night. An unknown part of me revealed itself. I hate each piece of clothing he puts on as it covers his magnificent body.
“You working today?” he asks while slipping on his shoes.
“Just the diner today.” I want to groan just thinking about it. God, I hate that place. I’m going to have to quit and find something else.
“I want you to think about quitting.” He says it like he just read my mind.
“I”
He holds up his hand, cutting me off. “Just think about it, angel, before saying anything. I want you to stay with me, so you don’t have to worry about that.”
“I can’t just stay here. I have to help pay the bills.” I don’t want to be a mooch. I’m all for staying with him, but I want to do my part.
He walks over to the side of the bed, towering over me before dropping down so we’re at eye level. “You gave me what I’ve been looking for in life. Let me do the same. Stay with me. Quit the fucking diner before I end up in jail for snapping your boss’s neck, and let me give you what you are looking for in life.”
“I just need you.”
“But you want more, and I can give it to you. If you don’t let me, it will just drive me crazy. I’ll be sitting in that diner every day you work,” he challenges.
I don’t even know what to say to that, but God, I love how freaking protective he is over me. It’s nice.
“Just think about it, okay?”
I nod, making him give me one of those full-face smiles. I know I’m going to crack. I’m not sure there is a thing I wouldn’t agree to just to see that smile light up his face.
He grabs his wallet, keys, and phone, and gives me one last kiss me before he heads out of the room, leaving me all alone.
I snuggle into the bed, thinking about waking up like this every day. A knock sounds at the door, and I pull myself from the bed, grabbing Derek’s discarded shirt from the floor. I slip it over my head as I make my way towards the door.
“You forget something?” I ask, pulling the door open.
Sam has a hand around my throat instantly, pushing me back into the townhouse. I can smell the booze on his breath. I grab and scratch at his arm, trying to free myself.