Glancing at Jace, I see his delight at the thought of a picnic so, taking a chance, I answer for him, “We’d love to.”
“That’s settled then.” Dahlia jumps to her feet. “Give us ten minutes and we’ll head out.”
“Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Jace asks me, a frown marring his brow.
“They’re your family, Jace, why wouldn’t I want to go out with them? Besides, it’s obvious how much you love them.”
He doesn’t say anything for a few minutes, then he leans forward and places a tender kiss to my lips. “Thank you,” he whispers, caressing my lips with his words.
With the way he’s acting, it’s as though he didn’t expect me to say yes. “Jace, you don’t have to thank me.” I kiss him back, and it takes a lot to stop myself from wrapping my arms around his neck and climbing onto his lap.
If only we were alone.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever taken a girl out with my family.” He gives an embarrassed chuckle.
“That wasn’t happening with that bitch,” Ryder interrupts on his way past to the bedroom.
“What does he mean?” I ask, wondering whether I’m about to open a can of worms.
“I was with someone when I lost my leg. Basically, she didn’t want to be dating a cripple and she up and left. But, whenever I went around to my parents’ house, or out with Ryder before I lost my lower leg, she always had something else to do.”
“The bitch,” I blurt out, and whip my head around when I hear clapping behind me.
“I couldn’t have put it any better,” Dahlia offers.
Turning back to Jace, I kiss him again. “I’m sorry she wasn’t there for you, but I’m hoping she’s in the past…because I want to be your future.”
Jace cups the back of my head. “I couldn’t have put it any better if I’d tried.”
He seals his lips to mine and everything goes out of my head. I can’t think as his lips stay fused to mine while our tongues slip and slide together in an erotic kiss.
Jace pulls away, slightly. “And,” he plants a quick kiss to the tip of my nose, “you are going to be my future.” He becomes serious. “I mean every word, Savannah. You’ve given me so many sleepless nights that it isn’t funny anymore.” He smirks. “But, if this thing between us goes any further, then you need to know I’m not messing around. I’m serious about us.”
My throat is clogged up with tears, but I smile and caress his face with my hand. I love the feel of his whiskers against my fingers, which also makes me wonder how it will feel between my thighs.
He chuckles. “Save those thoughts for when we’re alone… Are you really all right after what happened with Richard?”
“I’m fine, although I’m a bit apprehensive about seeing him again when I’m alone. At least he left before he really did any damage.”
“I won’t let him hurt you again… Let’s go and enjoy ourselves in the sun.”
Chapter Ten
Jace
The slight breeze tickling the nape of my neck is cooling me down slightly. That is until I look down and meet Savannah’s gaze. She snuggles closer to my groin. By the mischief sparkling in her green eyes, I’d say she knows what condition I’m in. It isn’t exactly difficult with her being so damn close.
After we’d eaten in our quiet spot here at the park, Dahlia had settled down with Ryder and their baby, Savannah had nestled beside me with her head in my lap. Since then, I’ve been very uncomfortable—a small price to pay to keep her close.
Despite the tension I’m feeling in my groin, I can’t help but feel a sliver of peace sitting in the park. My fingers play with the soft red curls, and I watch the woman who unexpectedly snuck into my heart. She gazes up at me, happiness shining in her eyes, and my heart thuds wildly in my chest. No one has ever affected me the way that she does. Savannah’s hair is caressing my thighs and lower leg with the slight breeze.
I cup the side of her face, and sigh in pleasure when she turns into my palm and places a kiss inside. Her lips feel like heaven and have been the cause of many midnight fantasies—like in the apartment, but we’d both had too many clothes on.
Inhaling, I try to calm my body’s response to her proximity, but that’s a mistake because inhaling brings more of her scent into my lungs. She always smells as fresh as a flower, nothing too sweet, but fresh.
Caressing along her cheekbone with my thumb, her eyes start to drift before popping open again. She offers a wry smile. “Sorry. I didn’t get much sleep last night, thanks to you.”
With a huge grin splitting my face, I respond, “So what was I doing to you?”