“I never had you, Deke.”
“You sure about that?” One of the most difficult things he had to do in his life was wait for her. Give her the time and space she needed. He had to stop himself from calling her a million times. Stop himself from hopping on his sled and driving to her house, or office, many more.
“At what point were you mine?”
He answered that easily. “The minute you demanded I get naked, shoved me onto this fuckin’ lounge chair and climbed on my dick.”
She snorted softly. “Yes, that was a very romantic moment between us.”
“Wasn’t romantic, but it was hot as fuck.”
“You’ll get no argument from me about how hot it was.”
Thank fuck for that.
“Do you want an encore?”
“No,” he answered.
She pulled her chin back and stared at him. “No?”
“Fuck no.” He surged to his feet with her still clinging to him and secured her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
Somehow he managed to get her inside, across the great room and into her bedroom without tripping or dropping her.
And once they were there, he let her slide down his body.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispered as he helped her get undressed.
Fuck, he had missed her, too.
Once naked, she settled on the bed. The sight of her alone tempted him, but her next words made his hands still while peeling off his own clothes.
“Let’s never be apart long enough to miss each other like that again.”
For fuck’s sake. Hearing that might have been worth the wait.
“Woman,” he growled. “Wanted to take my time and savor every fuckin’ inch of you tonight. Makin’ that difficult for me.”
She smiled. “I’ll keep my thoughts to myself, then.”
He quickly shucked the rest of his clothes, dug a wrap out of his wallet and tossed it next to her. He climbed onto the bed and up her body until he was face to face with her, their eyes locked.
“Tell me again,” he ordered.
“I missed you.”
It was almost as good as if she’d told him she’d loved him.
Almost.
They’d get there. If not tonight, then tomorrow. And if not tomorrow, then real soon.
Because it was there. He felt it. So did she. He saw it in her eyes, too. Clear as fucking day.
But it was something neither of them would take lightly.
He never said those words to anyone other than his family.
“Missed you, too, babe. Never wanna miss you that much again.”
Then he did what he had planned. Took his time and savored every inch of her.
He tasted her like she was the richest dessert. Took small bites to enjoy her sweet taste.
And when he was done stealing her breath and showing her how much he wanted her... Needed her...
Hell, loved her...
He slowly moved downward to appreciate the rest of her. From the arch of her neck, the soft curves of her tits, the hard peaks of her nipples, the slight rise of her lower belly.
He nuzzled the small patch of dark blonde hair and inhaled her familiar scent.
“Deacon,” came out on a sigh.
He lifted his head and grinned. “You about to encourage me or discourage me?”
She dug her fingers into his braided hair and pushed his head lower.
No words were needed.
Because, fuck yeah, his momma didn’t raise no fool.