Adore Me (Austin Singles 3)

“Then he started to walk away. I ran over to my mom and put my hand over her wound and reached into my father’s night stand. I pulled out his pistol and I . . . I . . .”

“Shh, stop. Blake don’t say anything else.”

Dropping my head, I let the tears fall. I knew I had to tell her, for my own sanity.

“I yelled for him to stop, and he turned. When he saw the gun, he told me I didn’t have the guts to do it. My mother reached up and grabbed my shirt. She said two words to me: do it.”

Morgan got up and sat next me. Wrapping her arms around me, I leaned into her. “I shot him, and I didn’t think twice about doing it. That’s when Dustin walked in and saw what was happening. He rushed over to help me with our mother while he called 911. By the time the ambulance got there, she was gone. She died in our arms.”

“Oh Blake, I’m so sorry.”

“The last thing she said to me before she took her last breath was thank you. She thanked me for killing him, Morgan. She fucking thanked me for killing him.”

MY MIND HAD barely wrapped around Blake’s words when he dropped his head into my lap and cried like I had never seen anyone cry. If I had to guess, this was most likely the only time he’s ever allowed himself to properly grieve over the loss of his mother and the knowledge he had taken another’s life.

Running my fingers through his hair, I didn’t say a word as he lay on me and expelled years of built-up emotions. Had he ever told anyone? Surely he had. He said he was seeing a therapist. Did Nash and Tucker know? Was that why they’d changed the subject when Charlie had brought it up? God, I prayed he had told them. To keep something like this a secret was beyond awful.

I closed my eyes and tried to imagine what that night must have been like for him. Opening them again, I took in a shaking breath. I didn’t even want to imagine it.

The air felt as if it had been ripped from my lungs as I remembered his words from earlier. How in the world would he think this would change the way I felt for him? He did it for his mother, who had been brutally beaten and murdered in front him.

My own head dropped as I let my tears fall again. I’d let myself cry now while Blake did, then I vowed to be there for him, in whatever way he needed me to be.

The sparkle of the engagement ring caught my eye, and I stared at it. I’d noticed when Blake gave it to me it looked like an antique ring. My heart raced as I pondered.

Is this his mother’s ring? Is this what brought the memory on this evening?

Blake had finally stopped shaking.

“Let me hold you,” I whispered.

He slowly pushed off of me and stood. The way he was staring out the window told me he was still lost in the memory of that night. I slowly undressed him. My hands shook as I removed his clothing piece by piece. I traced my fingertips over his broad chest, causing him to inhale. He looked down at me, and something in his eyes changed. He was coming back to me.

“Turn around,” he softly said.

I did as he asked. His hands trembled as he unzipped my gown, letting it pool at my feet.

Soft lips touched my shoulder, causing my own breathing to quicken. His hands went to my arms, where he gently rubbed his thumbs over my sensitive skin. I dropped my head back against him and let him do what he needed to do. If it meant I would only hold him tonight, I would gladly do it.

“I want to make love to you, Morgan. Get lost in you and think only about us.”

His hands moved to the front of my body, where he caressed me gently. Then he made his way to my breasts while he placed soft kisses on my shoulder and neck.

“Blake.”

It was the only thing I could manage to say. This man had a way of making everything else in the world disappear.

I gasped when he pinched one of my nipples as his other hand made its way to my aching core.

“Never in my life did I ever dream someone could make me as happy as you make me.”

His whispered words brought tears to my eyes. It was time both of us learned to bury the past and focus on the future.

Our future.

“I love you,” I breathed, not able to think coherently enough to find any other words to express my emotions. I was so head over heels in love with my best friend. My lover. Future husband. The man who would be the father of my children.

Turning, I pulled his mouth to mine and kissed him. I poured everything I could into that kiss. I needed him to know how much he meant to me.