Southern Storm (Southern 3)

“Well, yeah.” I look down and then look up. “But if you notice, it was always after you went on a date.”

“So you dated because I was dating?” he asks, smiling and I’m forgetting that I started this conversation with me being angry. I push away from him now, or at least I try, but he doesn’t let his hold of me go. “Not so fast,” he says. “You love me.”

I roll my eyes now. “Well, you heard me say it.” I want to put my hands on my hips.

“I want you to say it again,” he says. I look at him, and he smiles the same smile that always makes me do whatever he wants even though I don’t want to do it.

“Fine, I love you,” I say. “You big horse’s ass.”

He throws his head back, and he laughs. “Of course she can’t just say she loves me and leave it at that.”

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes and try to step out of his embrace.

“Oh, no, you don’t,” he says, pulling me back to him tighter. “You aren’t running away this time.” His tone is very tight and to the point. “No, not this time, Savannah. It’s time to put the cards on the table.”

My heart speeds up, and my stomach goes to my throat. “I think we did put all the cards on the table.”

“No.” He shakes his head. “I just put down a couple of cards. I’ve dated all these women, and I haven’t kissed one of them.” He must see the shock in my eyes. “I haven’t even laid a finger on them to even help them up.”

“But …” I say. “But …”

“I didn’t date these women because I wanted to. I dated them because I thought the one woman who I wanted didn’t want me back.” He rubs his nose against mine.

“Well, you never asked me,” I whisper. “I didn’t drink last night because I didn’t want you to touch me.” My hand comes up, and I run my finger over his collarbone. “I drank so I could have the courage to finally tell you how I felt. We were married, and you didn’t even know that I love you. You didn’t even know that marrying you was making my dreams come true. You didn’t even know that in my whole life you were the one thing missing.”

“Well, then,” he says. “I don’t feel bad about tricking you into marriage then. Once I put that ring on your finger, I said so many things to you in my head.” He picks me up now and places me on the counter. My legs open, and he steps between them. “I said the vows, but I meant every single word and more. You’ve made my dreams come true, and you didn’t even know it.”

“Beau,” I say, and he just shakes his head.

“You’re mine,” he says. Leaning in, he rubs my nose and kisses me lightly. “That ring on your finger means you’re mine.” He rubs my nose again, kissing me one more time lightly. “But now, I’m going to claim you.” My breath hitches, and his hand goes to my neck, and his lips crash down on mine. I open my mouth for him right away; my hands go to his chest and then up while my legs cross at his back. His kisses before were nothing like this. He kisses me like he owns me. He takes control of the kiss and tilts his head from right to left, trying to deepen the kiss. He wraps one arm around my waist and picks me up, walking toward the stairs. Our mouths never leave each other as we make up for all those years of not saying anything. I kiss him like it’s the last time I’m going to kiss him, giving him everything that I have.

“I love you,” he finally says when he lets go of my lips. Burying his face in my neck, he kisses and sucks, and my senses are on overload.

“I love you,” I say right before he sits on the bed with me straddling him. My hand goes to his face. “I’ve told you I love you so many times in my head.” My finger traces his lips. “When you would walk away and I would say bye, I would whisper under my breath that I love you.” I lean down and kiss him just a bit. “When you would make me laugh and hug me, there were so many times it almost came out of me.”

“Every time I used to say I’ll see you later,” he says, “it was me saying I love you.” I push him down onto his back and place my mouth on his, but he flips me on my back. “I promise you round two will be better.” I laugh and then his hand pulls up my shirt. I automatically cover myself up, and his eyes fly to mine.