She smiles brightly. “Thank you, doctor.”
She ends the call.
She takes a step back, swaying her hips back and forth in the sundress she’s wearing with a light sweater. She looks so happy and carefree.
“Are you coming to help me find a bedroom in this place or not?” she asks, stopping on the bottom step.
“Definitely coming,” I run over to her, but she starts darting up the stairs, forcing me to chase her.
“That can’t be good for the baby,” I yell after her.
“Will you stop worrying? The happier I am, the better for the baby. And right now, I’ve never been happier.”
I grab her from behind as she hits the top step. I wrap my arms around her hips and pull her to me. I sweep her hair off her shoulder and kiss her tenderly on her neck.
She gasps at the simple touch.
“Still want to play games with me?” I ask as I thumb her neck teasing her.
“No, I just want you.”
I spin her around, and our lips collide again slowly, taking our time exploring each other’s mouths as I walk her backward carefully toward the door at the end of the hallway. I’m tempted each time we pass a door to throw open the door and pray it’s a bedroom. But I know the master is most likely at the end of the hallway, and I want the best room to be where I make love to her again for the first time.
Finally, we make it to the end of the hallway; I push open the door and break the kiss long enough to pull Kai into the room with me. When I flick on the lights, we both gasp at the sight.
The room is wall to wall windows that look like they fold back so the room can be completely outdoors. It backs up to the woods and a lake. And the lack of houses we passed on the way here tell me this room is completely private. There is a large deck off the back with a jacuzzi tub and another door that I assume leads to a bathroom.
Kai lets go of my hand long enough to walk over to the center of the bright white bed. She takes a seat on the edge as she takes in the scenery.
I want this to be perfect for her. So while she takes it all in, I fold all of the windows open, so it’s like the forest becomes part of the room. Then I find a few matches in one of the top drawers. I pull them out and light the candles lining the floor all the way around the room. I light every one of them until the room is glowing with soft light and the forest beyond.
“It’s so beautiful,” she says. “I can’t believe my father put this much thought into this house.”
I nod. I can’t believe the bastard did either. But I decide to keep my thoughts to myself.
I take her hand again, and she stands up. I consider my next move carefully. I want her. I love her. She’s mine in almost every way except one. The one way that I’ve wanted for so long but have been too scared to make happen. I’ve been afraid of what it would mean for the Black empire. Afraid of Felix coming along and destroying it. Afraid of what Kai would say.
But I’m not afraid anymore.
I’m more in love with Kai than I’ve ever been. And I can’t wait another moment for her to not be mine forever.
So I pull the scrunchie off my wrist as I get down on one knee in front of her. Knowing that I need this, that we both need this, to feel whole. I want our first
time together again to mean so much more than just reuniting—the start of a new life together.
“I love you, stingray, more than you will ever know. These past few weeks without you in my life have been the worst kind of torture. I’m not whole without you. I’m not me without you. I need you more than I need air to breathe. And I can’t spend one more second where you aren’t mine.”
I untie the ring from the scrunchie—that contains three pieces that represent the most important men in her life—Zeke with the scrunchie, Langston with the ring, and me with the wooden heart.
“Truth or lies, you mean the world to me?” I ask.
“Truth,” she says through tears.
“Truth or lies, I will never leave you again?”
“Truth.”
“Truth or lies, I will protect you and our baby with my life?”