Making my way to the front door of Jacinta’s place, it hits me just how much work it’s gonna take.
Not just redeveloping Cherry.
That could take years to complete.
The real work is now, making sure Jacinta understands just how much she means to me.
The future I know we have together, waiting for us both.
Not just for the town of Cherry.
And all she has to do is come with me.
I feel a little out of place on her porch, which makes me feel like a giant. I hope like hell Rick’s given me the right address.
She can’t really have lived here her whole life, surely? I thought her old man had money at one point?
I guess everyone has a different idea of what wealth is.
Owning your home is enough for some, even if it is a dump.
I push the doorbell and wait after I hear it chime.
The sound of footsteps inside tell me I’m warm, and when I see her familiar curves through the frosted pane in the wooden door I know I’m running hot again.
She is here.
Opening the door, I can see her eyes wide are brimming with so many emotions.
My hands reach out for her like a drowning man reaching for the shore.
“Mine,” I growl before kissing her harder than I probably should but I’m relieved when I feel her mouth pressing back just as hard.
Her body, small against mine, melts into me and I can already feel my stiffness welcome her as she purrs her reply.
We stand in her doorway, kissing for what feels like forever, but not long enough before it’s time to talk.
She starts saying sorry a million times, that it’s all her fault.
A complete misunderstanding.
Me?
I feel the edges of my mouth curl in a smile, watching her face and mouth as she speaks.
Not even paying attention to the details.
I’m just glad I have her back.
“You are mine, and you’ll come with me?” Is the only thing I ask, the only answer I really need from her right now.
“Oh, I’m coming with you, Kyle,” she says with renewed certainty. “I’m sorry I doubted you. I can’t believe I reacted the way I did. At first, I just couldn’t believe a man like you would want me and then I thought you were using me to get to a town you probably already have connections to anyway,” she muses, which the second part is kinda true.
“Jacinta?” I ask, grabbing her attention as well as her elbows in both my hands. “I’m not thinking about Cherry when I look at you. This town. The development… None of that’s got anything to do with how I feel about you.”
Okay, maybe I do think a little about Cherry when I look at her, but not the kind of cherry the town’s named after.
I’m thinking of her sweet little cherry. Her pleasure center that I’m aching to fill from here to next week with a decade’s worth of lust and longing.
Finally having found the one I know is not only my true equal but the one I want to spend everything with.
Time, money, and the best years of my life. All of it for her now.
All of it for us.
“You-You’re not mad at me?” she asks hesitantly.
Giving me those eyes and lips I just have to kiss again before I can even speak and I do just that getting a quick taste.
“I could never be angry with you, Jacinta,” I tell her truthfully.
“Just next time? Instead of running away, try throwing me to the ground and having your way with me instead, okay?” I suggest with a knowing grin, gently biting her neck until she squeaks.
“Seriously though,” I croon into her ear. “Don’t run, Jacinta. Talk to me… hell, shout if you want. Just don’t run away.”
She shakes her head. “I won’t,” she whispers, licking her lips before our mouths lock again, sealing the deal.
“Now pack whatever you’ll need because you’re coming with me, and for good,” I demand, prouder of her than she’ll ever know when she smiles.
She squeals with excitement as she disappears just long enough to grab a hold of a couple of suitcases that are already packed.
She drags them towards the front doorway, bunching up the hall runner, making me laugh silently.
“You knew I was coming for you?” I ask, shocked but in the best kind of way.
“I never unpacked from college,” she shrugs. “I guess I really was just waiting for Prince Charming to come along and sweep me off my feet,” she sighs with mock drama.
Fluttering her eyes and patting her heart until I actually scoop her up from where she’s standing holding her like I’m about to carry her across the threshold.
“Prince Charming?” I ask, pretending to sound disappointed.
“If you’re my queen, then I have to be King Charming,” I retort, but instead of laughing her whole body shudders with emotion.